The Awakening
Page 61
creature’shead,sprayinghisneedle-sharpteethacrosstheground.Witha
growl,theInterlopershookfreeofJasonandstaggeredtohisfeet,his
toothlessmouthtwistedintoabittergrimace.Helungedforward,roaring
piteously, and Jason quickly melted the fallen teeth from the turf, launching themstraightthroughthecreature’slifesourcelikeneedlesthrougha
pincushion,killinghimwherehestood.
AnotherInterloperswoopeddownandlandedbesideLionel,swattinghis
wing at the footballer and knocking him to the dirt. The creature pounced on topofhim,butjustashebaredhisfangsandtalons,helurchedfromLionel’s
bodyandhurtledthroughtheair,smashingagainsttheyellowgoalpostsatthe
endofthefield.
LionellookedupatEve—shewasendinghermelt,andshemethisstunned
gazewithascowl.
“Didyou—”hestammered,“didyoujust savemylife?”
“Ididn’tsaveyourlife,”Evehissed.“Isimplyended his.”
Shestartedtostormoffwhenawordcaughtherattention: “Chime, ”itsounded like,spokenbynoneotherthanLionelVandeveldhimself.Eve
pivotedinplace—sheglaredatthefootballerandballedherhandsintofists.
“God,I hateyou,”shegrowled.
ShechargedtowardLionel,herbodytremblingwithrage,andwitha
furiousswing,shepoundedherfistintohisnose.Hestumbledbackward,
grippingathisfaceasstreamsofbloodgushedfromhisnostrilsandpoured
throughhisfingers.
“JESUS CHRIST,MYNOSE!”hecried.“IT’SBROKEN, AGAIN! ”
“That’sforusingmyboyfriendasagoddamn SHIELD!”shebarked.
“You stupidbitch, Ijusthadit fixed!”hesquealed,droppingtohiskneesashe cradledhisface.“Motherof God,Ijustgotitfixed!”
AndagainEvemarchedaway,herbodywarmwithsatisfaction.Jasonrushed
toherside,glancingbackandforthbetweenLionelandEve.
“Didyoujust—”
“Yes.”
Hefaltered.“Ithoughtyouonlyfoughtwhenyouneededto.”
“Oh,Ineededtodothat.Trustme.”
Thetwoofthemspedacrossthefield,instinctivelylookingforanysignof
Interlopers, but finding none. Just as they reached the other end of the track, theywereimmediatelyhalted;Ramseygrabbedattheirshoulders,his
callousedfingersdiggingintotheirbacksashesteeredthemalongthe
pathway.
“Comewithme,”heordered.
“Wecan’t,”Jasonsaid,resisting.“Wehavetofindourfriends.”
“Likehell.You’lldowhatIsay.”
“Wherearewegoing?”Eveasked.
“ToFurst’soffice.He’scalledameeting.”
“What?Why?”
“Don’tknowanddon’tcare,butordersareorders.”Anotherexplosion
soundedinthedistance,andthethreeofthemflinchedinunison.Ramsey
noddedatthefieldbehindthem.“I’vegotshittotakecareofhere.Gettothe
dean’sbuilding.”
“But—”
“Now.”
Thecaptainscurriedaway,cursingathisclassandorderingthembacktothe gymnasium.EveandJasonhurriedon,quickeningtheirpaceasthesoundsof
screaming and destruction surrounded them. Students ran past, their faces gripped with horror, and Eve couldn’t help but stare at them as they so often didtoher.
Atlasttheyapproachedthedean’sbuilding.EvelookedatJason,buthe
insteadstaredtowardtheoppositeendofthecampus,hiseyesfocusedonthe
farawayRutherfordTower.Heturnedtofaceher.
“Gowithoutme.”
“Why?”Eveasked,panicked.“Whatareyoudoing?”
“IhavetofindPercyandSancho.Ihavetomakesurethey’reokay.”
“ButRamseysaid—”
“Gotothemeeting,”heurged.“YoucanmeetmeatPercy’sdormroomand
tellmeallaboutitafterward.”Heclutchedherhandstightly.“Ipromise.”
Evehesitated,hereyesnervouslypanningacrossJason’sface.“Canyou
makesureArmaan’sokay,too?”sheutteredfinally.“AndJJ?”
Jasonofferedareassuringsmile.“Ofcourse.”
