The Curse of Betrayal (A Curse Books)

by Taylor Lavati

  After washing the dried blood off myself, I throw on some weather appropriate clothes since it’s snowing. I don’t bother to look nice or dress up. I put on my sweater and a form-fitting long-sleeved V-neck shirt. It’s green, and when I notice the color, I contemplate taking it off but don’t bother since it was hell putting it on with my cracked ribs. I grab my backpack, and when I throw it over my shoulder, my entire back spasms in pain.

  “Damn…” I mutter and adjust the bag so I’m carrying it like a purse instead of a pack. But it’s useless; I grab my ID and shove it into my pocket so I don’t have to bring a bag.

  “Let’s roll, chica.” Kara holds the door open for me. We look ridiculous walking together. I’m limping since my leg still aches with the huge bruise on my thigh. One hand cradles my stomach since my ribs are crying out in pain. Kara’s walking fine, but she has one arm in a tee-shirt acting as a splint, tied right above her shoulder. Her bag is over one shoulder and it keeps falling off since she can’t hold the weight with just one.

  That doesn’t even begin to explain our faces. My eye is still swollen into a slit. The stitches Ari put under my eye are crooked, but they’re holding me together. Kara has a black eye and a split lip. We look like we’re zombies walking through a battle zone.

  Although there’s new snow on the ground, as we walk through the courtyard, images from yesterday flood to my mind. I picture the fighting and the killing. It’s hard to block out the horror.

  The wall of the gym is broken as if someone punched it. I think that was from Ari throwing the guy around. There are random parts of the ground that look like a meteor hit and left a massive ditch. I imagine they’re from Martin or someone similar who scorched the ground.

  All of the bodies have been removed, but I can still picture it. My body involuntarily shakes remembering everything from yesterday. I inch closer to Kara for comfort.

  We get to the student center and tug open the door. But it doesn’t budge. I try again, shaking the doors, but they’re all locked. “Is it closed?” I ask Kara, frowning.

  “I guess so. Maybe we got an email about it. I didn’t check.” She shrugs her shoulders.

  “I have Poptarts in the dorm room,” I tell her.

  “Looks like we’re ordering in.” She links arms with me and we head back through the courtyard, faster this time—avoiding the center, where the main fighting occurred.

  Sure enough, when we get back to our room, I check my cellphone and see the email from the school saying that we’ll be closed for today. Classes resume tomorrow.

  Kara and I don’t leave the room for the rest of the day and night.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  playing nice

  The next day everyone is acting like nothing happened. The attack is old news—at least the people we saw at breakfast acted that way. It was kind of like an alternate dimension. Most of us are bruised and beat up yet it’s a normal day.

  I stumble into Statistics after leaving Kara at her Physics class for first period. Ari has already started class, so I try to be as quiet as possible as I stumble to my seat in the front row. I pull out my math book and then hide behind it the entire time. Of course, I’m not as discreet as I’d like to be, and as I tilt the book up to cover my face, it knocks my notebook on the floor. It slaps the ground loudly, but I try not to move. I pretend it’s not mine. I don’t even look up to see who’s staring at me.

  “Is everything okay, Eury?” Ari’s voice is all teacher-like, and it sends shockwaves up my body.

  “Yep, all good here. We’re good. Super good.” I ramble on, making an even bigger fool out of myself.

  “Good,” he says with humor in his voice. “I would just like to make an announcement about the attack on the school.” He pauses and the entire class waits on the edge of their seats. “So far, there are two deaths, both students. A few more injured, but our nurses have administered their skills so they should fully recover, which is outstanding.

  “For the next few days, or as long as it’s needed, the admin building will have counselors for anyone who needs it. Violence is never the answer, and what we saw was certainly graphic. I know it upset me, seeing first year students like yourselves,” his eyes dart to me, “in danger.

  “I promise, the threat is gone. Professor Nike interrogated all of the assailants, and it was a random attack. The school is protected by a force field-like bubble, so you’re all safe.”

