Page 23 of Wicked Dove (Institute Thirteen #1)

SEVENTEEN

ELODIE

Ifrown as I glance at the clock that hangs above the television in the trailer. I really need to tidy up my fold-away bed before my parents get home, which isn’t for another few hours, but if I plan on meeting Walker early, I need to start now.

Hugging my old, worn blanket tighter to my chest, I try to find the strength, but it feels harder than usual today. Instead, I close my eyes and give myself thirty seconds to dream of another life before I have to get my butt in gear.

I imagine what it would feel like to want to go to school, to have parents excited to see me when I get home.

I imagine what it would feel like to be surrounded by people who want to be with you.

It doesn’t have to be in a mansion, or even a house altogether.

It could be here still, the three of us huddled together tight on the tiny sofa with a movie playing.

To be loved like that is like a dream and my heart swells at the thought.

I imagine what it would feel like to be carefree.

The constant struggle to survive the day from the moment I open my eyes is exhausting.

Sometimes more exhausting than others, like today, where my energy is zapped by simply waking up.

I wonder what it would be like to start the day with a smile, a heart full of hope, and optimism for what’s to come.

I picture a little space for myself, with flowers on my blanket and a grin on my face as I bask in my life. Instead, it weighs me down like an old comforter that’s seen better days. Someday, I’ll see better days. I hope. I just have to make it through these days first.

Prying my eyes open, I feel a single tear slip through my lashes, and I sigh.

Time’s up.

I can save my daydreaming for when I need to help myself fall asleep tonight. For now, I need to keep on surviving. Besides, there’s hope for me today since I’m meeting Walker soon. As long as no one realizes I skipped school, it will be fine.

A knock on the trailer door jolts me just as I swing my blanket off.

Ignoring it, I remain frozen in place, waiting for whoever it is to go away.

My parents aren’t home, and I shouldn’t be either, so once they take the hint, I can get myself ready.

Another knock comes moments later, sharper this time, so much so that I hold my breath, hoping that helps, but with every thump of my pulse in my ears, worry threatens to get the better of me.

The last thing I need is for my father to find out I’m here and not at school. Not that he cares about my education, it’s just another reason for him to be mad.

Thankfully, after the third knock, a good five minutes go by without another sound, confirming the coast is clear. Swinging my legs over the side of the small, ratty bed, I push to my feet when the door suddenly bursts open, and I yelp.

The stench of cigarettes fills my lungs as a man charges into the trailer. His nostrils are flared as he sneers at me, darkness dancing in his jet-black eyes.

“Where is your father?” he snarls, not bothering to look around the trailer for the man himself.

I shake my head, panic leaving me frozen in place. “I don’t know.”

“He owes me,” he snaps, slamming the trailer door shut behind him as he takes a step toward me, and I gulp.

I have no idea who he is, but the leather jacket he’s wearing with a sword-pierced heart on the sleeve tells me he’s part of The Heartbreakers. They run the gambling scene, so it’s no surprise that my father owes them money.

“I’ll let him know,” I mutter, wrapping my arms tight around my middle, and he snickers, but it’s far from humorous. If anything, it’s a promise of danger.

He shakes his head as he takes another step toward me and I stumble back, my legs hitting the bed frame behind me, but I manage to stay on my feet.

“Nah, maybe you can repay his debt instead,” he says with a smirk, and I shake my head as my hands tremble.

“I don’t have any money.”

He lifts his hand, pressing his thumb against my chin as he forces my head back an inch to meet his gaze. “It’s not money I’m after.”

The air lurches from my lungs, stealing my next breath as he shoves against me. My back hits the flimsy mattress beneath me, knocking the remaining air from my lips. My eyes bug out, my back arching off the bed in pain as I feel the press of his knee beside me, making the mattress dip.

That one feeling, that one understanding of what’s to come, sets me into action.

I shove at his chest with all of my strength, but it does little to deter him as he swings his other leg over me, closing me in.

