Page 36

“So you’re out of the cell and back in the closest.”

Daniel nods as I drop beside him. “I have you to thank, I suppose.”

“Is that you thanking me?”

“You want a fruit basket or something?”

“That would be nice. They gave you a book after all.”

Daniel’s gaze lingers on the open volume. “Yeah, boring as hell, but at least it’s something.”

I turn serious. “They want more details about the green pills. They want to know how many you took and where you got them.”

“Good.”

“My story rattled Clausen. He was very specific in his questions. He wants to know if I saw three or seven. What is it about these pills?”

Daniel quiets for a moment. “The green pills are a controlled narcotic they use to sedate me. Since they’re tightly controlled, there’s no way I could have had enough to overdose unless one of Clausen’s own gave them to me.”

My eyes widen. “You’re creating dissension in the ranks.”

He nods.

“And the three versus the seven?”

“The staff’s access is restricted as well.

Two is the dose. He was hoping for a clue as to who’s responsible.

Less than three and it could have been anyone.

Three to six, and there are only a few since that requires access to the pharmacy.

Seven or more, and he’d know it was someone who could get to the source. That means Dr. Flores or Chambers.”

“Instructor Chambers?”

He grunts. “She’s his right-hand goon. The fact that you got to her so easily didn’t sit well, I can assure you of that.”

“Is that really how you did it? Wouldn’t they have seen all this in your lab report?”

He looks away, and my heart constricts. “Yes, they saw green pills.”

“So it’s true then. Someone did help you.”

“I’m not going to tell you more. Clausen bought your story because you didn’t know anything else.”

“But if someone’s helping you, can’t they help in other ways? They could help us get out.”

He shakes his head. “I never said anyone helped me. I’m not going to tell you more, so let’s not waste the rest of our time together.”

I cross my arms. “I thought I was finally proving myself to you. I’m supposed to be the knight, remember? But you keep treating me like a pawn in your own game.”

“We’re on the same team.”

“Are we?” His gaze snaps to me in alarm, but I like controlling the conversation for once. “I’ve been choosing to trust you, but how do I know you’re not their most powerful weapon against me? How do I know you’re not their queen?”

“Where’s this coming from?”

“That’s not an answer. How can I trust you any more than I trust them? I know how badly you want to get out of here. Wouldn’t it benefit you more than anyone for them to turn their attention on me?”

His wounded expression pulls at something deep, but I’m not wrong to ask these questions.

“You have no reason to trust my side of the events any more than theirs,” he says quietly.

I stare at him in disbelief. What? He’s supposed to be angry at my lies. Defensive.

“That’s it?” He only studies the floor. “Daniel! Answer me!” I yank his arm and force him to look at me.

“I’m tired,” he sighs. “I wanted out. You’re the one who kept this going.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

He leans back and closes his eyes. “Believe me or don’t. You’ll have to pick a side on faith. Things will go a lot smoother for you if you choose Clausen.”

Fire blazes through me. “Bullshit! I’ve given you my heart and soul. I’ve cried myself to sleep over you. I gave up friends, stood publicly for you, and was even willing to give you my virginity. And that’s all I get?”

His eyes narrow as he leans toward me. “I never asked for any of that. In fact, I’ve always wanted the opposite. How many of these bruises are because of you? Do you even know?”

I curse again and jump to my feet. “Fine. Have it your way.”

I pound on the door to signal the guards.

“Rebecca, wait!”

“Enough,” I hiss. “You win. I’ll leave you alone.”

“Rebecca!” He grabs my arm, and I jerk away.

“Don’t touch me!”

“They’re going to come back!”

“Good! We’re done here.”

“Please!” He’s pleading now. “Just stop and listen! You don’t understand how this works. I’m sorry. I don’t have much control over myself right now.”

I pull away, but he wrecks me with the expression on his face. My heart erupts in the storm that rages every time we’re close. I love him so much I don’t even know how to say it.

“I know you want to hate me,” he says, but he couldn’t be further from the truth. I’m ready to tell him that when the door bursts open.

Guards rush in and grab both of us as the scene plays out in a blur. Daniel curses. I’m pulled from the room and struggle against their grips. Pain. My arms smart from the pressure of fists around them.

