by Jenna Moreci
asyellowbloodpouredfromtheopenwound.Thensuddenlyhiseyesgrew
large with horror; he watched in utter disbelief as the skin on Fairon’s face rippled and restored itself to its natural state, as if the blow had never happened.
FaironlookedJasonintheeyeandsmiled.
Withasurgeofunimaginablestrength,FaironknockedtheaxefromJason’s
handandpulledhimbyhisshirtfromthefloor,liftinghimupuntiltheywere
at eye level with one another. Then, with a triumphant roar, Fairon charged ahead, pounding Jason violently against the wall. He backed up, Jason’s limp body still in his grasp, and then again he slammed Jason into the wall—no, through the wall, carrying both of them into the tower hallway amid a sea of debris.
Suddenly,Faironlurchedfromhisspotinthecorridor;Evepulledthealien
intoherroom,channelinghergiftassheslammedhimagainstthebackwallof
herdorm.Shedesperatelyscannedthehallway,searchingforJasonand Sancho,butallshecouldseewasahordeofterrifiedRutherfordiansrunning
fortheelevators.
AgainsheturnedherattentiontoFairon.Hestoodoppositeher,looking
almostindifferent,completelyunaffectedbyeveryassaultthathadbeenmade
against him. Yet despite the apparent futility of it all, Eve melted him again, tossinghimfirstintothewallandthenintotheceiling,prayingthatsomehow
hemightbecomeasweakasshefelt.
ButFaironmerelyhoppedtohisfeet,unfazed.Shetriedtododgetheattack
sheknewwascoming,buthemadeitlookeffortlessasheswattedatherand
senthercrashingintothewallyetagain.
Eveslumpedtothefloor,hereyesclenchedshutandherbodysprawled
amongthewreckageofherroom.Shefeltlikearagdoll,limpanddefeated,
andforwhateverreasonthebumpsandcollisionsfeltmoretorturousthanever
before.
Twolarge,clawedhandsroughlygraspedhershoulders,pullingherfrom
thegroundandsittingheruprightagainstthewall.Sheopenedhereyes;Fairon
wascrouchinglowtotheground,hisfaceonlyinchesawayfromhers,andjust
asherlipspartedtoscream,hegrabbedatherthroat,clenchingittightlyand
liftingheruntilherentirebodydangledabovetheground.Then,withacurious
nod,hepulledherfromthewallandexaminedherclosely.
“You areamagnificentcreature,”hegrowled.
Evechoked,andherfacereddenedasshehungfromhisgiantcurledfist.
Shecoughedandgaspedforair,andFaironmerelylaughedatherstruggle.
“Becalm,”hecooed.“Iwillnotkillyou.Youwillfallintoadeepsleep—a
stateofpeacefulunconsciousness.Andyoushouldwelcomethisfate,because
you donotwanttobeawakeforwhatIhaveplannedforyou.Youdonotwant to feelwhatIwilldotoyou.”Hetightenedhisgrip.“Itisagift,thissleep.Itis anactof mercy.”
Eve’sheartracedwithdangerousspeed.Herlegsflailedasifindependent
fromherbody,desperatetoreachthefloorbeneathher,andherlungsweighed
heavy in her chest, burning as they fought helplessly for air. Eve’s hands sprang into action, clawing at Fairon’s fist until her arms were wet with his blood—yethiswoundshealedwithinonlysecondsoftheiraffliction.
EvestaredintoFairon’seyes.Sheknewthathehadwonthebattle,butstill
shedughernailsintohisskinandwriggledandwrithedwithinhisgrasp.And
thenatlastherstrugglesslowed,asshefelthismercifulsleepovertakingher.
The sound of gunshots brought her back to her senses. A hail of glittering diamondsburrowedtheirwayintoFairon’sflesh,andthenjustmomentslater
were pushed from his repaired skin just as they had been before. A line of people stood at the doorway: Percy with his gun aimed; JJ, who stood by his side; Sancho, who had evidently retrieved the two; and Jason, his face lined with fresh blood. Eve could hardly see them, but she could hear Percy as he tossed a gun to each of them, even JJ, and she could sense it when they all raisedtheirweaponsinasynchronizedfashion.
“DON’THITHER,”Jasonordered.
