by Mia Hoddell
“Sarah, I’m sorry. I was just trying to make light of the situation. I don’t know how else to handle this.” Misty reached out a hand tentatively, only lightly brushing Cora’s wrist as she walked by.
“Forget it. It doesn’t matter. I’m late for class anyway and I need information from Sam and Jaz. Be ready to leave when I get back, this shouldn’t take long.”
“Sar—”
“It’s fine, don’t worry.” Cora tried to soften her voice but it still sounded harsh, even to her own ears as she shut the door behind her. She hated that she couldn’t tell Misty the truth about her identity but she couldn’t trust anyone.
The reality was that Cora was worried and scared. Her inheritance made sure she was able to afford to move when discovered but even that was running thin now. Rogan was bound to know that too—it wasn’t like she could run forever—and she doubted he would let her get away this time. She had to remain alert twenty-four seven if she were to outsmart him. Nothing would escape her notice…at least that was how she reassured herself as she walked to the campus grounds.
Thick, long, green grass grew around the main lecture hall, the stone building all boarded up. Nervously, Cora scanned the grounds in every direction, searching for any sign that something, or someone, did not fit in. So far nothing seemed out of place. Students were milling around in small subject related groups. There were the physicists, art majors, English students and some less distinguishable groups. Those were the three who stood out most to Cora. The physicists had the typical geek look, the artists decided that colouring strips of their hair was the best way to be different on a budget as buying unusual outfits died out when the prices of clothes sky rocketed and everyone had to make do with what they already owned. The English students were easy to pick out as they walked around with their heads in books. Some could even manoeuvre around campus without glancing up once to take a look at the path they were on. It amazed Cora how they did that. She wasn’t a fan of reading and after trying it once and ending up in a bin, she had vowed never to read and walk at the same time again.
Watching the crowd part for a girl who had her head in a book, Cora frowned wishing she could be that oblivious as the girl lost herself in the pages, unaware of anything going on around her. As soon as she thought it, Cora became much more aware of her surroundings, reminding herself she was meant to be keeping a low profile. Standing on her own and staring was not doing that.
As the crowd merged back into clusters of people behind the girl, their eyes followed her angrily. All but one person that was.
Instead, his head was turned in her direction and Cora’s heart froze. He didn’t resemble a normal student. Defined muscle rippled under his shirt, bigger than any of the guys on the sporting course. That fact only led to one conclusion: there was only one job that needed that much muscle and that was becoming one of Rogan’s lackeys.
Making sure to keep him in at least her peripheral vision, Cora scanned the rest of the ground for more. She assumed they would be dressed in the usual black shirt and jeans attire having never seen them in anything else before. She wasn’t looking for hoodies, colour and a vague sense of style, so her eyes found at least six more easily. They were just waiting silently as they tried to blend in.
They’re not very good at it, Cora thought as her lips turned up into a grim smile. The reminder of the thrill she had gained from beating them was still fresh in her memory but so was the anger at being sold out and threatened.
Deciding that her best course of action would be to stay as close to large groups of people as possible, Cora headed towards her first class: History. She assumed they would be less likely to cause a scene in front of a crowd, but it was Rogan so she couldn’t be sure. Even if they did try and detain her, it would be harder among people, so staying with the flow of bodies, slowly, she made her way to the door of her classroom.
Checking over her shoulder once more, the uneasy feeling that came from being watched was confirmed as she saw another man leaning casually against the wall across from her class. He had his leg resting against the cream paint, leaving a black smudge from the sole of his boot as he moved uneasily. He was also doing his best to avoid meeting Cora’s eyes.
Shaking her head, Cora entered the class figuring that going back to her flat was the most dangerous of her options. She needed to know what Rogan had offered her ‘friends’ anyway.
“Why the hell are you still here?” A voice belonging to none-other than Sam shouted across the room as she moved to take her seat.
“Aww and here I was thinking I was your favourite person in the world. I even thought you had a crush on me. Oh well, a girl can dream.”
Sniggers started to fill the room as she spoke. Sam had gone quiet, his face drawn into an angry frown while his hands clenched and unclenched on the desk in front of him.
Swivelling in her seat, she turned to face Sam who was sitting behind her. She looked at him questioningly.
“Why so surprised to see me anyway? You’ve had this class with me for almost two years, what makes you think I would suddenly stop coming?” Cora asked innocently, acting like nothing was wrong in the hope of cornering him.
“No reason, you just left in a hurry yesterday so I thought something might be wrong.”
Liar, Cora thought, hearing his voice distort with the false information.
“Oh it was nothing I can’t handle. Thanks for the concern, though.” There was a fake sincerity in her voice as she spun back around, a pleasant smile on her face as she noticed the confusion plastered on Sam’s.
The fact that she had not only escaped Rogan—something he already knew—but was also being so calm about the situation had Sam on edge. Cora was not one to let something like what he had done go, yet there she was, not even interrogating him. Something was definitely off and he needed to find out what it was before she acted upon whatever scheme she was concocting.
