by Jenna Moreci
fellasleepthenightbefore.Infact,shecouldn’trememberthelasttimeshe’d
seenMadison.HadEvebeendeprivedofMadison’sshimmeringdiamondsand
vapiddrivelallweekend?Sheshruggedandbeganhermorningroutine.
Itwasrefreshing,walkingtoclassonherownforonce.Mondaymorning
had never felt so good, so invigorating. She was so pleased to be rid of
MadisonandHaydenthatshealmostdidn’tnoticetheeyesfollowingher.
Almost.Itbecamepainfullyobviousafterthefifthtimesomeone’seyeslocked
withhersandthendartedaway.Evestoppedforamoment;shefiddledwithher
tieandadjustedthewaistlineofhertrousers.Washerblouseunbuttoned?Was
herhairastray?
Another girl in the distance stared at Eve as she waited for the elevator to arrive.Clearly,Evewasimaginingthings.Shewaslettinghernightmaregetto
her.Noonewaslookingather.WithoutMadisonandHaydenbyherside,
flippingtheirhairandloudlyrantingaboutshallownonsense,therewas
nothingtolookatanyway.
The business building was visible off in the distance. Clusters of students congregatedonthefrontsteps,andEveexpectedtofindhertwocomrades
standingamongtherest,butstilltheyweremissing.Instead,hereyeslandedon
asmallgroupofgirls—Rutherfordians;shehadseentheminthetower—
whisperingtooneanother.Andstaringbackather.AtEve.
Evelookedaway;shewasallowinghernightmaretoconsumeher,a
horrible habit she used to have as a child and certainly not one she cared to reacquire.
Evecontinuedontoclass,whereshetookherusualseattowardthebackof
thelecturehall,onlytoseethatMadisonandHaydenstillhadn’tarrived.Itwas strange, really, their sudden absence. She didn’t mind it, of course, though as class continued, she couldn’t help but stare at the door, waiting for the two blondestobargethroughunannounced.Thetimenevercamethough,andas
classendedandEveheadedfortheexit,shefoundherselfcompletelybaffled.
“MissKingston?”
Evejumped,joltedbythevoicebehindher,andturnedaroundtofindthekind
faceofProfessorClarke.
“Sorry,Eve,didn’tmeantostartleyou.”Hesmiled.
Evebreathedasighofrelief.“It’sokay,I’mjustalittleedgythismorning,I
guess.Didyouneedsomething?”
“Ijustwantedtoseehowyou’redoing.”
“Oh,”shestuttered,“well,tobehonestI’malittlebehindonmy
homework…”
“No, no,” he looked to either side and lowered his voice. “I wasn’t talking aboutthat.”
“Oh…”
“Ijustwanttoseehowyou’reholdingup,”hecontinued.“Whensomeoneis
givensomuchresponsibilityatsuchayoungage,itcantakeatollonthem.”
Evesmiledawkwardly.“I’mokay.”
“Yousure?”
“Yeah.It’sniceofyoutoask,though.”
ProfessorClarkecrossedhisarms,hisbrowtwistedasifpuzzled.“Noone’s
givingyouanyproblems?”
EvethoughtbacktoHeather’sdeceitandMadison’sendlessarrayof
questions.Sherememberedtheirconstantbadgering,andthenshethought
abouttheircompletedisappearanceoverthepastfewdays.
“Everything’sfine.”
“Well,ifthatchanges,youcantalktome.”
“Thanks,Professor,butIdon’tthinkthat’snecessary—”
“I’mserious,”hemaintained,hisvoicesuddenlyfirm.“Ifthere’sany
trouble,youletmeknow.”
Eve’snervessoftenedtheslightestbit.Withaquicknod,shehurriedfromthe
roomandintothehallway,onlytobestoppedimmediatelyoutsidethe
door. Her path was blocked by a barrier of girls—the three girls she hadn’t seenallday.
“There’sabouttobesometrouble,”Haydengiggled.
BeforeEvestoodHaydenandHeather,bothwearingmenacinggrins,and
wedgedinbetweenthemwasMadison,herfacetwistedintoawickedglare.
“Youlittle bitch,”Madisonsnarled.
HerwordsfeltlikeabusbarrelingintoEve’schest.
“Didyoujustcallme—”
“Shutup!”Madisonsnapped.“Youdon’tgettotalk!”
