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CHAPTER FOURTEEN
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Wish CHAPTER FIFTEEN
It’s raining when I wake up three days later to a massive thunderstorm.And as it turns out, that results in having all classes cancelled.The past three days have been torture. The normal classes are easy enough, but the physical ones are hard. There’s one class where we have to run until we collapse. I can’t make head or tails out of it because we don’t get to ask questions.My legs are aching as I slouch on the bed, playing with a lighter that belonged to my dad. Neither of us smoked. He just always had it on him. And now I carry it with me.Beth sits on my bed, her legs folded under her. “Counselor Sam said that food will be delivered to us. We get a break. Isn’t that nice? I hope it rains every day.”“Yeah,” I murmur distractedly.I’m a little disappointed.I had come up with a small plan the other night in bed after our little guard duty.Some of the students are playing cards and boardgames, which were provided by Sam. Everybody seems majorly relieved to get a break. “
Wish CHAPTER SIXTEEN
“Bridges?” I stare at Quill the next morning as we eat breakfast in the mess together. “Where?”Quill shrugs, still half asleep, holding out his plate for Beth to dump some of the pancakes she brought for him on it. “I heard some of the older Ones talking. Apparently, there are bridges that connect the islands. But not the island you’re on. That one is only accessible by boat.”I stare down at my plate which is piled with food. “This entire place is like a thousand unsolved riddles.”Beth giggles. “That’s almost poetic, Taylor.”Quill yawns, “Yesterday sucked. I couldn’t even see you guys, and I only know a couple of Level Ones. The older students stick to themselves.”Beth glances at me. “There were no Level Zero students aside from us. Although I still haven’t seen Anderson and Blythe. Weren’t they supposed to be with us in the barracks?”Quill’s eyes widen. “You don’t know?”“Know what?” I give him a wary look. “Anderson had a freak attack at the infirmary, and his sister w
Wish CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
When I open my eyes, I see a blurry, white ceiling. I stare at it, my mind blank. I can hear voices around me, hushed ones, and when I turn my head, I see a bed with white sheets and a familiar figure lying on it.Veronica?The memories come pouring back in just as a nurse walks toward me, “How’re you feeling, dear?”But I don’t answer, my eyes fixed on a scar protruding from behind Veronica’s ear.The white wolf.It had a scar.My heart begins to pound, and I pull myself into a sitting position.What’s going on? Why does Veronica have that same scar?What happened to the wolf who attacked me?My breathing is erratic as my fear and confusion grow rampant, and the nurse tries to calm me down, misunderstanding the situation, “Relax. Both of you are fine. Dr. Brown found you and brought you both in.”“Dr. Brown?” I stare at her, suddenly remembering the large shape that had jumped over me before the wolf could attack me. Nothing makes sense right now. “Yes,” the nurse
Wish CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
I decided to stay.I don’t know why, but for some reason, knowing that I wasn’t insane and that I wasn’t seeing things made something inside me settle. Maybe that’s why the decision to stay was easier.Dr. Brown didn’t exactly speak in riddles. But she also didn’t hand me the handbook for this entire place. I study my hand where it had been burnt. She did imply that I was similar to the people here.I’ve never been the imaginative type, but my mind sure is spinning. However, I also have bigger problems than this. It seems Veronica woke up, and now rumors are flying around about how I attacked her, something which makes no sense. But rumors are rumors and always amplify. One thing is for sure. I glance down at Beth who’s still sleeping.It’s been three days since I tried to make a break for it. And since those three days, she has been giving me the silent treatment. The other Zeroes have also heard the rumors of me attacking Veronica like a rabid dog, and they’ve steered c
Wish CHAPTER NINETEEN
I have no plans of going to the director to snitch about Veronica making up rumors about me. Instead, I focus on the classes. And I focus on the other students.And that’s when I begin to notice odd things. During physical classes, most of the classes seem to be durability focused, to see our strength, to push us until we’re exhausted. But while the strength of all the Zeroes seems to vary, it’s the Ones who catch my attention. When Quill said that the Ones were broken into groups, he hadn’t elaborated that they were essentially divided into groups of two: Those who seemed weaker and uncertain, and those who seemed more confident. There was a notable difference between the two groups when it came to strength. I study them during our physical classes.It helps me distract myself from the cold shoulder treatment I’ve been receiving from my own friends. I don’t bear a grudge against Beth or Quill. I don’t really understand their reasoning for ignoring me in the first place, bu
Wish CHAPTER TWENTY
I’ve been arrested once or twice. Usually because I was up to no good.Both times were after Dad died, and both times, I was released with gazes of pity.Back then, I was still angry and defiant.But now, as I sit outside the director’s office, my hands tied behind my back like some common criminal, I feel humiliated and upset.I did nothing wrong.I close my eyes trying to mute out Quill’s shouts, which are still echoing in my ears.“Let her go!”“She didn’t do anything!”Two Level Ones had held him back as he had desperately tried to get to me and Beth, his eyes terrified.He believed me.And yet, I’m still here because Veronica made up lies about me, and I tried to save Beth. The grim-faced counselor standing next to me isn’t telling me anything. I’ve tried to ask about Beth, but all I’m treated with is silence. How long am I supposed to sit here for? The rope is cutting into my skin, but I don’t care about the rough treatment. I’m more concerned about what’s going t
Wish CHAPTER TWENTY ONE
For the next couple of days, I don’t see Beth.If the students were wary of me before, now they’re downright hostile.And it sucks.Nobody will pair up with me during physical classes, and I’ve started eating alone in the mess. It’s one thing to have grown up alone without friends. That loneliness is an acceptable one. But to be in the midst of my own peers and still be shunned like this, despite my best efforts to be nonchalant about it all, I can’t help but feel small.It’s easier to eat outside by myself and despite the cold, I feel calmer.I find a spot under an old tree, near the main building where our classes are held, and I take my lunch there. It’s my third day eating lunch there when a shadow falls over me. I look up, immediately tense, only to see Quill standing there with his own tray, his expression uncomfortable. “Hi,” he says, awkwardly, his knuckles white as he clenches the tray.“Why are you here?” I ask, abruptly.“I saw you weren’t eating at the mess anymore
Wish CHAPTER TWENTY TWO
My eyes are still burning from the sight of Jesse and Veronica making out in the middle of the mess hall as I get off the boat at the Level One island. Cursing under my breath when my right leg gets wet, I wonder what was going on in the head of whoever designed this entire place. Every island gets an interconnecting bridge except ours?Seems like the architect had something against our island.It’s easier to forget about Veronica’s hands all over Jesse when I’m busy being angry with something else entirely.Stomping toward the forest, flashlight in hand, I ignore the cold. This is why I never dated in the first place. Because all boys are scum, in one form or the other. As I locate the temple, I mutter unflattering things under my breath. I should’ve never let myself get caught up in his sweet words and thoughtful gestures. But then again—my hand falters as a thought strikes me—what if he had just been feeling sorry for me this whole time, and I just misinterpreted his kindness
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