  A few kids around the room sigh and talk amongst themselves. “Also!” he exclaims to regain control of the room. “The retreat will still happen this weekend. We think it’s important that you gain the experiences those before you had. So we’re still going.”

  The entire class cheers, loving the fact that the field trip is still on. To be honest, this is the first time I’m even hearing of it. I don’t remember anyone talking about it.

  I cringe when Ari announces that we’re working with partners today and taking it easy. I sulk in my seat, hoping I can continue to hide and work alone, but of course, Lisa finds me from her seat in the front.

  “Can we work together?” I look up in dismay, because I’m pretty sure I’m the last person she’d pick to be a partner—even if it was a class of two. But her eyes are soft for a change, which surprises me even further.

  “Uh, s-sure.” The words tumble out of my mouth.

  “Great,” she says. She grabs her back pack and then slinks down in the empty desk next to me. I look over and observe her injuries. She has a black walking boot on her left foot but looks fine other than a slightly swollen cheek. “So, I wanted to say thanks.” She takes me completely off guard for the second time today, and it’s only first period.

  “Why?”

  “For the fight and everything. You kind of saved my ass.” She finally meets my gaze with her clouded hazel eyes, and I try to look deep for some kind of hidden message or hint of sarcasm, but she seems sincere.

  “Of course. Not a problem,” I tell her, keeping it simple. Of course, I’m going to accept it. I never had a problem with her until she started acting bitchy to me—which was day one. But if she wants to bury the hatchet, then I’m all for it. Maybe we can be friends after all.

  “I still don’t like you.” She frowns over at me.

  “Yeah?” I question, and she nods in response. “Not your biggest fan either.”

  “Whatever. Let’s get this done.” She looks down at her book to change the subject. But before I focus on work, a small smile plays under her lips that she’s trying to hide. I should point it out just to mess with her, but I don’t.

  Surprisingly enough, Lisa’s really smart. I can tell she’s never done these equations before, but she’s doing them correctly and has some common sense in her big red head. I look up and meet Ari’s sight once or twice during the remainder of class, and whenever I do, he’s got these sexy, smoldering eyes, and I can’t help but imagine Magdelina under him. It makes me nauseous every time.

  When class is over, I run out as fast as I can, not wanting to talk to Ari. I successfully avoid him for the entirety of my morning classes. I don’t see Magdelina either, which is an added perk. Although when I don’t see her today, I think of where she may be—Ari’s bed. But then I know she’s not. There’s no way, and what I saw must have been in the past, because Ari wouldn’t do that to me—I hope.

  Before heading to lunch, I stop in the nurse’s office to see if she can give me something for my leg and ribs. They’ve been bothering me all day and moving around so much is only aggravating it. She has me sit down in the waiting area while she dresses somebody else who was injured in the attack. It’s the same nurse who helped me after the incident at rugby, so I feel more comfortable.

  “Is this from the fight, dear?” She looks me up and down and winces when she views all of my ailments.

  “Yeah,” I tell her, embarrassed.

  “I can fix this. There’s no real break to the ribs, more like a crack—but a baby one,” she adds when she sees my agitated e
xpression “Your eye will have to heal itself, though.”

  I sit back on a green plastic bed while she examines my wounds. She touches my ribs, and it stings with pressure before she makes the pain go away. Then she does the same to my leg.

  “Let’s get you up.” She reaches down for me and lends me her hand. I try to stand, and surprisingly, it’s less painful.

  “Thanks!” I’m amazed that she basically just healed me. I take another step testing out my leg on my own, and it feels more like a regular bruise instead of the monstrous one I had just minutes ago.

  “Of course, darling.”

  “How did you do that?” I bend my leg and jump, testing my leg again.

  “Healing powers.” She smiles over at me. “Sign here and be on your way.” She hands me a clipboard. I sign my name and then head out, limping only a little bit on my bad leg. While I walk to the student center, I test out my ribs, bending to the sides and reaching my hand up. I couldn’t do these things earlier today, but now, it’s easy.

