Page 37 of In Between Darkness

A noise reaches us from down the hallway; our heads snap in its direction.

“You said you wanted to trust me,” his voice is a whisper. “You have to get out of here.”

He takes my hand and leads me back to his bed. He sits down and pulls me with him.

“I don’t know how I got here, let alone how to get out of here.”

I watch as he thinks for a minute.

“When you were pulled out last time, how did you do it?” he asks, facing me.

“I suppose I was startled. You looked back at me when I wasn’t expecting it,” I reply, hoping that my answer will help me get back.

“Great. Harness that feeling,” he says with hope in his eyes. “You can do it.”

I nod at him and shut my eyes. I think back to the dream from before. Seeing Ryder’s face and reaching out to touch it, his head snapping in my direction. I feel the pull. Like gravity. And suddenly, I am in my bed again.

Chapter Thirteen

I look around me. It’s dark now. Nala is not in her bed yet; she must be out with Charlie. I glance at the clock on the wall. It’s eight p.m. I’ve been asleep all afternoon. I trace my finger over the back of my head to see if the bump has gone down yet. I wince at the touch. It’s much smaller now but still painfully present. I must have hit it pretty hard. I turn my focus to my hand and unwrap each layer of bandage to inspect the damage Alex caused. The last of the bandage peels off. The grium jelly has worked. My hand now looks good as new. There’s not a mark on it. I clench my fist and open it again as if testing out the new layer of skin. Thank the Gods for healers.

I sit back on my bed and cross my legs. Did I really just dream walk? I furrow my brows and slide my curtain open, giving me a perfect view of Moon Castle. I reach for my telescope and place it over my eye, turning the dial for clarity. They should be up any minute now. The door creaks open, and I fumble the telescope away, pushing it under my pillowcase.

“You’re awake! How you feeling?” Nala strides towards me, tucking her midnight black hair behind her ear, wrinkles of concern forming on her face.

“Oh. I’m fine, really.” I force a smile and show her my hand. “See, not a mark on it.” Her eyes fix on it.

“Thank the Gods for Healers.” She examines my hand in awe whilst plonking down a brown paper bag next to me.

“Thought you might be hungry.” She looks up at me with a smile. “I snuck you some bread and some sausages. I tried to get more, but Miss Worthington was watching like a hawk.” She pushes the bag towards me, urging me to take it.

“I’m actually starving, thank you.” A genuine smile forms on my face as I dip my hand in the bag and rummage for a sausage and a small bread roll. “How long was I out?” I ask her whilst tearing the roll in half and pushing the sausage inside it.

“At least eight hours.” She watches me as I take a big bite out of the sausage butty. “I came and checked on you a couple of times, but you were out like a light.”

I force the dry roll down my throat and swallow it, making a loud gulp sound.

“You came and checked on me?” I question thinking about my vacant body on the bed and my mind in Ryder’s dorm room. “Did you notice anything strange when you checked on me?” My voice trembles a little as I ask this. I pull another sausage out of the bag and bite it to disguise my worry.

“Strange? No, nothing strange. Why do you ask?” Her eyebrows rise, intrigued by my question.

“Just making sure Alex isn’t plotting his revenge on me,” I say, forcing a chuckle out of my lips and tearing at the sausage in my hand.

“He’s been in the healing quartersall day.” She laughs a little. “Hopefully, he burned some sense into himself.”

I fake a small smile and nod, finishing the last bite of the sausage. Her smile grows, and she looks intensely at me, like she’s about to explode.

“Now that I know you’re okay, you can help prepare for tonight.” Her eyes dance over mine as if she expects me to know what is happening tonight.

“Tonight?” I think hard and rub my head as if it will expose some clarity.

“My visit,” she beams, and a high-pitched squeal rings from her mouth.

Of course, it’s the night before her eighteenth birthday. Tonight is the night she will get her Gifts.

“Oh, my Gods, yes. How could I forget?” I can’t hide my excitement and gently squeeze her hands in mine. “You must be so excited. How can I help you prepare?”

“I just need you to ease my mind. I’m so fucking nervous I think I might shit my pants.”