Blue shook her head against his chest, wanting to absolve him, at least, of any guilt or regrets. It wasn't fair that anyone else had to carry the weight of her burdens. And she would never ask anyone to do so, not Omega, not even Owen. But the arms around her were comforting, a palatable shield against everything else which lurked, threatened.

Every time Blue closed her eyes, she saw Hoskins. His smarmy smile, piggishly hungry gaze, leering down over her. She'd never been truly afraid before, not like she had been then, restrained with no hope of escape, utterly and truly at the mercy of that insane fascist hog. A trembling shudder wracked her, setting off new twinges of hurt.

Still clutching the lapels of Omega's shirt, Blue buried her nose in his throat, fighting her shivers. "I-Is he dead?" No need to specify who he was, in this case.