Eve’smouthgapedopen.“Whatthe hellhasgottenintoyou?”
“You sickenme,doyouknowthat?”
“Madison—”
“I told you to shut up! ” she barked. The hallway traffic slowed to a halt as studentsturnedtowatchthesceneunfoldingbeforethem.
“You’reafilthy,repulsive parasite.Yourexistenceisa disgracetotherestof theworld.I’malmost embarrassedforyou.”
Eve felt her blood bubbling within her like a seething cauldron. Her chest burnedandherthroattightenedasshetriedtoremaincalmandapathetic,but
apathywasthelastthingshefelt.
“DoyouthinkI’m stupid?ThatI’dneverfindout?”Madisonfacewasjust
inchesfromEve’s.“You’rea joke,Eve.”
“SowhatamI,Madison?Aparasite,adisgrace,orajoke?”Evesneered.
“You’veusedalotofcolorfultermstodescribemeduringthislovely
conversation.”
“Screwyou,bitch.”
“Oh,yes,Iforgot—I’mabitch,too.”
Withoutwarning,MadisonslappedEveacrosstheface,theimpactsofierce
that Eve’s neck spun violently in the opposite direction. Eve took a second to contain herself, certain that her shock was written across her face. She stared intoMadison’shatefuleyesandthenatthedozensofclassmateswhostoodlike
statues,gawkingatherpubliclynching.
“YOU’REAGODDAMN CHIMERA,EVE!”
Itwashere:thedayshehadfeared.Thedayshehadbeenrunningfromsince
she’d first walked through Billington’s gates. The words cut deeper than any blade,butallshecouldfeelwasthepoundinginherchestandtheachingofher
cheek.Theonlookersgaspedandwhispered.Hersecretwasout.
“Ican’t believeI’vebeensharingmyroomwitha chimera.Itdisgustsme.
Youdisgustme.”
“Hitheragain,Maddie!”
“Shutup,Hayden,”Madisonhissed,hereyesstillfixedonEve’sface.“You tried to fool me, Eve. You lied to me about everything—about who you are, abouttutoringJason—”
“I amtutoringJason—”
“Oh please, that’saloadofbullshit.You’reprobably breeding.”
“Breeding?God,I’mnotsome animal— ”
“You’renothumaneither,you freak! ”SheleanedincloseenoughforEveto feelherheavybreathing.“Letthisbealessontoyou, chimera:youdonot lie toMadisonPalmer.Youdonot screwwithMadisonPalmer.”Shebroughther
lipstowardEve’sear.“Iwillmakeyourlife miserable.”
Madison flipped her hair across her back and stormed down the hall with as muchfinesseasshecouldmuster.Haydenscrambledbehindher,pausingfor
onemomenttolookbackatEve.
“Ialways hatedyou,”shejeeredbeforescurryingoff.
Theonlookersslowlydisperseddownthehallway,allwearingthesame
criticalglare.MostmutteredtooneanotherorgrowledslursinEve’s
direction,andonemanevenspatatherfeet,thenwipedhislipstriumphantly.
Eve sto
od with her back to the wall and lifted her chin high as if it would somehow help her rise above the verbal sewage that had been spewed in her face.Sheresistedtheurgetocuphercheek—thepainhadsubsidedtoa
numbnessthatfeltheavyonherjaw—assuchanactionwouldsymbolize
weakness,vulnerability,orworse,defeat.
EveshotaresentfulglareatHeather.Theredheadstillstoodinfrontofher,
tappingherheelagainstthefloorwithanairofcheerandself-contentment.
SheofferedEveasmile—thesamesmileshehadwornthedaythey’dmet.
“Areyouhappy?”Eveaskedthroughgrittedteeth.
“Oh,morethanwordscanexpress.”
“Tellme,Heather, why? Whywasteyourtimeonme?Howdoesmy
sufferingbenefityouinanyway?”
“Eve,darling,it’snotpersonal—it’spolitics.”ShenestleduptoEve’sside,
glancingacrossthehalltomakesurenooneelsewaslistening.“Webothcame
tothisschoolforareason:tobepowerful.”
“That’snotwhyI’mhere.”
