by Barb Han
“How did you know it was me outside just now?”
“I set up security alerts once I noticed the drones making routine rounds.” He retrieves his AllinOne and then takes his seat again as he holds up the screen. “I rigged a camera outside that’s motion sensitive and wrote a program to send an alert every time it detects movement. You can’t imagine how many times I’ve jumped out of bed only to find a squirrel. But it’s a good system.”
He’s excited. He has that glittery look in his eyes like he only gets when he’s talking about technology. He’s brilliant actually.
“That’s amazing, Jax.” I’m in awe of his talent. This is the first time things are like old times between us. I stroke Chelsea and she purrs. She arches her back and then climbs off my lap and into his.
This makes Jax extraordinarily pleased with himself.
“You thought I’d kill her. Told you I could take care of a cat,” he says with a smile that doesn’t reach his eyes.
I smile, too, relieved for the break in tension. And then I remember the real reason that I’m here.
“They said my brother is dead.”
“Who did?” His smile fades.
“Eleanor Chaffee. The headmaster. Councilwoman Snyder.” I don’t lift my eyes to meet his.
“When did they say it happened?” That’s not the reaction I’m expecting. He’s not shocked at all, and I realize he must’ve been trying to tell me that day in class.
“Around my birthday. They say that my mother and brother are dead, and my brother is responsible for setting a fire that killed others.” Tears threaten. I fight them back, determined to maintain my composure.
“Your mother? When?” He’s as stunned as I was when I first heard.
“Not long after my brother supposedly went rogue and tried to kill a councilman. They say he killed his wife and children. There’s no way. Trevor would never…” a sob escapes before I can suppress it, “hurt anyone.”
“I know.” He’s attempting to reassure me. He’s never met my family. They were never allowed on campus. The only things he knows about them are what I’ve told him. “I tried to warn you, but you already know what Mrs. Randol did.”
“So you knew,” my voice is so low.
He shoots a look of apology but I’m not ready to accept it. There’s holding out information and then there’s this.
“I’ll do what I can to find out more. They might be on to me”—he gets a twinkle in his eye—“but I’m smarter than they are.”
“I don’t want you to do anything that could put yourself at risk,” I warn. I’m still mad. I understand that he had to hide the news from me. It’s still not cool.
“Come on, Tori,” he snorts. “When would I ever get myself in trouble?”
We both laugh at that one. When wasn’t he getting himself in trouble was a better question?
“I’m serious, Jax,” I say. “This isn’t setting an accidental fire in the History building because you overclocked your AllinOne.”
His expression turns serious and his right hand goes over his heart. “I’m glad you use big words now, like, ‘overclocked,’” he teases.
We both laugh.
A noise in the hallway startles us. He reaches over and shuts his closet door, effectively cutting out all the light. The room is plunged into darkness and all I can hear is us breathe. My heart’s racing and so is Jax’s but I don’t think for the same reason.
Time for me to ghost.
All is quiet after a stressful few minutes that feel like they stretch on for an hour.
“I better get back to my dorm before someone realizes I’m gone.”
Jax makes no move to open the closet door again.
“Tori,” he says so quietly that I almost don’t hear him.
“Yeah?”
“If Caius hadn’t come along when he did, do you think…” my friend gets so deadly quiet that I hold my breath, “never mind.”
There’s a long and awkward silence.
“Are we okay?” I ask.
“Yeah, sure,” he responds but it sounds like the wind has been knocked out of him.
“I miss hanging out together,” I add.
“Me, too,” he concedes.
“Do you still talk to Adalynn?” I’d told myself that I wasn’t going to ask, wasn’t going to care. And yet, her rejection still stings.
“Not really,” he says, adding, “summer,” like that explains everything.
Maybe it does.
“I better go.” This feels like the last time I’ll ever see him. Everything is dramatic and over-the-top lately and I think it’s because I miss my family. I’ve been off balance ever since hearing about my mother and Trevor.
Jax leads me outside. We stand in the yard for a few minutes, searching for drones in the air.
“When I find news about your family, I’ll send it over the AllinOne. I’ll use the disappearing message feature.” Before I can respond, his arms encircle me and he’s pulling me in for a hug.
I hug him back.
We stand there for a long while after, neither one of us knows what to say. It should be awkward, but it isn’t.
“I’ll be on the lookout for a message.” I finally speak first and I’m surprised that my voice is husky. I blame it on the fact that my eyes are starting to water.
“I’m sure that I can find something,” he reassures.
I should be relieved. I’m not. Sadness overwhelms me.
“Okay. I better go.” I turn and run, not want to show how thin my grip on my emotions are.
I make it to the cemetery before the sobs begin. When I can’t hold them back any longer, I drop down on my knees and cry. I can’t explain the emotions overtaking me. It’s late and I’m worried that Lieutenant McAvoy has been searching my room but there’s so much more than that. With everything spinning out of control I have no idea what will happen next. Everything I’ve been working for is gone. Poof.
Pushing up to my feet, I grunt when I’m knocked over. I feel the exact spot of contact explode on my ribs. Scrambling to right myself, I catch a glimpse of Rhys as he moves to stand over me.