“Pleasedon’tgethurt.”
“Iwon’t.”
Hetookafewstepsback,slowlyatfirst,andthenjoggedaway.AsEve
watched him, her hands became fidgety, her heart beat heavily, and her body wassuddenlyconsumedwithnervousenergy.
“WAIT!”shecried.
Sheracedtowardhim,andjustasheturnedtofaceher,sheflungherarms
aroundhisnecksoforcefullythathestumbledtohisside,andthenshekissed
him.Foramoment,sheforgotallaboutthesurroundingchaosandreveledin
thefeelingofhishandsholdinghercloseandhislipspressedagainsthers.Just before she lost herself completely, she pulled away from him and let out a long,relievedbreath.Hestaredbackather,hiseyeswideandhopeful.
“Doesthatmeanyou’vethoughtaboutit?”heasked.
“Yes.”Shecockedherheadtowardthetower.“Gofindourfriends.”
Theyreluctantlypartedways;JasonheadedtowardRutherfordHall,andEve
continued to the dean’s building. She charged into the lobby, slightly thrown offbyhowoddlyquietitwasinside,andfoundthegolden-hairedreceptionist
at her usual perch, flaring her nostrils in distaste at the sight of Eve. With a grunt, the receptionist pointed down the corridor, instructing Eve to head to Furst’soffice,andshedid,hasteningherstridealongtheway.
Whensheopenedthedoortohisquarters,sheimmediatelyhalted.Theroom
waspacked,filledfromwalltowallwithstudents,someofwhomwere
familiar though many were not. With a bit of authority, she forced her way throughthecrowd,finallysettlingintoaspotwithinthethickofthethrong
whereshehadasomewhatcompromisedviewofthedean.
Furstsatathisdesk,sortingthroughhisendlesspaperworkasifthiswereany
otherordinaryday,seeminglyunconcernedwiththemadnessragingjust
outsidehisoffice.Withouttheslightestacknowledgmentofthestudentsin
frontofhim,hebegantospeak.
“Igatheryou’reallwonderingwhyyou’rehere,especiallyinthemidstofsuch unusualcircumstances,”hesaid,hisvoicelacedwithahintof
uncharacteristichumility.“Asyouknow,ouresteemedcampusisbeing
attacked—anddestroyed—bytheverysamecreaturesthathavehauntedusfor
some time now. Despite the efforts of our brave and competent patrolmen, it seemswehavelostthisbattlebetweenmanandtrespasser.”
Hefinallylookedupfromhisdesk,hiseyesscanningtheroomwith
apparentindifference.
“Well,enoughwiththerhetoric.I’msureyou’renotinterestedinmy
ramblings,andquitefrankly,neitheramI.”Hepositionedanewstackof
paperworkinfrontofhimandbeganflippingthroughthepages.“You’veall
beensummonedhereforoneveryimportantreason:you’reallchimeras.”
Ahushfellovertheroom.Thestudentsstiffenedinterror,allexceptforEve,
whochuckledoverthedramaticdisplay.Furstignoredthetensionand
continued.
“Someofyouareawareofthisalready,whileitmaycomeasasurpriseto
others.Forthosewhoareunconvinced,believemewhenIsaythat
thereisno
mistake:you areahumanovus.Icouldprovethattoyouiftimepermitted,but, sadly,itdoesnot.”
Furst glanced at Eve, his eyes panning to the empty space beside her, and frowned.“Somearemissingfromthismeeting,thoughIhopethemessage
reachesthemonewayoranother.You’vebeencalledherebecausethestaffat
Billingtonisaskingyoutoleaveourgroundsimmediately.TheInterlopers
knowwhoyouare,whatyoulooklike,whereyoulive,yourpastimesand behaviors.Youarenotsafehere,notafterthisdebacle,andwhiletheyransack
thecampus,Iaskthatyouquicklygatheryourthingsandtakeshelter
elsewhere.”FurststaredatEveyetagain,thistimelongandhard.“Ifyouare
evenconsideringanyotheralternative,Iinsistthatyoudismissitatonce.Ifany brilliantdreamsofheroismormartyrdomcometomind,banishthemfrom
your thoughts. Do as I say: Leave Billington. Take cover as far away as possible.Anddosoatonce.”
