Heroes of the Secret Underground Chapter Sampler

the floor. He points at her necklace. ‘Give that to me, girl.’ Verushka cradles the locket in her hands. ‘I can’t. Please, it belongs to my family.’ Her voice peters out as she watches his mocking smile. ‘Family?’ He scoffs. ‘When I say give it to me, you give it.’ She holds it tighter. His slap cracks the air, leaving a glaring handprint across her face. The boy scrambles to her side. Her parents reach out to her. The soldiers raise their guns. Verushka’s eyes become greener than the most precious emeralds. She calls out, ‘The locket’s yours. Here. Here.’ She unclips the rose-gold chain with its robin clasps. Forcing her hands to be still, she holds it out. The locket swings like a noose as she drops it into the Lieutenant’s hand. He shoves the locket deep into the blackness of his army pocket.

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