His foot connects with my side again and I go flying. I cough, gasping for air.
“Think you can slink around at night and not get caught, Aldridge? Think again.” His foot slams into my hip.
I curl up in a ball to protect my vital organs.
“What’s your problem, Rhys? Do you need to beat up on a…a…girl to make yourself feel bigger?” The word is all I can think of at the moment. It falls short.
He circles me with a wicked grin. Any thought that this guy could’ve ever been cute dissipates. Good looking people could be quite ugly once their true personalities came out.
“Big vocabulary escape you right now, Aldridge?” he taunts.
I keep my arms in tight. He wants to hurt me. I can see it in his eyes, hear it in his voice. He’s been waiting for this opportunity for three years and he has that my-ship-has-come-in sneer.
I want to punch him in the face. Put another bruise on his cheek to match the one Caius gave him.
“Where’s your boyfriend now?” Rhys snarls, and then jabs his foot into my shoulder.
I wince and swallow my scream. I won’t give him the satisfaction of hearing me call for help.
“Anything happens to me and I’ll report you.” My argument is weak, and he knows it. I can tell by the devilish grin on his face.
“Who says I don’t have permission to be out here? I’m not an experiment-gone-wrong like you. I have a right to be here.” Rhys circles again and I’m being patient, waiting for an opportunity to strike back. As it is, he won’t stop until I can’t walk away from here.
“What is your problem?” I ask. My attempt to distract him fails.
“You. And all the other
people like you. None of you belong here. You don’t deserve to be with us.” He circles me like a buzzard ready to pick at a dead carcass. His temper is rising like flames from an out-of-control fire. “The council will be made to see the problems your kind causes in our society. I don’t care what they try to do, you’ll never be one of us.”
“Snyder won’t like this,” I warn.
“She’s not going to be in power much longer. She’s a puppet and she doesn’t deserve the office.” Rhys kicks me again. This time, I catch his foot and spin, tripping him and taking him down with me. At least we’re on a level playing field now. I can outrun him if I can manage a head start.
I throw punches and kick as hard and fast as I can. My fist connects with his jawbone, causing his head to snap back. Pain shoots through my knuckles.
I feel one of his hands tangle in my hair. He lifts my head and lands a hard right on my cheek. My face explodes and I cry out.
“You’re supposed to be so perfect. What are you going to do now?” Rhys says and there’s so much venom in his voice. I have no idea what I’ve done to make him hate me this much. But then maybe a guy like him doesn’t have to have a reason. He just hates.
I curl my right leg up until I can position my foot on his chest. With everything I have inside me, I kick. Rhys is jolted back. He’s cussing and I hear him spit. Blood? I sure hope so.
There’s enough room in between us for me to scramble to my feet. My head is already pounding but adrenaline has kicked in. I’m shaking, but it gives me the boost needed to run up the hill toward the Oak.
Rhys’s heavy footsteps aren’t far behind me and I can hear his breathing. Short. Pant-like breaths. I don’t risk looking back. It might slow me down a half-second and mean the difference between making it onto that branch and going another round with him. I’m already going to pay enough of a price for the last one.
I reach for the branch and expect to be jerked back at any second. I hear curse words and the sounds of someone rolling down the hill. Rhys must’ve tripped. Thankful for the lucky break, I scramble onto the branch. He won’t be far behind and I’ll have to slow down and keep an eye out for drones. Can I break the branch and make it impossible for him to follow? I jump up and down until I hear a cracking noise. One more and half the branch breaks, and then tumbles onto the ground.
A few seconds later, Rhys crests the hill and curses. He’s stranded. He’s not supposed to be here, so he won’t tell on me.
I pray that Caius is safe in his dorm room and not looking for me over that hill or he’ll be as isolated as Rhys.
My heart is a frantic drumbeat in my chest as I climb down and then lose myself in the trees. I hardly realize I’m limping until pain throbs up my leg. I must’ve rolled my left ankle. There’s no time to stop and deal with it now. I push on.
By the time I reach my room, my head is pounding against my temples. Caius isn’t there and my heart weighs heavy in my chest.
I check my AllinOne.
No messages.
After a shower, I fill my tub with cold water and soak my left ankle. It’s swollen up like a balloon and is black, blue, and a few shades of gray. There’ll be no dancing on that for a while. I wrap it as tightly as I can with a cold, wet hand towel.
My face hurts. There’s a cut on my cheek that looks bad enough to leave a scar and another on my hairline. At least I’ll be able to cover that one easily. I put on the sweater Trevor gave me and tug the sleeve over the white burn marks on my arm.
This time, I don’t want to cry. Dance is the one thing keeping me sane in this nightmare. The thought of having that taken away even for a little while makes me want to scream. I want off this crazy ride and out of this nightmare.
I lie there, awake, waiting for him to show.
He never does.
I’m worried.
Chapter Fourteen
Six days have gone by since I last saw Caius. The morning following my run-in with Rhys, I refused to leave bed, mainly because my body refused to let me. Now that almost a week has passed, I want back into the studio to train. My heart’s not in it but I have no choice and I need the routine.