Theroomremainedstill.Somestudentshungtheirheads,whileothers
anxiouslyeyedtheirfellowchimeras.Furstscribblednotesalonghismoundof
paperwork,andafterseveraltediousminutesofdisregard,helookedupatthe
crowdasifsurprisedtheywerestillthere.
“Youmaygonow.”
Thestudentshurriedfromtheroom,eagertoberidofthedean—perhaps
eagertodisappearcompletely.Evehungback,notwantingtogetcaughtupin
themadstampedeofoverwroughtchimeras.Andasshewaitedforthecrowd
toclear,hereyeslandedonaveryfamiliarface—thelastfaceshewas
expectingtosee.Hermouthfellopeninabsoluteshock.
“Areyouserious?”shespat.“Youare unbelievable.”
Madisonwastuckedinthebackcorneroftheroom,failingtohidebehinda
filingcabinet.ShesawEve’sdisparagingexpressionandscowled.
“Oh,saveit,Eve.Don’tactlikeyoudidn’tknowalready.”
“Know?Whatareyoutalkingabout?”
“Thatstuntyoupulledinthebathroom.Yousaidyouknewmysecret.”
Madisonstraightenedherneckandgrumbledtoherself.“Messedupmyback,
too.”
“Iwastalkingaboutthe deaththreat.”
Madisonfaltered.“Whatdeaththreat?”
“Don’tplaydumbwithme.Isawtheashesalloveryourbed.”
“Youleftthemthere!”
“WhythehellwouldIscatterashesonyourbed?”
“Idon’tknow.Whywouldyoustealmy husband?”
“Oh,forGod’ssake—”
“Ithoughtyouwerescrewingwithme!”Madisonsquealed.
“Screwingwithyou?”Eveglowered,herpatiencewaning.“Youwere
missing, Madison, on the same exact day that I was threatened—on the same daythatthoseashes miraculously appeared on your bed. How do you explain that?”
“I don’t know a damn thing about your stupid death threat, Eve,” Madison huffed.“Andasformegoing missing,I’vebeenprettybusywith Lionel these days,ifyouknowwhatImean.Andifyoudon’t,Imean sex.”
“Look,ItalkedtoHeatherrightbeforeIfoundthoseashes,and shesaid—”
Eveabruptlystopped.Shestaredblanklyaheadashermindfilledwith
imagesofHeather:onherfirstdayatBillington,atherinvasivereveal,inthe
hallwayearlierthatday.Shethoughtabouthershamelesseavesdroppingand herominouswarnings,andinaninstanttheroombecameblackandstifling.
“OhGod,”shemumbled.
“What?”
EvedugthroughherpocketandpulledoutMadison’ssparklyroomkey.
“Didyoutakethis?”
Madisonwrinkledhernose.“WhywouldIwantmyoldroomkey?Idon’teven
livethereanymore.”
AweightdroppedinEve’sstomach,andherexpressionturnedpanicked.
“DoyouknowwhereHeatheris?”
Madisonlaughedcondescendingly.“Godno,nordoI care,forthatmatter
—”
Therewasnoneedtowaitforhertofinish—EvebarreledthroughFurst’s
officeandraceddownthehallway,Madisonscuttlingfranticallybehindher.
“Whereareyougoing?”shecried.
“Tofindmyfriends,andthentofindHeather,”Eveanswered,coldly.
“Wait!”
Evestopped,facingherformerroommateonelasttime.Madison’slipswere
pursedasifshewastryingherhardesttoappearfearsome,butinhereyeswas
averyfamiliarweakness.Shestaredbackatherfellowchimeraandsnarled.
“Don’tyou daretellasoul,Eve.I’llmakeyousuffer—I swear.”
Eveeyedthegirlupanddown. I’llmakeyousuffer? Asifshehadn’tdoneso already. Eve finally looked her in the eye, and despite the gravity of the situation,shecouldn’thelpbutsmirk.
“Goto hell,Madison.”
Withanairofindifference,Evemarchedthroughthelobbyandoutthe
doubledoorsofthedean’sbuilding.Again,mayhemanddisordersurrounded
her,buthergazewasfocusedfirmlyonthegrandioseRutherfordTower
looming in the distance. Just as she began her journey, she felt herself being pulledbackward—twotall,statelypatrolmenhadappearedbyherside,each
onewithafirmgriponherarms,andwhiletheiruniformswerefamiliar,their
facescertainlywerenot.