AtorrentofbulletsflewpastEve,targetingFairon’slegs,hisarms,anypartof hisbodythatwasn’tconvenientlyblockedbyherown.Shefeltasinglebullet
graze her already bloodied shoulder, yet she didn’t care; not while she still struggledforbreath,notwhiletheyellow,gapingbulletholesinFairon’s
bodymorphedimmediatelybackintofresh,unblemishedskin.
PercymaneuveredhiswayintotheroomandpointedhisweaponatFairon’s
raised arm, unloading a surge of bullets that tore at the Interloper ’s wrist, ripping apart the skin and bone until the hand itself fell to the ground, along withEve,whoseneckremainedinitsgrip.
Evetoretheseveredhandfromherthroatanddrewinalong,gasping
breath;shescrambledawayfromthestreamofammunitionandglancedupat
Fairon,onlytoseethatanewhandwasquicklyregeneratingfromthestumpof
hisarm.Helaughedloudlyandvictoriously,andheexpandedhiswingsasif
heenjoyedthebulletspiercinghisskin.
AsEvestruggledtoregainherbreath,herthroatandlungsstillburning
fromdeprivation,hereyeslitupwithunexpectedhope:
ThemassiveInterloperflinched.
Hisfacedropped,andhelookeddownathisshoulder.Adiamondbulletwas
lodged deep in his milky flesh—and there it stayed as a river of yellow pus oozedfromtheorifice.
“KEEPGOING!”Evecommanded.
Thefiringcontinued,andFaironlurchedandstaggeredacrosstheroom,his
bodynowlitteredwithbullets.Hestumbledbackward,crashingontothe
balcony,hisbodystrangelyfailingtoregenerate.Asheswattedatthebullets,
tryingtodeflectthem,theymerelyburrowedintohishandsandarms,andhe howledwithannoyance.
Then,withonelastbreath,FaironturnedandstareddirectlyatEve,hiseyes
shrinking to slits. His lip curled up into the tiniest of grins, and he threw his bodyovertheedgeofthebalcony,disappearingfromsight.
Percyandtheothersloweredtheirguns.Theystaredinaweatthebalcony,at
theexactspotwhereFaironhadjuststood.Evepulledherselftoherfeet—the
actalonewasastruggle—andshe,too,gapedatthemesshernemesishadleft
behind.Jasontoreacrosstheroom,racingpastthedestructiontothebalcony
overlookingthecampus.
“Whereishe? ”HeturnedtoEve.“WheretheHELLdidhego?”
Suddenly,amassive,clawedhand—thehandofFairon—reachedupfrom
underneaththedeck.Beforeanyonecouldreact,ityankedatthebackof
Jason’sshirtandflunghimfromthebalcony.
“JASON! ”Evescreamed.
Itallhappenedsoquickly.Sherantothebalcony,herbodyelectrifiedandher
limbsforcedintoaction.Sheextendedherhands,tryingtochannelhergift
in a split second, to pull Jason’s flailing body from the air before he hit the ground.Shedidn’tseenordidshecarewhathadhappenedtoFairon,andwith
desperation,shethrusthertremblingarmsoverthebalconyledge—
Andthengapedwithbulging,horrifiedeyesatthegroundbelow.
AtJason’sbody.
Eve’sstomachdropped.Jasonwassprawledface-firs
tovertheground,his armsandlegswildlyoutstretchedabovethepavement.Anawfulchillraced
through her, starting in her chest and spreading through her entire body. Her lungsheaveduntileventhedeepestbreathfeltshallowandfruitless,andthough
herthoughtswereovercomewithmadness,hereyesremainedfixedonJason’s
body.
“JASON! ”shescreamedoncemore.
Downbelow,twobodiesdartedfromRutherfordHallandontotheterrace,
both small in stature with jet black hair. Eve almost didn’t recognize Sancho andJJastheycroucheddownbesideJasonandlookedupather.
“He’sokay!”Sanchoshouted.“Yougothim!”
“He’sfloating!”JJadded.“Justinchesabovetheground!”
Thenathirdvoicechimedin—Jason’svoice.
“Putmedown,Eve!”
Evewasstunned.Herhandsremainedoutstretched,hermindstilldeep
withinhermelt.Sherefusedtomove,toobeytheircommands,oreven
acknowledgePercy,whohadbeenstandingathersideforGodknowshow
long.
“Eve,he’sfine,”Percysaid.“Yousavedhim.”
“No,”sheanswered,hervoicewavering.
