by Anita Oh
“Where are you going?” asked a voice out of the shadows.
Audrey spun around, crouching into fighting stance before he’d even finished speaking, but it was only Thorne.
“I told you she’d try to run away,” he said to the other two, who were standing behind him in the doorway to one of the rooms. Even though they’d changed into sleep clothes, all three of them looked like something off a magazine cover.
“Isn’t that for the best?” said Koko. “For everyone.”
“She’s just scared,” Peg said, reaching out a hand toward her as if she were a timid animal. “Hey, you know we’re all on the same side here. We just want to help.”
Audrey narrowed her eyes at him. She didn’t think he meant he’d help her escape.
Thorne clicked his tongue. “If you run away, the president will be angry with us. She’ll punish us. You heard what she said tonight. You don’t want to get on her bad side, trust me.”
Audrey shook her head. She didn’t want to get them in trouble, but they had to understand this was for the best.
“Dangerous,” she told Thorne, her voice barely a whisper.
“The president is dangerous,” said Thorne. “That’s what you should be worrying about.”
Audrey turned away. Someone like him could never understand.
“Go on, then. See if we care,” Thorne said as Audrey headed downstairs. “We don’t even want you in the group. Just make sure you tell the president we had nothing to do with this!”
“Will you shut up, Thorne!” someone called from down the hall. “We’re trying to sleep.”
Someone thundered down the stairs behind her. Peg, of course. He fell into step beside her, not talking. A moment later, she heard the other two following.
“So, where are you headed?” asked Peg. “I used to travel a lot when I was a kid. On tour with my dad, you know? He’s Huxley King. I haven’t really been anywhere since I joined the academy, though. Maybe I should come with you, experience the freedom of the road.”
Audrey gave him a hard side-eye.
“Yeah, you’re right,” he said. “It wouldn’t be fair to deprive the world of all this! Still, it doesn’t seem right letting you go off on your own when you’re in danger. You’re so tiny!”
Audrey raised an eyebrow and pulled a dagger out of her pocket, flashing it at him to show that she could take care of herself.
“Woah!” Thorne said, throwing himself down the stairs and in front of Peg. “No need to get violent!”
Audrey rolled her eyes and kept walking. Peg laughed and smacked Thorne on the shoulder.
“Look, don’t knife me, but I want to show you something,” said Thorne. “Just come with me for one minute, and if you still want to go, we won’t try to stop you.”
“Really,” said Koko. “Don’t let us stop you.”
At the bottom of the stairs, Thorne headed down a hallway to the right, not even looking back, as if he just expected anyone to follow him when he told them to. That was part of what made him so dangerous, Audrey thought. If he decided to flash his sunshine beam, he could probably get anything he wanted at any time because it left people so blinded and dazed. He hadn’t even smiled, and she was still following him. She’d have to keep on her toes around him, if she wasn’t leaving.
Thorne stopped about halfway down the hall, knocked and then opened a door on the left and went inside.
“It’s okay,” said Peg. “You can go in.”
Koko rolled her eyes and leaned against the wall, picking her fingernails.
It was the most amazing room that Audrey had ever seen. There were wall-to-wall monitors showing every last inch of the property that wasn’t a private room. Two guards sat at a desk, constantly monitoring the screens, though they both held up a hand to acknowledge Thorne when he entered, as if they were used to him dropping by.
It was impossible to feel unsafe in this room, because you could see a threat coming a mile off. More than a mile, because it showed the street view as well.
“There was some trouble a few years ago with fans getting access to the property, so the president installed all this,” said Thorne. “She takes security very seriously. Any unauthorized motion is detected and sets off a sequence of alarms here.” He pointed to some screens that had wavy lines and bleeps that Audrey didn’t understand but which the guards could obviously read because they kept pressing buttons and typing notes about them. “Depending on what triggers the alarm, there’s a tactical response team standing by that’s equipped to deal with any threat, but there are also protections in place to end any threat without fighting.” He motioned toward a set of monitors flashing magical symbols. “When the president says she’ll protect you, you should believe her.”
Everything looked quiet inside the house. A couple of kids walked down a hallway, chatting. Some girls were practicing a dance in the living area. Outside, nothing moved. Then Audrey realized that something seemed off. She took a step closer to one of the monitors, pointing.
Perched in a tree on the street outside was a small boy with massive wings instead of arms. The eyes of a big cat shone from across the street. And there, in the shadows by the gate, was a hulking form. Even though she could barely make out the outline, she knew who it was.
The alpha.
“They followed us home from dinner,” said Thorne. “As soon as you set foot outside this property, you’ll be in danger. Run away if you like, but if you do…” Thorne drew a finger across his throat in a slashing motion.
Audrey knew he was right. She couldn’t take her eyes off the screen with the alpha. She wasn’t sure if it was just her imagination, but he seemed bigger, darker. If he could gain that much power from the first part of the ritual, she couldn’t imagine what he’d be like when it was finished and was filled with the power of some dark lord or whatever. He was already a monster. She couldn’t let him become even stronger.
