future!”
“ The Outlanders already claimed the lives of several citizens,” adds Paige. “They come here with their bad attitudes and primitive weapons. President Beaumont is right to capture and hold the Outlanders until we integrate them into our society.”
Cameron snorts. “Join our society? You realize this is just a ploy, right? Once the majority is gathered together, the President will make sure they’re extinct. Then he’ll send the League out to finish the rest of them off. It’s disgusting.”
Summer begins to sweat at Cameron’s words, and her heart knocks against her chest. She’s so frozen and afraid to move she wonders if she can fake dead so they’ll leave her. She wishes to wake Jaden, but is afraid they’ll see her move.
“ These girls are victims of the old ways,” states Gage firmly. “They aren’t the enemy.”
“ We’ve seen their trickery,” barks Max loudly and is shushed immediately.
“ Those scars are real—some of them newer, some of them years old. This is obviously not some story,” disputes Cameron. “And Summer’s starvation is blatant. They aren’t a threat!”
“ Shut up, White Hat. You aren’t even a doctor yet,” mutters Paige. Max laughs.
Summer can taste the tension in the air it’s so thick.
“ You’re just jealous that you’ve wasted your life training to be an actress when you know they won’t let you on screen with your hideous face,” Cameron snaps back bitingly.
There’s a scuffle, and whispers break out.
“ Stop it!”
“ Grow up.”
“ You’re going to wake them!”
“ You’re just a splash head!” sneers Cameron.
“ And you’re a goldhole!” insults Paige.
There’s a gasp before silence spreads like a menacing gas, and Summer wonders what a “goldhole” is.
“ You did not just say that?” Cameron finally says, hurt.
“ I’ve heard the rumors. Spreading your legs didn’t help you, did it?” The sound of a slap echoes in the night air, and Summer shudders at the sound.
“ I guess what’s between isn’t as golden as you believe,” continues Paige. “Because you were still called to duty with the League.”
“ Cameron—no!” shouts Gage, the argument escalating.
There’s no mistaking the sounds of a fight exploding only twenty feet away from Summer’s head. No longer frozen, she shakes Jaden awake, and then points to the full-blown fight. Jaden’s brown eyes go wide at the sight, and Summer begs with her eyes for them to run. She’s scared, her heart beating like a snare, her breath quick with anxiety, and her body phantom aching from her mental scars of being beaten. Faster than she thought Jaden could move, she’s yanked to her feet.
They take off down the beach, Summer’s body protesting with the exertion. Jaden’s arm wraps securely around her waist as she practically drags her into the trees. Regardless of the excruciating pain, she’s completely unrepentant about eavesdropping on their conversation.
Shouts erupt down the beach, and she hears them yelling, “They got away!”
Jaden pulls her into a thickly vegetated area and pushes her into the thickest section, following behind. They crouch there, breaths thick with fear.
“ If they come close, don’t try to run. Hopefully they’ll think we’ve gone farther than this,” Jaden whispers right into Summer’s ear. “Also, shut your mouth so they can’t hear you breathe if they are close.” Summer nods once and holds completely still, her blood rushing through her veins and breath rattling.
“ They can’t have gone that far,” says Max to someone.
“ Not if Jaden had to carry Summer,” Paige adds with a laugh. “Everyone, turn your heat vision on.”
“ Shit,” Jaden breaths.
Summer remembers reading something about heat vision one time—means even in the dark they’ll be able to find them just by their body heat. The water! she wants to shout, but knows she won’t.
Footsteps are coming in their direction and they
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