“Eve,stopmelting—”
“NO. ”
Percylightlyrestedhishandonherarm,butsheswattedhimawayfromher.
“DON’TTOUCHME!”shecried.
“Eve,”herepeated,firmlygrabbingherwrist.“Pleaselethimgo.”
Evestillhesitated,staringdownatJason’sbody—hisliving,breathingbody.
Reluctantly,sheloweredherhands,thenwatchedasJasonclimbedtoallfours
and,withthehelpofSanchoandJJ,pulledhimselftohisfeet.
Everanfromthebalcony,jumpingovertherubbleanddebrisinherroom
andshovingpastthegawkingbystandersinherpath.Sheflewdownthe
stairwell,sprintingdownalltwelveflights,thenburstthroughthedoorstothe
terrace,stoppingonlyonceshehadreachedJason’sside.
Helookedbackatherwithhisfamiliar,warmsmile.
“YoucaughtmerightbeforeIhittheground,”heexplained.
Sheapproachedhimhesitantly,asiftheslightesttouchcouldbreakhim.
Withanuneasybreath,shegentlystrokedhisfacewithherfingers,staringat
himasifhewasn’treal.Suddenly,shebackedawayfromhim.
“Iwaswrong.Iwasn’tpreparedforthis.”
Percyfinallybargedthroughthedoorwayandjoinedtheothersonthe
terrace,ignoringthespectatorswhowatchedthemfromafar.Jasondelicately
reachedoutandtouchedEve’sarm.
“Eve,everything’sfine.We’reallfine.”
“No,”shesnapped,pullingherarmfromhisgrasp.“I’mnotdoingthis.”
“Eve,whatareyoutalkingabout?”
“We’renot doing this,”sherepeated.Sheturnedtofacetheothers.“Anyofthis.
TheInterlopers,themainframe,Fairon—it’sallover.We’re done.”
“What?”Jasonfurrowedhisbrow.“Eve,what’s wrongwithyou?”
“Youcould’vedied,Jason. You almostdied.”
“ButI didn’tdie—”
“IT’SME,JASON!”shecried.“TheywantME.Youalmost diedbecauseof
ME.Don’tyougetit?Aslongasyou’renearme,you’reallindanger.”
Jasonscowled.“That’snottrue,Eve.You savedme.”
“I cursedyou,”shehissed.“I’mthegoddamnangelofdeath.Anyonewhogets closetome dies.”
“Wait, what?”Jasonhesitated.“Isthisaboutyourparents?”
“It’sabout everyone,”Evecontinued.“EveryoneI’veevercaredabout—
everyone who’s ever cared for me—they’re all gone.” She glanced at the others.“Look,IwantedtodothisbecauseIthoughtIhadnothingtolose.But
now,”hereyespannedbacktoJason,“nowIdo.AndIcan’tdoit.”
“ButEve,we’reateam,”Sanchostammered.
“Notanymore.Doyouunderstandme?Destroythebeaconandthetorq.”
Percy’smouthhungopeninshock.“Youcan’tjusttellustothrowaway
everythingwe’veworkedfor.”
“Ican,andI will.”
“Don’tbesorash,Eve,”JJadded.“We’reyourfriends.”
“ForGod’ssake,JJ,we’re notfriends!”Evespat,shootingascathingglare inJJ’sdirection.
Jasontookasinglestepforward.“Eve,ifwestopnow,they’llcomefor
you.”
“ThenI’llfacethem.ButI’lldoit alone.”
Evemarchedbacktowardthetower,leavinghercomradesinthecenterof
the terrace. Crowds of people had formed, some weeping, others finally
calling for the patrolmen, but Eve hurried past them, eager to be rid of their prying eyes. She could hear Jason running up behind her; he grabbed at her arm,pullingherclosetohimonelasttime.
“Eve!”hepleaded.“Youdon’twanttodothis.I know you.”
Eve’seyesmethis,thenpannedtothetrailofblooddrippingdownhis
hairline.Ahorrible,sinkingfeelingfesteredinherstomach—itwasthefeeling
ofnothingatall,oflossandutteremptiness.Shetoreherarmfromhisgrasp
andcontinuedtowalkaway.
“It’sover.”
CHAPTER15:GOTOHELL
“Don’tyoutellanyone,littlegirl.Don’tyoutellagoddamnsoul,y’hearme?”