Sam kept his eyes on the back of Cora’s pretty blonde head. As she twisted her fingers around the odd strand or ran them gently through the thick locks, he spent more time focused on her movements than what the professor was saying at the front of the room. It was like he was trying to work his way inside her mind. Nudging his arm, Jaz—the girl with the purple hair and his friend—finally broke his concentration. “What’s the matter with you? You look like a lovesick puppy,” she hissed, jerking her head in Cora’s direction. What she didn’t know was that Cora could hear every word being spoken.
“Like anyone could love her, she’s a freak.”
Lie. Sam didn’t believe what he was saying and it showed as his voice reached Cora’s ears. She recoiled automatically at his words, hoping that Jaz’s accusation was not correct.
“Don’t play dumb, you know better than me that there are plenty of guys who would love to get with her.” Cora could almost hear Jaz’s eyes roll with her words.
“Yeah and look what happened to the ones who did try it on. I’m sorry but I’m quite happy with the way my face looks, I don’t need my features rearranged.”
Truth. Cora felt herself grinning at the fear in Sam’s words as she remembered the last guy who had tried to force himself on her. The next day he came in with a broken nose, black eye, and a torn lip. She was too busy reminiscing to question why Sam hadn’t denied anything yet.
“So why you staring then?” Jaz pressed and Cora held her breath as she waited for his response.
“Wouldn’t you like to know what’s going on inside her head? She’s taking all of this too well and I don’t like it.” He lowered his voice to barely a whisper but Cora caught the gist of what he had said.
The words rang true in her mind and Cora’s smile grew even wider at Sam’s confusion and nervous energy. Turning around to face them both, they jumped apart instantly. Their ‘not guilty’ looks were laughable at best, but Cora ignored them.
“Do you have a spare pen I can borrow? Mine stopped working,” she enquired innocently, holding up the biro and shrugging
.
“No, we don’t,” Jaz spat when it became obvious Sam wasn’t going to respond.
Cora shrugged again, not displaying any emotions on her face. Inside she was laughing uncontrollably and as she turned back to face the front of the class, she caught Sam mouthing ‘What the hell was that?” to Jaz as she shrugged.
“I don’t know, but I think you may be right,” she mumbled in response, causing a satisfied feeling to spread through Cora.
Good, they’re on edge, she thought as looked around the room, studying everything. Watching the professor, his eyes seemed to linger on her a little longer than they usually would have as he marked down their attendance. When she saw them widen in response to her presence, Cora knew her time had run out. Of course he would have been given orders to inform Rogan of her presence.
Instantly, Cora’s eyes found the fire alarm in the wall next to her seat. It was the reason she had chosen to sit there. Spinning, Cora snatched Sam’s pen, stabbing at the glass to break it and sound the alarm; ignoring his protests.
The sound of the siren immediately began to wail throughout the building causing people to panic. Since the riots, alarms sent people into frenzied mob—something Cora was banking on to get her out of the room unseen as she stood with them all. Hurrying towards the door with the flow of people, she grabbed a hold of Sam and Jaz, hauling them in her direction as the corridors filled with screaming people and the thuds of footsteps.
They couldn’t fight her in among everyone so letting her drag them along, it wasn’t until fresh air filled their lungs did they try to struggle. However, arms full of folders and books, Cora was too strong for them. Continuing to follow the crowd, the alarm started to become quieter as they walked further away from it.
Out in the open, people started to calm down as they realised there was no fire. Instead they remained standing in big groups on the grass, waiting to be let back into the building.
It was the only chance Cora could see she was going to get. “So why did you do it?” Cora demanded, cutting straight to the point as she angled her body so she could see both Sam and Jaz, as well as the three men she assumed to be Rogan’s. They were keeping their distance and trying to look like they belonged but they just didn’t.
“Do what?” Sam asked, choosing to plead ignorance.
“You know what I’m talking about and it’s probably in your best interest not to lie to me again.” Cora threatened, aware of the little time she had. Giving them the most sinister look she could muster, her eyes flicked between them before checking the position of the men. They were still keeping watch but not advancing which was good.
“We have no idea what you are talking about, Cora,” Sam spoke, his words ringing with the lie.
“Liar.”
“Yeah right. I’m your friend, I would tell you if I knew something.”
“Lying again.” Sam’s eyes darted to Jaz anxiously and Cora was pleased that her demeanour had at least one of them worried.
“Okay, forget what you did. You and I both know the truth so I don’t need a confession. What did Rogan give you in exchange?”
She was met only by silence.
Sam looked across at Jaz, eyeing her as if in question to what they should do. Seeing this, it was clear to Cora that Jaz was the one making the decisions.
“Go and annoy someone who cares, Jaz.” Cora took a threatening step forward to emphasise her point. Thankfully, she got the message and casting a sidelong glance as a way of apologising to Sam, Jaz left.
Once Jaz was out of sight, Cora took a step closer towards Sam, reaching out her arms so they wound around the back of his neck. To anyone passing by it may have looked like they were in a relationship but from the rigid posture of Sam’s body, Cora could tell he didn’t like how this was playing out.