  The lunch room is filled with chatter and people theorizing over what happened yesterday. The volume has reached an all-time high. I sit in my usual spot between Kara and Mikey and dive into my hamburger and fries like it’s my last meal ever. Kara goes on and on about the fight, leaving out the part where I confessed to her about how I think it’s my fault—to which I’ll have to thank her later. I barely tune in, only nodding and agreeing at the parts I’m supposed to.

  “Ryder thoroughly kicked ass.” Mikey nudges my shoulder gaining my attention. I flinch back since I’m still sore, but put on a fake smile and hold in the pain. Megan catches it and winks at me.

  “No, you did,” I tell him, shoving him right back with my hand.

  “I have to say, I definitely was the strongest,” Lisa sends a knowing side glance my way, and I could definitely blow up her spot, but our new “frienemy” status is too good to ruin this early.

  “Totally.” I roll my eyes at her.

  “Who’s pumped for the field trip this weekend?” Megan rattles off, going on and on about the retreat our whole class has to go on. Personally, it sounds a little stupid—cabins where people sleep, singing by the campfire. Count me out.

  They’re going to make us go on nature walks and explore the earth. Apparently, most gods have some sort of infinity having to do with nature, so it’s more for exploration. Then we compete in bonding cabin games to practice skills.

  The only thing that sounds remotely fun is the s’mores.

  “Are we still going?” Carter asks the table.

  “I’m sure they’ll want us to go. It’ll get us away from campus.” Mikey actually makes a good point.

  “Professor Aristeus said the retreat was still on in first period,” Lisa tells Megan.

  “I was late this morning, my bad,” Cater nods, realizing that the retreat is still on. “So, now we have to plan pranks!” he exclaims, nodding to Mikey and the other guys.

  “I totally get a top bunk,” Lisa glares at the three of us girls and the rest erupt with plan-making.

  We spend the rest of our lunch hour deciding who will get to sleep where in the cabins. Megan gets the bottom of her bunk with Lisa, and Kara tells me I’m on the bottom of hers. I don’t object. I don’t know why everyone hates the bottom bunk. Although I guess it makes sense since the top bunk could collapse and whoever is on the bottom would be a pancake, but still: I hate climbing up into bed. I nod when I’m told I’m on the bottom since I prefer that anyway.

  “Eurydice, may I see you a moment?” Professor Orntean asks after creatures class. I walk up to his desk, my heart pounding since I’ve barely said two words to this teacher the entire time I’ve been here. “I want you to know that we support you here. If trouble comes, we’ll stand beside you,” he says as if he’s making a vow to me.

  “So you think it’s my fault?”

  “I believe it has to do with your curse. But I don’t want you to be scared. The teachers support you.”

  “Thanks…” I answer back, not knowing how to react. He looks down at his papers and starts picking them up one-by-one, so I take that as my cue to head out. I rush to the locker room, but when I get there, everyone’s already in the gym. I quickly change and then run straight to Mikey and Kara who are sitting on the bleachers.

  I make sure to avoid eye contact with Ari since the dream still plagues my subconscious. Until it’s gone, I can’t face him without breaking into sobs or anger. I try to invest myself fully into Kara’s conversation so I don’t look up into Ari’s green eyes and fall in head first. I chime in when they’re talking about the field trip—shocker. It’s all anyone can talk about anymore. The fight is old news as the weekend comes up fast.

  “Don’t worry, Ryder, with our cabin right next to yours, we can sneak out and play games.” Mikey wraps his arm around my shoulder, giving it a tight squeeze that I’m now used to. I smile and play along since he hasn’t tried anything since the cheek kiss during the snow ball fight. I think he’s pretty clear with our friend zone status.

  “Play games? What are we—twelve?” I ask them, not into the idea of being out in the freezing cold, middle of the night to play games.

  “You have no idea what you’re in for, girl.” Lisa walks over from her other friends and sits on the other side of Mikey, sending me a side glance.

  “What do you play… tag?” I once again, don’t get the appeal.

  “You wish,” Kara butts in.