Evelurchedawakeinherbed;shewasshaking,herbodytensewithfear,and
so she rested her hand on her chest as if to calm the beating of her heart. As soonashersensesreturnedtonormal,shetookinadeepbreathandcursedher
ownrustyendurance.Shehadn’trealizedhowaccustomedshehadbecometo
herdreamlesssleeping—thatis,ofcourse,untilthenightmareshadreturned.
Aloudclanginginterruptedthestillness—ifherdreamhadn’tawokenher, surelythehallwayconstructionwould’vedonethetrick.Sheglancedacross
herdisheveledroom:thewallshadbeenboardedupinacarelessmanner,and
thefloorwasstillashambles.
ShehadfoughtDeanFurstforanewroom—inanewdormitorybuilding,
awayfromtheRutherfordiansaltogether—buthehadinsistedthatalldorms
werefilled. “Wewillmaketheexistingroomascomfortableaspossibleforthe timebeing.” Furst’swordsrepeatedinhermind,andshegrumbledtoherselfat thethoughtofthem.Itdidn’tmatter,anyway;thesemesterwouldbeoverina
fewdays,andsoonshewouldberidofBillington,atleastforwinterleave,if
notforever.
Aknocksoundedatthedoor.
“MissKingston?”avoicecalled.“Youokayinthere?”
Evegroanedaloud.“I’m fine,NumberTwo.”
“Youasleep?”
Evetrudgedtothedoorandyankeditopen.Outsideherroomstoodtwo
patrolmen—affectionatelyknownasNumberOneandNumberTwo,atleastto
her—andsheofferedthemacondescendingsmile.
“IfIwereasleep,wouldIhaveansweredyou?”
Evehurriedthroughhermorningroutineandmadeherwaydowntothe
lobbybelow,hertwotrustedpatrolmenfollowingcloselybehind.Officially,
theywereher“bodyguards.”Evethoughttheveryideawascomical,yetitwas deemedmandatorybytheBillingtonofficials.“Yourprotectionisimportantto
us,” Furst had coolly explained, though with the extensive media coverage surroundingtherecentattackatRutherfordHall,Evesuspectedthesecurityhad<
br />
less to do with her own safety and more to do with the protection of the university’simage.Still,thepatrolmenaccompaniedhereverywhere,asthey
hadfornearlyaweek,eversincethathorribledayinherdormroom.
EversinceshemetFairon.
TheRutherfordHalldoorswereonlyashortdistanceaway,andbehindthem
Evecouldhearamuffledchanting—thefamiliarsoundofprotestors.Though
shedarednotlookatthem,shecouldsenseherpatrolmentightentheirgripon
their firearms. She felt like screaming, but instead she bit her lip and said nothing,allowingherthoughtstodothescreamingforher.
Theyreachedtheendofthelobby,andwithahintofhesitation,NumberOne
pushedthedoorsopen.
Ahushfelloverthecourtyard.Theprotestorssilenced,theirfistsandsigns
frozenintheair.TheireyespannedfromEvetothepatrolmen,andthenthey
reluctantlydroppedtheirsignsandtrudgedtothesidesoftheterrace,creating
apathwayforEveandhersecurity.
Eveheldherbreathasshecontinuedforward.Shecouldseethehatredinthe
protestors’eyes,theabsoluteloathingintheirforcedcompliance,butshetried
to ignore their glares as she passed. A single protestor cursed at her, and anotherspatatherfeet,butEveandherpatrolmenremainedstoic.Itwasfunny
—thewholescenehadbecomecommonplace,asspittingandslurshadbeena daily staple since her reveal, and yet over the past few weeks, she hadn’t noticed.Shehadbeentoodistractedbyotherthings—thingsthatwerenowno
longerapartofherlife.
Itwasfinalsweek,andthebusinessbuildingwaspackedwithstudents.Eve
instructedherpatrolmentowaitoutsideofherfirstclass;thethoughtofthem
sitting behind her was simply humiliating, as if she were a child with two heavilyarmoredbabysitters.Still,evenwiththemoutofsight,shestruggledto
focusonherexam.SheglancedaroundthelecturehallandsawMadison
sittingontheoppositeendoftheroom,glaringbackatherassheusuallydid.
Haydenwasnowheretobefound—perhapsshewasbusydoingHeather’s
bidding,butEvewasn’tinterestedregardless.Shelookedoutoftheclassroom
windowandscowled—NumbersOneandTwowerestaringbackather,much