“Put your hands around my waist,” Cora ordered. If she couldn’t get the information from him, she was going to at least give Rogan’s men something to question.
Complying, Sam placed his hands on her hips lightly. It was better than any alternative Cora would offer.
“Good, now do as I say and I won’t make your situation any more difficult by making Rogan think you’re involved with me. He doesn’t like people touching his property and if you get your way and I get caught this could end very badly for you if he thinks you’re helping me.”
“You bitch!” he hissed and went to break free.
Tightening her grip so he couldn’t pull back, Cora laughed cruelly. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you. Now place your hands back into position and tell me what Rogan offered you in return for your information?” Her lips grazed his ear as she spoke, her tone low and menacing which caused Sam to shiver with fear.
Plastering a fake smile on her face, she pulled back slightly to watch Sam’s reaction. He looked torn, she could see half of him wanted to tell her and the other was both worried about what might happen if he told and if he didn’t.
“Come on, or do you want to give the man behind us a real show? It’s your choice.” Cora’s face was deadly serious as she spoke but there was a hint of a smile that signalled she was enjoying tormenting Sam a little too much.
“He didn’t offer us anything,” Sam whispered.
Instantly Cora shuffled a little closer, trailing her arms down his spine as she pressed her body right against his. Her head lowered so her mouth was level with his ear.
“You’re lying,” she whispered, her breath caressing his neck and causing him to shiver as she called his bluff.
Sam remained silent and when Cora got no response she pulled her arms back making sure one finger trailed along his jaw as she spoke.
“You’ll break by the end of the day and things just got a hundred-times worse for you. When Rogan hears about how his snitch is playing with his new toy before he can, I won’t be the one denying it.”
Cora had no intention of getting caught, and she knew Rogan wouldn’t care about Sam unless he was helping her. Regardless, Sam didn’t know that and it seemed the mention of his name could be a very powerful threat. Something Cora locked in her mind for future reference.
Chapter 4
He had been watching her since she arrived on campus and it had come as a shock when he found out their False Finder had in fact been Cora. Once that had been revealed, he had made sure to keep his distance and tail her from afar unlike the others. After receiving first-hand experience of how good Cora was and how sharp her instincts were, he figured she had probably noticed most of the men placed around campus already—it’s not like they were blending in successfully.
She would receive a shock when he met up with her, though. There was no way she would be expecting to see him after what happened last time and he would love every second of it. Rogan may have not wanted anyone to hurt her physically but that didn’t mean he couldn’t have his fun before handing her over.
With a sinister grin he resumed watching her. She hadn’t changed much. Her hair had grown so it stopped in the middle of her shoulder blades but that was it. She still had a petite frame, with only small curves that were highlighted by the tight, navy tank top, jeans, and cropped black jacket but nothing else looked different. He had to admit the new development with the guy who snitched on her was a shock. He just couldn’t figure out why Cora was getting so close to him.
Maybe she doesn’t know it was him, he thought, and his day was getting better at the prospect of being able to ruin a young love as well as earning a big cash bonus. He deserved it after having to follow her around all day.
He pulled out his mobile to check how long they had been on the stake out and noticed he had a message: Leverage acquired.
Pocketing the phone with a sinister smile, he knew it was time to move in and that Cora wouldn’t escape him. When he looked up again, though, she was gone.
His eyes flew around the campus, rapidly falling on individuals in the hope one of them was her, but none were.
A fleck of blonde hair disappearing around the
corner of the building caught his attention. When one of his men started off after it, he knew that’s where she had gone and began following quickly.
* * *
After leaving Sam, Cora had taken one last look at Rogan’s men and disappeared into the crowd. She blended seamlessly into the mass of bodies that were heading back into the building and following Jaz, she let her lead her towards the canteen. Cora thought she may be able to get her to crack if she was on her own. But with the amount of people filing through the rooms Cora lost sight of her for a second. Scanning the crowd frantically, Cora searched for the strand of purple hair that would stand out.
There, Cora thought, her eyes landing on Jaz as she exited the room through a door on the opposite side of the room. Aware that her time was running out, Cora began to try and push her way through to get to Jaz, but the protests from people caused her to become the centre of attention. As people parted to scowl at her, the gap they left gave Cora a clear view of Rogan’s men who had followed her.
Their eyes locked on to her like homing missiles as they began to make their way towards her. At the sight, Cora forgot all about Jaz, her heart speeding up as she moved on instinct. Jumping through the nearest exit, Cora picked up a run as soon as she was free from the crowd, taking off down the hallway. She wound her way through the corridor, taking as many turns as possible to try and make sure the men wouldn’t trace her steps.
Just as she was rounding the last corner that would take her to her lesson the voices she heard stopped her.
“Is this really worth it, Jaz? You know what she’s capable of…hell she could make things much worse for us, me in particular, if Rogan gets hold of her.”
Peering around the wall, Cora saw Sam stood in front of Jaz. Her back was pressed against the wall as Sam cornered her. Cora’s shoes dragged against the floor, squeaking loudly on the tiles.