I don’t bother to waste energy screaming; no one would come if I did.

Instead, I buck my legs, desperate to make contact as he grabs my wrists and pins them down above my head with one of his meaty hands.

Rage courses through me as he snags at the collar of my t-shirt, the sound of rending fabric tearing through my heart. He outweighs me, there’s no doubt about it, but I refuse to give in.

Not that he seems to get the memo, as he doubles his efforts, grabbing at the waistband of my pajama pants.

I scream this time, the sound and panic instinctive, even though I know no one will be alerted by it, but it fuels me with a surge of strength and I manage to slip a hand free from his tight hold.

I claw at his face, hating the feel of his hiss against my cheek as I dig them in deeper, snapping my teeth at him, knowing without a shadow of a doubt that I will bite the hell out of him if I get the chance.

I should realize what’s coming when his hand is gone from my waist, but it’s only when he smacks me across the face that I consider any form of consequences for my actions.

“You’re going to pay for that, bitch,” he snarls, red marks tracking down his face as my cheek pulses from his touch.

There’s no stopping it, no denying it, but I can’t bring myself to succumb to it.

Staring into his bleak eyes, fear coils tight around my throat as I brace myself. I can’t look. His features are already burned into me for all of eternity, so I close my eyes, tears spilling from the corners of my lashes as I try to resist, then he’s suddenly…gone.

There’s no dip beside me on the flimsy mattress, no meaty hand around my wrist, no nauseating scent of stale smoke engulfing me.

Scared, I dare myself to pry one eyelid open, and when I do, I’m looking up at an angel.

Walker.

I startle awake, heart ricocheting in my chest as sweat clings to every inch of me. Glancing around, I quickly realize I’m in my bed, and Ocean is passed out in hers.

I’m safe. Well, safer, I guess.

I’m tucked away in Institute Thirteen and nowhere near the man who tried to harm me.

I swallow the lump in my throat as I’m reminded that I didn’t experience a nightmare, but a dark memory from my past. I shiver, sitting upright in bed with my back plastered against the headboard and my knees tucked under my chin.

My back burns, making it clear that Rion’s acknowledgment of my scars is what triggered it to haunt me tonight. I don’t need the memories to flash across the back of my eyelids; I have the constant reminder against my skin.

Later that night, when my father got home, he burned and hurt me in ways that man never could have.

Why? Because I didn’t pay his debt like a good little girl.

The heat intensifies at my back, another reminder as I take a deep breath, failing to ground myself as one thought flickers through my mind.

Maybe if I had activated my magic then, I could have siphoned their evil to use it against them.

Instead, I’m left with scars that will never heal.

Staring at my reflection, my uniform does nothing to hide the pain I feel. The remnants of my nightmare hang heavy under my eyes and the slump to my shoulders makes me look defeated, no matter how much I try to stand tall.

I’m already tired and over this day, and it hasn’t even begun yet.

“You’re eager for the day,” Ocean hollers, leaning against the door frame, snapping my attention to her.

I offer her a half smile as I run my hands down my blazer. “I’ve been awake forever.”

Her eyebrows pinch in confusion as she steps farther into the walk-in closet. “Are you okay?”

I nod. “Yeah, I just had a bad dream and couldn’t get back to sleep.”

She might be the closest thing I have to a friend around here, but that doesn’t mean she needs to know everything that lives in my head.

“That’s the worst,” she mutters, squeezing my upper arm in comfort. “I had a dream that you had a baby crocodile in here, and despite my better judgment, you convinced me it would be a good thing, which I’m sure it was until it got out of its tank thing and charged at me.”

“Uh… that’s weird,” I mutter, and she scoffs.

“Well, it only got worse when I was hollering for you to help me and you just kept yelling ‘One minute’ from the bathroom like I wasn’t dying,” she adds with a snicker, and I grin.