“Youdon’texpectmetobelievethat,doyou?”shesmirked.“Thestrongest
leadersonthisplanetruledthroughforce.Theycapturedtheirsupporters
throughthemostbasic,primalemotionthatmankindhastooffer: fear.IfI’m goingtobesomeone,ifI’mgoingtoleaveamarkonthisworld,Ineedtobe
feared.Ifeedoffoftheterror.”Sheblissfullyclosedhereyes.“It’slikecandy tome.”
Evegrimaced.“You’resick,doyouknowthat?”
“MaybeIam.OrmaybeI’mjustarealist.”
“Whyareyoutellingmethis?Whyrevealyour‘masterplan’totheperson
youjustburied?”
HeatherlightlyrestedherhandonEve’sshoulderandgaveitasqueeze.
“Whatdoesitmatter?Aftertoday,noonewillbetalkingtoyouanyway.”She
dughernailsdeepintoEve’sback.“You’llhavenoonetotell.”
Withonelastpatronizinggrin,shebegantowalkaway.Compelledbypure
impulse,EvegrabbedatHeather’swristandyankedherback.
“Onelastquestion, darling, ”Evescoffed.
“Andwhat’sthat?”
“Howdidyoufindout?Medicalrecords?Talkintheward?”
HeathergiggledandpulledherarmfromEve’sgrip.
“SillyEve,Iknewthewholetime.”
EvefeltherheartsinkwithHeather’swords.Theyreplayedinhermindover
and over again—she’d known the whole time. The whole time. The phony friendships, the shameful stifling; the secrets, the suppression, and above all else, the lies. None of it had been necessary; she’d been discovered before she’devensetfootoncampus.
“Youknewthiswholetime…andyouwaiteduntil now?”
“Well,Icould’vesaidsomethingsooner.Actually,Iwasplanningto,totell
youthetruth.Thatday,backinthemedicalward.Buttherewasanunforeseen
complication.”
Eveclenchedherjaw.“Jason.”
“Yes,right,yourstudent.Hisarrivalatthewardmadeamessofmyplans.
Butyouknowwhat?I’mgladthatithappened.I’mthrilled,actually,thathewas rushedthroughthewardattheexactmomentIplannedonexposingyou.
Because this way was so much more fun. Better than I could have possibly imagined!”
Heatherfinallyturnedaway,herfrillyA-lineskirttwirlingaroundherasshe
shimmieddownthehall.Astheotherstudentshurriedalong,theirfaces
distortedwithrepulsion,Heatherturnedbackoncemore,hersmilestillintact.
“Welcometoyournightmare,Eve.”
CHAPTER7:DEEPBREATHS
Deepbreath.
Eve’slungsexpandedslowly,smoothly,asshepinnedherhairtotheside.
Todaywasaveryimportantday—athoughtthatshepushedtothebackofher
mind.Itwastoosombertothinkabout,andbesides,shehadotherworries.She
adjusted her collar and stared at her reflection. She looked pretty: her outfit wassimpleyetcharming,andsomehowherhairfellintoperfectplacementfor
thefirsttimeinyears.Itseemedsoironic,howlovelyandalmostangelicshe
looked on a day such as this. No blouse or hairstyle would convince anyone thatshewasanangel—intheeyesofthemasses,shewasnothingbuta
villainousmonster.
Sheturnedfromhermirrorandfacedherdormroom.Ablood-redstripran
downthemiddleofthefloor—Madisonhadtapedtheroom,dividingitinhalf,
as if to create a protective barrier from Eve and her belongings. The heiress hadsnuckinwhileEvewasawayandstackedhermountainofsuitcasesonher
own side, forming what looked like a bright pink fort next to her bed. The wholethingwassochildish;butthenagain,thepastfewdayshadfeltlikeone
longflashbackfromEve’schildhood.
Deepbreath.
Eveleftherdormroomandstrolleddownthehallwayasifitwereanyother
day—asifeverythingwerenormal.Unfortunately,hercomposeddemeanor
was a façade. Everything was not normal; everything had changed. Her back straightened as she sauntered past the other Rutherfordians, who watched her witheyesfilledwithhate,orfear,orcuriosity.Shepretendednottonotice.
Theelevatordingedasitarrivedatthetwelfthfloor,andEveentered—
alone.Shestoodinsilenceasshelistenedtothesofthumofthemovingcables,
hershouldersrigidandherfingerstight.Shehadtoprepareherselfforwhat
shewasabouttofacethatday;therewasnoroomforsurprises.
