on.
“Show me something of interest. Something I can work with. Something I can build off,” she had said on her way out.
So I sat down, crossed my legs, and pretended I was anywhere but here.
The first half of the day was a whole lot of nothing. A whole lot of her entering and leaving the room, sometimes yelling, sometimes talking in a hushed whisper. But every time, telling me that I better do something. That I better not be trying to pull one over on her.
She doesn’t believe that I don’t know what she wants from me.
So she brought in small objects. Tested the strength of my magic by making me cast a number of spells, and when that proved satisfactory, she moved on to my volation skills. It was a series of tests, just like the ones I performed when kept in the Correctional Facility, and not a single one of them satiated whatever Clara is looking for in me.
I know this because she made a point to point it out. A million times over.
When four finally decides to show itself, Clara walks into the room, her lavender eyes tight and flashing with anger. “Tomorrow will be different. Tomorrow, you will show me something more than a deadpan stare. Do you understand?”
My lips are glued shut with betrayal and anger. They have been for hours now. I don’t look up at her when I nod. My head doesn’t even feel connected to my neck. My body doesn’t even feel connected to this moment. I’m positive I’ve entered hell. That this place couldn’t be any worse than the Underground.
I think she huffs. “You may go.”
My legs somehow find the strength to stand, and I turn for the door. It’s half open when she adds, “And remember, Middleton, not a single word.”
Blood, screams, and horror. That’s what I see and hear. That’s what her words really mean.
The door slams shut behind me, and I can’t move quickly enough. My feet, my lungs, and my heart aren’t working hard enough, aren’t supplying me with enough oxygen to carry me to my freedom. To deliver me back to the safety of my friends. Back to the comfort of Jaxen’s arms.
Four Elites stand in front of the elevator, talking about some rumor concerning the Priesthood, but my ears barely register what they’re saying as I turn back and head for the stairs. I don’t want to be around anyone. Not a single person except for those I trust.
Two at a time, I rush down the stairs as heat flares up my body, wrapping my skin in bright pink. When I make it to the bottom, I shove through the door and continue running, heading in the direction I left Jaxen and the others this morning.
My mind is in so many places, yet nowhere at all. It’s filled with all these words, all these truths and secrets that don’t fit, yet can’t be released. The faces around me blur as sweat drips into my eyes. I reach up to wipe it away when a shoulder slams into mine.
Hands latch onto my arms, stopping me before I can take off again, and I almost scream. My mouth opens wide and all the emotions that have beaten against my heart and hammered against my skull rush up my throat, dying for their escape.
But his voice suspends them.
“Faye? What’s wrong!” Jaxen asks, squeezing my arms tightly. Shaking me until I look at him. I blink a million times until my vision clears enough for me to find his green eyes. For me to see the panic that’s so plainly taken over the rough features of his face.
Without thinking, I throw my arms around his neck and hug him to me. He’s here. He’s safe. He’s alive. I press my eyes closed and inhale his leathery scent. Dig my fingers through his hair. Never has he felt this good in my arms. His touch alone jumpstarts my heart back to life. Kick starts my brain into thinking the nightmare was just that—a nightmare, and nightmares have no place in the world only the two of us share.
His arms slowly give and wrap around my waist, holding me close. I feel his chin nuzzle into the curve of my neck. Feel his lips press against the
“Show me something of interest. Something I can work with. Something I can build off,” she had said on her way out.
So I sat down, crossed my legs, and pretended I was anywhere but here.
The first half of the day was a whole lot of nothing. A whole lot of her entering and leaving the room, sometimes yelling, sometimes talking in a hushed whisper. But every time, telling me that I better do something. That I better not be trying to pull one over on her.
She doesn’t believe that I don’t know what she wants from me.
So she brought in small objects. Tested the strength of my magic by making me cast a number of spells, and when that proved satisfactory, she moved on to my volation skills. It was a series of tests, just like the ones I performed when kept in the Correctional Facility, and not a single one of them satiated whatever Clara is looking for in me.
I know this because she made a point to point it out. A million times over.
When four finally decides to show itself, Clara walks into the room, her lavender eyes tight and flashing with anger. “Tomorrow will be different. Tomorrow, you will show me something more than a deadpan stare. Do you understand?”
My lips are glued shut with betrayal and anger. They have been for hours now. I don’t look up at her when I nod. My head doesn’t even feel connected to my neck. My body doesn’t even feel connected to this moment. I’m positive I’ve entered hell. That this place couldn’t be any worse than the Underground.
I think she huffs. “You may go.”
My legs somehow find the strength to stand, and I turn for the door. It’s half open when she adds, “And remember, Middleton, not a single word.”
Blood, screams, and horror. That’s what I see and hear. That’s what her words really mean.
The door slams shut behind me, and I can’t move quickly enough. My feet, my lungs, and my heart aren’t working hard enough, aren’t supplying me with enough oxygen to carry me to my freedom. To deliver me back to the safety of my friends. Back to the comfort of Jaxen’s arms.
Four Elites stand in front of the elevator, talking about some rumor concerning the Priesthood, but my ears barely register what they’re saying as I turn back and head for the stairs. I don’t want to be around anyone. Not a single person except for those I trust.
Two at a time, I rush down the stairs as heat flares up my body, wrapping my skin in bright pink. When I make it to the bottom, I shove through the door and continue running, heading in the direction I left Jaxen and the others this morning.
My mind is in so many places, yet nowhere at all. It’s filled with all these words, all these truths and secrets that don’t fit, yet can’t be released. The faces around me blur as sweat drips into my eyes. I reach up to wipe it away when a shoulder slams into mine.
Hands latch onto my arms, stopping me before I can take off again, and I almost scream. My mouth opens wide and all the emotions that have beaten against my heart and hammered against my skull rush up my throat, dying for their escape.
But his voice suspends them.
“Faye? What’s wrong!” Jaxen asks, squeezing my arms tightly. Shaking me until I look at him. I blink a million times until my vision clears enough for me to find his green eyes. For me to see the panic that’s so plainly taken over the rough features of his face.
Without thinking, I throw my arms around his neck and hug him to me. He’s here. He’s safe. He’s alive. I press my eyes closed and inhale his leathery scent. Dig my fingers through his hair. Never has he felt this good in my arms. His touch alone jumpstarts my heart back to life. Kick starts my brain into thinking the nightmare was just that—a nightmare, and nightmares have no place in the world only the two of us share.
His arms slowly give and wrap around my waist, holding me close. I feel his chin nuzzle into the curve of my neck. Feel his lips press against the
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