She looked across at Thorne. He was watching her carefully, and she knew he understood. Somehow, even though he was her complete opposite in every way, he understood how it felt to carry such a heavy burden.
Her shoulders slumped.
But just because she couldn’t leave, didn’t mean she’d sign the contract and join Supernova.
She followed the others back upstairs and went into her room. She knew she wouldn’t sleep with the alpha just outside, even if she logically knew he couldn’t get in. Instead, she lay awake, trying to think up a new plan of what to do.
By morning, when Peg knocked on her door and said the president had sent a car for them, she felt prepared. She’d rehearsed the words in her head a thousand times so that when she went to say them, they wouldn’t get stuck and not come out properly. She’d also revised the words a thousand times so their meaning would be clear. She only had to say them once: Let me do something else instead. Anything else. Something I am capable of.
Even if it meant she couldn’t see Eli, that was definitely the best option. If she made the president see that she’d be much better off doing something she had basic skills in, she was sure the president would see reason. After all, it was a business; she’d said it herself. The president couldn’t possibly think anyone would pay money to see her, that she could sell dreams. It didn’t make any sense.
They took their seats in the car in the same formation they’d sat in at dinner: Audrey beside Peg, with Thorne opposite and Koko at an angle. As soon as the car started moving, Peg bunched his jacket up under his shoulder to use as a pillow for his nap. Koko started watching something on her phone. They both seemed tired, with dark shadows under their eyes, but Thorne looked perfect. He rested his head against the window, staring outside. He seemed so deep in thought that when he stretched out his legs and his foot bumped against Audrey’s, he mumbled an apology without looking up.
As they pulled out onto the street, Audrey was on high alert, searching for any of the Followers. It didn’t take her long to spot them — they weren’t exactly trying to
hide. One of the more human-looking ones approached the car, and Audrey leaned forward, gripping the door handle, ready to jump out and fight.
“Wait,” Thorne said, touching her wrist lightly. “Watch.”
Audrey glanced at him curiously, but he kept looking out the window. The Follower reached out to touch the car, but before he could get close enough, he jumped back in shock, clutching his arm.
“There’s a protective barrier,” said Thorne. “The president has it written into all our contracts that we can’t be harmed while on company property. If she promised to keep you safe, nothing will hurt you. She has powers you can’t even imagine.”
Audrey looked out the window again and noticed that the Followers had fallen back and were regrouping. She knew they were going to report to the alpha, and she wondered where he was, why he wasn’t with the others. She thought it was too much to hope for that his absence meant he was starting to give up on her and the whole stupid apocalypse plan.
As they reached the business district and got closer to the Sparkling Gems office, Audrey wondered if she’d see Eli today. Even if it was just in passing, that would be enough. It seemed strange that it was only yesterday when she’d first met him, and even stranger that already she kind of missed him. She twisted the ring on her finger but barely felt anything from it, only a slight sense of warmth.
Suddenly, Thorne grabbed her by the hand. For a moment, her only thought was how soft and smooth his skin felt, how comforting the weight of his hand in hers. Then she realized he was touching her and tried to pull her hand back, only he was holding her too tightly. Those muscles underneath his tight t-shirt weren’t just for show.
“What is this?” he snapped. “Where did you get this ring?”
Using all of her strength to pull out of his grip, she snatched her hand back. “Friend,” she said, scowling at him. Somehow, she didn’t like him asking questions about it, as if he was invading something personal between herself and Eli. She tucked her hand under her leg so he couldn’t look at the ring.
He didn’t ask any more questions, but he kept glaring at her.
“Shut up, Thomas Thorne,” she told him.
Beside her, even though he seemed completely asleep, Peg huffed a laugh.
As they got closer to the office building, Audrey noticed that there was a crowd gathered around. She hoped it wasn’t the same angry mob as the day before.
“What’s going on?” Koko asked, looking up from her phone. “They’re not fans.”
She was right. They looked mostly like business people from the surrounding buildings. They weren’t swarming like they had been the day before, Audrey noticed. Rather, they looked focused on a particular point, as if they were drawn by something.
But as the driver slowed down to turn into the underground carpark, Audrey saw what it was that had captured the crowd’s attention. It was the alpha. He stood on a raised garden bed outside the Sparkling Gems building, a clawed hand wrapped around the neck of an old woman.
Patty.
Without even thinking, Audrey threw herself out of the car and sprinted toward them. She heard car tires screech and people yelling at her, but she couldn’t worry about that. She had to save Patty. Patty was her friend. Patty had helped her, had been kind to her when she was all alone. Patty had had such a sad, unlucky life, and Audrey couldn’t let it end here.
When he saw her racing toward him, the alpha threw back his head and roared.
“Audrey, no!” yelled Thorne, right beside her. He grabbed her around the waist to stop her going any closer, and tried to drag her toward the building.
She struggled against him. “Patty!”
Patty’s eyes were wide, terrified. She clutched her yellowed string of pearls in her hand as if it were a lifeline.