Asshesteppedoutintothelobby,theotherRutherfordiansstoppeddeadin
their tracks, but she paid no attention to them. She looked straight ahead without so much as a blink or a flicker of her lashes. It was a trick she had learned years ago, a technique that, for whatever reason, made the attention feellessperverse.
Thedoorstothecourtyardwerejustafewyardsaway,andsheknewthatif
she were to maintain her indifferent front, she would have to exit the lobby withouttheslightesthesitation.Withexpressionlesseyes,sheshovedthedoors
openandcoollymadeherwayoutside.
“THAT’SHER!”
Deepbreath.
Theprotestorssurroundedher,shovingherbackandforthlikerabiddogs fightingoverakill.Shecouldsenseherselfdrowning,sinkingdeeperintothe
endlesspituntilallshecouldseewerecountlessscreamingmouthsand
bloodshoteyes.Theythrusttheirsignsinfrontofher— KILLTHECHIMES
and YOUARENOTONEOFUS—whilebarkingsmuttyslurs,whichfadedinto
whitenoiseinthebackofhermind .Youdon’thavetotakethis,shethoughtto herself. You can silence them with the slightest melt. She suppressed the thought,astemptingasitwas,andpushedherwaythroughthehordeuntilshe
reachedtheotherendofthecourtyard.
Herformerlyperfecthairnowfellmessilyacrossherface,butotherwise
Evehadescapedthecrowdunscathed.Shedidherbesttoshakeherlocksback
intoplaceasshecontinuedtowardthebusinessbuilding,quickeningherstride
untiltheprotestorswerefarbehindher.
Unfortunately,theanimositydidn’tdisappearwiththem—Evewasnowthe
centerofattentionnomatterwhereshewent.Sincehertrueidentityhadbeen
revealedjustoneweekago,herpeersnolongersawherasEvelynKingston,
or
aRutherfordian,orevenasthat-tall-girl-who-lives-with-Madison-Palmer.
Shehadbeenreducedto chimera.Nothingmore.
Thestairsatthefrontofthebusinessbuildingfeltsteeperwitheachpassing
day.TheclimbwassomentallytaxingthatEvefailedtoevennoticetheslipsof
paperblowingdownthestepswiththebreeze.Studentswalkingoutofthe
buildingmutteredandgawkedassheapproached,butthiswasalreadyso
familiar,soordinary.Sheopenedthedoorsandmadeherwayinside.
Deepbreath.
Thehallwasaseaofwhiteandgrey;paperslinedthewallsanddoorsfrom
floortoceiling,andcountlessmoreslipswerespilledacrosstheground.
Clusters of students cluttered the walkway, their hands eagerly gripping the pages,theirlipsflappingwithgossip.AsthedoorsclosedbehindEve,alleyes
turnedtoherinunison,andsuddenlythehallwaywentdreadfullysilent.Eve’s
limbsbecameheavyandherthroattightened;sheknewwhatwashappening.
Sheyankedoneofthepiecesofpaperfromthewallandobservedtheslander
forherself.
Itwasaphotoofher—fromwhere,shedidn’tknow,perhapstheface
databaseHeatherhadravedabout—butitwasthewritingthatshewasmost
concernedwith. EVELYNJANINEKINGSTONthepageread,andbeneathitwas
aphrasethatsentherheartsinkingintoherstomach.
CHIMERABITCH.
Thewordsweredenseandblack,muchlikethesoulofwhoeverhadhatched
thissickeningscheme.
Deepbreath.
Evecrumpledtheslipofpaperintoaballandletitdroptotheground.She
consideredremovingeachandeveryflyerfromthewalls,thedoors,thefloor,
but it was a futile effort—more slanderous material would surely be gracing thebusinessbuildingsoonafteranyway.Instead,sheswallowedherpride—and
thelumpinherthroat—andwenttoclass.
A hush fell over the classroom as soon as Eve entered. Nothing out of the ordinarythere—Eve’spresencewasusuallymetwithuncomfortablesilence.
Asshetookherseat,thenearbystudentsrosefromtheirdesksandscurriedoff
tositelsewhere;sheignoredthem,pretendingtofiddlewithherscratchpadin
ordertoevadetheirstares.