“I’m sorry the dream version of me did that to you,” I say with a playful pout, and she swats my arm.

“Anyway, about yesterday,” she blurts, the air changing around us as I brace for impact.

She doesn’t mean yesterday specifically; she means when she saw me hurt Tiran.

I shudder at the memory. “I wanted to make sure you were alright. That looked like a lot and I can’t imagine how it felt, but it definitely drained you.

You were passed out when Kael finally let me up here. ”

“Kael let you?” I repeat, ignoring the fact that Rion may also have played a part in draining me.

“It was nothing,” she insists, waving me off, and I shrug.

“Honestly, the whole thing just left me more confused,” I admit, glossing over it the best I can as my gaze drops to my palms.

“About your abilities?” she asks, and I grimace.

“Yeah.” Guilt trickles down my spine. I don’t know why, and I know it’s not actually my fault, but it twists me up in knots.

“Well, I think that was awesome,” she states, eyes wide with a hint of wonder, and I gape at her.

“I’m supposed to have benign magic, Ocean. That’s the only reason they kept me alive.”

She waves me off again. “Don’t worry, Kael gave me a lecture on keeping my mouth shut.

Honestly, I’m surprised they didn’t just have Thorne erase my memory too,” she admits, and I can’t deny the fact that I’m just as surprised.

“Regardless, I’m glad they didn’t. I’m here for you, but seriously, thank you.

You had my back out there. No one has ever done that before.

That makes you my friend.” She says it with such clarity that it takes a few seconds for me to remember how to speak.

“Thanks, it was nothing,” I mumble, but she sees right through me.

“No, it’s something, but I won’t make a big deal out of it because you’re blushing already,” she says with a wink, making my cheeks heat more, and it’s my turn to wave her off.

“Give me two minutes and I’ll be ready. Are you set to go?

I bet you’re starving, I know I am.” She turns away from me, reaching for her uniform, and I slip into the main part of the bedroom, giving her some privacy.

“I’m as ready as I’ll ever be,” I state, making my bed as I consider how good Thorne’s magic worked yesterday.

What if Willow, Tiran, and their friends take one look at me and remember? Then I’m definitely dead. I take a deep breath, trying to shake the feeling off, but it’s futile.

Thankfully, Ocean appears, ready in her uniform as she silently heads for the door.

She swings it open, waving for me to step out, but I’m frozen in place at the sight of Kael, Rion, and Thorne all waiting in the hallway.

Ocean follows my line of sight and quickly slams the door shut before turning to me with her arms folded across her chest.

“What’s going on?” I ask as she nervously nibbles at her bottom lip.

“Rion showed up last night,” she blurts, and my eyes widen in surprise.

“He did?”

“He insisted on seeing you.”

My eyebrows furrow in confusion. “Asleep?”

She nods, grimacing slightly. “He stormed off after that, but I thought you might appreciate one of these,” she states, rushing to her nightstand where she pulls something out and offers it to me.

“It’s a camera. I have one set over my bed,” she explains, pointing to the small device hidden in the top corner of the room.

“You could do the same for yours. You just have to link it up to your phone,” she offers, grabbing my hand and placing it in my palm when I don’t immediately take it from her.

I smile, curling my fingers around the device as I meet her gaze. “Thanks, but I don’t have a phone.” Embarrassment threatens to claw up my throat, but if she notices, she doesn’t acknowledge it as she waves me off.

“We can figure it out. Put it in your nightstand for now,” she says, and I do just that as she grabs the door handle, ready to leave.

She waits for confirmation, and the moment I shut the drawer on my nightstand and nod at her, she pries the door open again to find the three of them still standing in the exact same spot.

“Can we help you?” Ocean asks, planting a hand on her hip as she cocks a brow at them, but they ignore her as Kael’s stare meets mine.

“After much consideration, and as Elodie’s guardian, I’ve decided it is essential, after yesterday’s events, that she receives a daily escort to The Vale.”