  “Try Olympic-sized manhunt,” Mikey explains, when really he’s not explaining at all since I have no idea what that is.

  “I guess I’ll just have to see when the time comes.” I skeptically roll my eyes at them all. Magdelina cuts into our conversation and starts class. She announces that our groups are combined now, and I basically melt in happiness. I’m not stuck with Ari anymore. Plus I get my roommate back.

  I smile over at Kara, happy we’re together again, when I notice her abused arm is sitting nicely on her lap. Just this morning, it was in a fake sling, and she could barely move it. “Hey, your arm got fixed?”

  “Yeah. The nurse fixed it up real nice for me.” She wiggles her fingers and lifts her arm like a wing so I can see how it works. “Good as new.”

  “Group up in teams of four.” Ari’s voice almost pulls my attention towards him, but I refrain from looking. I purposely stare in the opposite direction so my eyes can’t wander to him by accident. It’s so hard for me to focus right now on anything other than avoiding Ari. It’s such a tall task.

  Immediately, I’m grabbed by Kara and Mikey, both tugging me towards them—thank the gods we’re close together. We start searching for a fourth when Lisa grabs Mikey’s hand. He smiles down at her, winking. She scowls, but I know she likes the attention he gives her—even though Mikey flirts with every girl that has boobs.

  “I want to win today.” Lisa feels the need to excuse her choosing us as a group. We look pretty weak, but I know from the fight that we’re all solid. Plus we trust each other, so we can handle it. Where Mikey is the only guy in our group, Meg is the only girl in hers—with Shane, Trent, and Carter.

  “Because of the attack, we want to make today a fun day. We’re going to play spud,” Magdelina says to the class, rubbing her hands together deviously. “Here’s how it works. Each team will get a number. You’ll have to work together and assign jobs. You throw the ball up and yell out a number. That number has to run and catch the ball then take three steps. They have to hit someone on a different team or else they get an S. First team to spell spud loses.”

  After the break down of the game, we form huddles with our teams and start discussing who will do what. Mikey is going to catch the ball and throw it at people. My job is to call when it’s our number so we all know what to do. Kara and Lisa are supposed to be the runners, so they get as far away as possible, although we’re all really supposed to do that.

  I’m anxious to play, but everyone else is excited, so I act like I am, too. Team one starts w
ith the ball, and they’re a group of guys who used to be in Magdelina’s group, meaning they’re stronger with more skills. I’m nervous to get hit with a ball since I’m still not in perfect condition but bury my nerves. We stand in a circle around team one, waiting and praying it isn’t our team number that’s called.

  “Seven!” the big guy yells, and when I know it isn’t us, I turn and sprint. I try to get as far away as possible from the ball, and when I hear spud, I know they’ve caught the ball. I stop in my tracks and see that I’m one of the farthest away. Thank gods I’m out of range. A girl from team seven takes three big jumps, each ten feet wide, and throws the ball right into some girl’s face.

  “S,” the girl says, laughing even though she was just pummeled by a little kickball—in the face, no less! Everyone trots back to the center and waits for round two. The girl throws the ball up and calls out number four. That’s us.

  “Mikey!” I yell, signaling him to get the ball. He lunges back and, just in the nick of time, catches the ball in his hands. He yells out spud and everyone around us stops in their tracks like they’re stuck in glue and can’t move. I point to the closest person, who is one of the big guys from team one. Mikey nods and heads straight for him.

  He nails him right in the back and they get an S. They now have the ball and call team three. It goes on and on until team one is called, and they catch the ball. I sprint as far as I can, but my leg is getting tired, and it’s difficult for me to breathe with my ribs burning. I’m losing steam, and it’s not working in my favor for this game. I almost ask to be taken out for a break but don’t because I don’t want the others to view me as their downfall.

  The big kid from team one purposefully seeks me out in the crowd and finds me with evil eyes. I’m not the closest, but I’m in range. He takes one jump towards me, pauses, and then takes the next. Then he takes his last jump, and he’s only about five feet away from me.