“Comewithus,”oneofthemordered,steeringherwithhisgrasp.
Evewrinkledherforehead.“Whoareyou?”
“NumberOneandNumberTwo,”thesecondpatrolmanproclaimed.
“Noyou’renot.”
“We’reyour newNumbersOneandTwo.”
“Whathappenedtomy oldNumbersOneandTwo?”Evecarped.“Don’ttell
metheywentAWOL—theydiddisappearatthefirstsignofdanger.”Sheeyed
theduoskeptically.“Greatsecurityprogramyou’vegothere,bytheway.”
“They’vebeensummonedforduty.”
“Andyoutwoweren’t?”
Thefirstonewavered,butkepthiseyespointedstraightahead.“Nomore
questions.”
Evetoreherarmsfromtheirgrasp.“Look,myparentsmayhavebeendead
forawhile,butifthere’sonethingIrememberthemteachingme,it’stonotgo
wanderingoffwithstrangemen.”
“We’reheretoprotectyou,”thenewNumberOneexplained,coolly.“The
ordercamedirectlyfromDeanFurst.”
“Okay,firstofall,Idon’t needyourprotection,”Everebutted.“Secondofall, unless you get Furst to tell me himself that you’re my new escorts, I’m not goinganywherewithyou.”Shechuckled.“ForallIknow,youcouldbe—”
Sheflinched;hernewNumberTwowashoveringawfullyclosetoher,his
facepracticallyburiedinherhairasifhewas—oh,no,hewasn’t smellingher, washe?Withagrimace,sheglanceddownathishands,whichwereclammy
withsweat.Shegroanedloudlyandquicklybackedawayfromtheduo.
“JESUSCHRIST, COMEON! ”
Thetwomenstoodbesideoneanother,cockingtheirheadsinthesameeerie
fashion, and then together their bodies burst, spraying their second skin in every direction. They lunged for Eve, but she was unimpressed and short on time—withhertypicalprecisionshemeltedthetwoInterlopersfromtheirfeet
androcketedtheirbodiesstraightthroughthefrontwallofthedean’sbuilding.
Shewaitedforjustamoment—shecouldhearFurst’srec
eptionistshrieking
andcouldseealimpwinghangingthroughthecrumbledsheetrock—andthen
shecontinuedonherwaytoRutherfordHall.
Suddenly,Evetumbledtotheground,knockedfromherfeetbyapowerful
blowtoherback.Aheavyweightpinnedhertothecement,andjustwhenshe
thought she would suffocate from the pressure, a single foot yanked at her shoulderandflippedherontoherback.Shewincedinpainandstaredupather
attacker—hernewNumberOne,orperhapsNumberTwo,hisslimyskin
puncturedwithshardsofglassandjaggedwood.Heleanedinclosetoherand
studiedherface.
“Youarepowerful,butyouarenotinvincible.”
Withonehandhedughistalonsintohershoulder,andthreeslenderstreams
ofbloodpouredfromtheopenwounds.Evesquirmedbeneathhim,fightingto
wrigglefree,buthisgripremainedfirm.
“It is beautiful,” he said, captivated by the reddish liquid. “The color. The consistency.”Heburrowedhistalonsevendeeperintoherskin.“The
mortality.”
Withalookofdisgust,Evebitherlipandmeltedthecreaturefromherbody,
gaspingwhenhistalonsrippedfreeofherflesh.Shecursedloudly—as
ifthewordscouldsomehowmitigatethepain—andslammedthecreature
againstthewallofadistantbuilding,watchingwithsatisfactionashislifeless bodyfelltotheground.
Evehoistedherselftoherfeetanddustedthedirtfromhercombatuniform.
Sheignoredthepassersby—somegawkedather,stunnedbythesighttheyhad
witnessed,whilemostscreamedandranintheoppositedirection—andonce
againheadedtoRutherfordHall.
Thecampuswasnowawarzone:thepathwayswerecoveredinrubble,the
buildingswereblackenedwithash,anditseemedasifeverystudentandstaff member was running across the grounds at the same time. Eve tried to stay calm,totellherselfthatnothinghadchanged,butstillshequickenedherpace
from a fast walk to a steady jog and then to a run. At last she reached Rutherford Hall, and just as she entered the courtyard, she let out a long, aggravatedsigh.