“Calm down, miss. Are you okay?”

I still when I sense I’m not the one in danger, and the man lets me go once we’re in the hallway.

“We got here as fast as we could. Did he hurt you?”

Did he hurt me? What? I open my mouth to respond. But what? I asked for them to come. I wanted out. To punish Daniel for his silence, his resignation, his betrayal. My tongue freezes, my skin tingling with anxiety. Something isn’t right, though. I made a mistake. Yes, I’m the one who messed up.

The scene spirals back into focus, and I charge into the room where they have Daniel pinned against the wall.

“Stop it! Stop!” I scream, rushing at them.

Stunned by my interference, they let go and Daniel falls to the floor. I ignore everything except my dazed roommate who’s already suffered several blows. I’m a monster.

“Daniel?”

His gaze shifts to mine, and I shoot a furious look at the guards. “He didn’t hurt me,” I spit at them.

“Well, he shouldn’t have resisted. He attacked Foley.”

I continue to glare at them. “Actually, I’ve changed my mind. Give us a minute.”

“That’s not a good idea. He could be dangerous.”

“I’m not worried about that. Go!”

We’re all surprised at the venom in my command. It’s enough to send them away again, and I turn back to Daniel who’s managed to push himself up to a sitting position. He coughs and wipes at some of the blood on his face with his sleeve. His eyes rest on me, and my conscience screams its apologies.

I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean it.

I reach for one of the fresh welts on his face and gasp.

“What is it?” he asks. “Another vision?”

I nod slowly, mesmerized by the scene. He lets me watch, but it doesn’t play out as expected. I have no idea what to do with it. For all his strength, I don’t know how he’ll handle this one.

“Rebecca?”

I draw in a breath and scan his broken face, the pain I’ve caused. How can I possibly injure him again? That I’ve fallen in love with him is obvious. How I’ll survive the reality is the question.

“I saw the surgery,” I whisper, taking his arm and running my fingers along the scar under his sleeve. He doesn’t move. “There were no implants.”

He pales and shakes his head.

“I’m sorry. I know that might be difficult to hear, but it’s not your fault. They did a good job tricking you. At least now we know.”

He pulls his arm away. “No, that’s not true.”

“Daniel, listen to me. I saw them. They cut you open and did something, but there was nothing implanted in you. I’m sure of it.”

“No! You don’t know what you saw!” He pushes me away when I reach out to him.

“You know I’m not lying,” I say gently. “At least now we know we can escape.”

He covers his head and drops to the floor.

I’m gutted by the angry sobs that follow. He twists away from any attempt to comfort him and pounds his fist into the wall. “No! It’s not true! I didn’t spend my entire life as a prisoner here because of some stupid joke!”

“It wasn’t a stupid joke. It was extreme manipulation. There was no way you could have known.”

“But I tested it!” he cries, all the pain of the last eleven years flooding his eyes. “I spent three days in the infirmary afterwards!”

“I can’t speak for how they did that, or what they actually did in that surgery, but I know there’s nothing inside you keeping you here.”

He looks like I’ve punched him.

“I know it doesn’t seem like it now, but we’ll find a way to use this.”

After a long pause, he closes his eyes. His cheeks are still wet, his face flushed with old trauma. “Tell them you saw six green pills.”

“Don’t you want to talk about—”

“No. I pulled six green pills out of a sealed Madison Academy envelope.”

“That would confirm someone helped you.”

He nods. “Clausen will have no choice but to suspect his staff. We can play on his longtime fear that eventually someone would show mercy.”

“Has anyone ever tried to help you?”

“Clausen is careful.”

I wait, and he sighs. “Yes, a couple of times. It never ends well.”

“So what’s our next move besides the six pills in the envelope?”

“Nothing. He’s coming.”

Clausen scans his stepson before focusing on me. “You two have a way of making things eventful.”

“Your men are brutal,” I hiss.

“They’re cautious.”

I feel Daniel’s gaze and rein in the rest of my retort. “I was hoping to finish in time for tonight’s movie. Can we go?”

Clausen nods. “What about you, Daniel? How are you holding up?”

“Fuck you,” Daniel says with a glare.

“Well, I suppose we should be grateful you got your spirit back. Come, Rebecca.”