Vaguely, Audrey noticed Koko and Peg standing either side of her, the security guards filtering out from the building, and the Followers gathering behind the alpha, but the only thing she could really see was the terror in Patty’s eyes. Patty didn’t cry or scream; she seemed beyond that.
Around them, the people in the crowd murmured to each other. What is that thing? What kind of monster? Why don’t they stop him?
He turned his glowing red stare to Audrey.
Thorne’s grip on her got even tighter as she kicked and screamed, trying to get away from him. Didn’t he understand what was happening, what the alpha would do to Patty if Audrey didn’t save her?
“We have to get her into the building,” Thorne said to Peg. “I can’t keep hold of her.”
Audrey took that as a sign that he was weakening and doubled her efforts, but he was too strong. She screamed as Thorne lifted her off her feet to carry her inside.
Thorne spoke quietly into her ear, trying to be comforting, but she didn’t hear a word of it. Something about guards and protections; none of it meant anything. The only protection Patty had was Audrey, and he wouldn’t let her help.
She shook her head, blinking tears from her eyes.
As they reached the revolving doors, the alpha roared again. The sound of it stopped Thorne in his tracks for a moment. Just long enough for Audrey to turn her head and see the alpha snap Patty’s neck. Patty crumpled to the ground.
Within seconds, the alpha and his Followers were gone, their job done.
As the guards cleared the crowd, Audrey got a glimpse of Patty’s body lying among the flowers on a city street that had never cared for her.
Chapter Eight
Audrey was vaguely aware of Thorne carrying her into the president’s office and sitting her on a sofa. Her hands wouldn’t stop shaking. Even with her heavy army coat on, she felt unbearably cold. Thorne and Peg talked quietly with the president, and Koko sat down on the sofa beside her. She opened a can of soft drink and set it on a low table in front of Audrey.
“The sugar will help with the shock,” Koko said, patting her on the arm awkwardly.
Audrey stared at it, listening to the fizz of the bubbles. She didn’t see how it would help. It couldn’t bring Patty back to life. Still, it was something for her to do. She picked up the can, hands shaking so much some of the liquid spilled out of the top. She slurped it up, then nodded her thanks to Koko.
“When my father died, they made me drink Earl Grey tea with like ten sugars in it,” Koko said. “Even now, the smell of bergamot makes me vomit.”
Audrey sipped at the drink. Eventually, the president came over and pulled around a chair to sit down in front of Audrey. She was still wearing the sunglasses, but they were a different pair today, cat’s eye with pink rhinestones on them.
“We’ve claimed your friend’s body, and we’ll organize a service for her when you decide what you’d like.”
Audrey nodded. That was really nice of the president. Unexpectedly thoughtful. It was weird, though, how the president was speaking in this hushed, careful voice, as if using a quieter voice would make Patty less dead, or make Audrey feel better about it.
“You’re not to blame yourself for this,” the president said. “Or Thorne. He was only trying to stop you from getting yourself killed.”
Audrey looked up at Thorne, who was standing behind the president. She shook her head. She understood now what Eli had said yesterday. The only thing she could control was her own actions, and that was what she intended to do. “I blame the alpha.”
The president nodded. “Good.”
There were so many thoughts swirling around in Audrey’s head that she couldn’t focus on any particular one. She wished everyone would stop looking at her, those worried little glances as if she might snap at any moment. She wanted to be alone, to process this, to figure out what she wanted to do from here.
She wanted to run.
She wanted to hide.
She wanted to kill the alpha.
Most of all, she wanted to go back and do everything differently. She wanted to reset the morning and save Patty. To go back to yesterday and do everything differently. She’d get Patty out of town, som
ewhere safe. Better yet, back to the day she had arrived in town and not meet Patty at all. Go to a different town completely. All those decisions she’d made that had led to the point of Patty’s death – if she could just change one of them, everything would be okay.
They all seemed so close, those decisions, as if she could reach out and touch them, just flick a switch and take them back, make everything different. Why couldn’t she do that? It should be so easy.
She didn’t blame herself. She knew she wasn’t responsible for something the alpha had done, but that didn’t change the fact that Patty was dead because she’d met Audrey. And people would keep dying until the alpha was stopped. But he wouldn’t stop until he had Audrey and could complete his ritual.
The president was still talking, but Audrey hadn’t been listening to a word. Words were empty. Audrey cut her off.
“I want my memories back,” she said.
There was only one reason she could think of why the alpha would’ve taken her memories, and that was because they held the key to stopping him. If she had her memories back, she could put an end to all of this. If she had her memories back, she could defeat him.
The president nodded. “I can do that,” she said. “But memory is a tricky thing. It might take some time.”
As long as Audrey stayed safe, the alpha couldn’t complete his ritual. The only way he could hurt her was by hurting people she cared about, but there weren’t any of those left. Everyone she knew was protected by the president’s contract. Anyone else was either dead or forgotten.
She nodded.
“You realize that if you’re adding conditions to your contract, I will need to do the same. There needs to be balance.”
Audrey wasn’t an idiot. She’d expected as much, but she didn’t care. Whatever new conditions the president thought up would be worth it if she could defeat the alpha and be safe.