I grab my AllinOne on my nightstand and then pull the covers up to my chin. I’m still sore but I’ve been healing, and my face looks a whole lot better. I was right about the scar on my cheekbone. They’re starting to rack up. I’ll have to cover this one with makeup from now on.
Tugging at the corners, my AllinOne opens.
There’s a strange icon in the top right corner. It must be news from Jax. I launch the message.
Things are okay with C
Stay strong, you’ll see
Lots to share
More word coming soon
On the lookout be
I won’t defend my best friend’s attempt at poetry. It’s bad. I read the note again trying to dissect the meaning. The message disappears and the icon catches fire on my screen before turning into smoke. Then, it’s gone. I panic a little bit. For a split-second, I scan my nightstand for my tablet and writing instrument so I can jot down the message.
Things are okay with C? What does he mean by that? My mind immediately snaps to Caius. How would Jax have talked to him? Unless…
Maybe he went to see Jax and asked him to send a message to me. I don’t like the two of them in the same room without me to mediate. I don’t dwell on it. My angst shifts to relief because that part has to be about Caius and he’s telling me to stay strong. The rest, I’m guessing, is from Jax. He’s letting me know that he found information and that he’ll send word soon.
This news must be big for Jax not to trust his skills at hiding these messages. That dark cloud, heavy blanket sensation settles over me. My arms are weighted down with hundred-pound weights. Because another thought occurs to me. Does Jax think I’m going to need someone around to comfort me once I hear what he found out?
I’m back in the studio the next morning, early. A strong workout isn’t possible with my ankle, but I can stretch and mark my dances. Besides, I have to leave my room or I’m going to go stir crazy. All I’ve done for the past seven days is leave for meals and Dr. Mangrove’s shots.
This morning, there was one less person dining in the cafeteria. I want to ask around to find what happened but everyone’s too worried to talk. Soon, the new crop of freshman will show up. How many more will they bring into the program? I’ll be the first graduating class of Selected kids and we started with five. The next year, we picked up another five and this year we totaled fourteen, until the washouts started. I have so many questions now.
I’ve wasted all the time I can in the studio and there’s nothing I want more than to avoid my room. I’ve managed to keep away from Rhys for the most part, though we passed each other outside two days after the incident on the hill.
I wish Caius was here.
At night, when the lights are out and I have no one to talk to, I miss my best friend, Adalynn, too.
My door opens before my eyes, and Snyder walks in.
I gasp and grab the blanket, yanking it up to my chin.
“What are you doing in here?” My sleeping clothes are on, but I’m uncomfortable with the unannounced visit.
She looks around like she expects to find someone in here. “Get dressed and take a walk with me.”
I half expect Lieutenant McAvoy to be right behind her. Relief washes over me when he isn’t.
She turns her back to me and walks right out, leaving the door open.
I scoot down to the end of my bed while keeping covers over every inch of skin I can manage. My mind spins, and I can’t for the life of me figure out what I’ve done wrong now. And then it dawns on me. She’s been able to intercept Jax’s messages.
Frustration replaces my panic. I toss the covers onto the floor and make a beeline for my bathroom. I’m out in less than five minutes. I’ve p
ulled my hair into a ponytail, and I’m wearing dance clothes, warm-up bottoms with my brother’s sweater. I feel more like myself with this on. After throwing on a pair of running shoes, I step into the hallway.
Snyder is waiting. Her arms are crossed and she’s wearing a serious expression. Her hair is piled on top of her head in a twist. There’s nothing warm about her. Does she have children? I think not. I almost ask about Eleanor Chaffee since the two of them usually like to show up together. Councilwoman Snyder is wearing a dark navy suit and matching pumps.
We stop outside my building, as soon as the sunlight warms my face.
And then it occurs to me that she might have more bad news. Maybe my mother and brother have been found. I remember her tense expression and the fake compassion she’d shown when she’d told me about my brother. No, this can’t be the same. She’s far more serious now.
She whirls around, and I don’t have to wait long for her to speak.
“Caius Fitch has been withdrawn from school,” she says without a hint of compassion in her voice.
My world just crumbled around me and my knees can barely hold my weight, but I put on a casual facade. I’ll see him once the fall semester begins, which is only a few more weeks. The thought of being alone with Rhys nearly turns my stomach.
“Okay,” I say when she doesn’t continue. “Thanks for letting me know.”
I make a move to turn around and she catches my arm. Her cold, clammy fingers wrap around my forearm. The temperature is already in the high seventies. I wouldn’t know it from her skin. I’m not surprised that she’s a cold shell of a human being. I hope that she can’t feel me trembling. I’m not afraid of her. I’m afraid that my legs won’t hold me up much longer after hearing the news about my boyfriend.
Her gaze is penetrating and she’s assessing my reaction.
I put on my best game face and shrug like I’m a disassociated teenager.
“I know you better than this, Victoria. We’ve been monitoring you closely.”
It takes everything I have inside me not to make a snappy comeback. This is a test, and I have no intention of failing.