[ there's a silence, at her statement, before he frowns to himself, putting together what he wants to say before he says it. it's not difficult to talk about, really, because he's sorted through what's bothered him, and what's eaten away at him, for some time, since they've arrived here. and now that he's figured it out, it's really just a matter of saying it. ]

I'm tired of monstrosities using the people I care about in order to get me to do something for them. Whatever it is.

[ finally. ]

Hughes was real, which meant Qri took him from that moment. She could have taken him from any point in time, but she purposefully took him from that moment. For what? To prove a point, or earn my loyalty, or force me to save him just to bring me here? I'm not a pawn.

[ and that's, honestly, what infuriates him the most. ]