CHAPTER SEVEN

The plan is to make a break at midnight when everyone would be asleep.

But as the time approaches, now bathed and clean, lying in a clean bed, my eyes feel heavy. I can already hear Beth snoring from the bunk bed under me. I can’t blame her. I’m equally exhausted.

However, I know this might be our only chance. Otherwise, who knew what tomorrow would bring?

I can feel my eyes slipping shut, and I force them to stay open.

My eyes are on the small, faded wall clock. Amidst the sounds of heavy breathing and snores, my own eyes flicker.

I must have fallen asleep because when I jerk awake, the small needle is on two.

Shit! I slept through midnight!

I’m about to wake Beth when something catches my attention. A soft, scraping sound.

I recognize the sound almost immediately.

It’s the sound of the window being slowly pushed open.

I go still.

Someone is coming inside. Through the window, no less.

Before I can decide between waking Beth or just straight up jumping the intruder, I hear a feminine voice whisper in annoyance, “What the hell? This place is clean. I thought it was a mess.”

A snicker from a second person, “Smells pretty nasty to me.”

That’s enough.

“Who’s there?!” I call out sharply, and I hear something thud against the floor and then there are startled cries from the rest of the occupants of the room. Without missing a beat, I jump from the bed and rush toward the switchboard, flicking on the lights, and letting it flood the room.

I see a tall, blonde girl with blue eyes standing next to the window. She doesn’t look scared or even guilty.

She’s not alone, though. Once the lights are on, five other people enter through the window: two boys and three more girls.

The “Zeroes” are all looking frightened at the sight of the new entrants.

I guess they have reason to be, seeing how badly we were all just treated hours ago.

“Who are you?” I demand.

The blonde girl just chuckles, before glancing at her friends. “This one has a tongue. Maybe we should scorch it.”

My eyes narrow. “I’d like to see you try.”

“Now, now,” she titters in an obnoxious manner. “You really should mind your manners and watch how you talk to your betters.”

“Excuse you?” I stare at her.

“Before you say something you’ll regret, you should know that we are Level Threes.”

I glance toward Beth who is now standing beside me, before I snort, “I’m sorry. Is that supposed to mean something?”

I see the girl’s eye twitch at my deliberately careless tone.

One of the guys with her, a good-looking boy, snickers, “They must have sent you here because you’re an idiot. We are Level Threes. That means we are stronger than you.”

“Once again,” I’m beginning to feel annoyed. “What does that have to do with you breaking in while we’re sleeping?”

“Don’t listen to her, Gareth,” the blonde girl sneers. “This one I’ll see to personally.”

My brows arch.

She’s going to do what to me?

“Bring in the bags,” the girl smiles.

Bags?

Before I can blink, I see all five of them throw small bags that look suspiciously like balloons in our direction. They burst, and we’re all suddenly covered in foul-smelling blood.

There are screams throughout the barracks as the younger kids cry out in terror, having realized that they are drenched in blood.

Even Beth is shaking but not even a sound escapes her mouth.

“What in the heck?!” I shout. “Are you guys crazy?!”

“Welcome to Mistfall Wilderness Camp!” the girl laughs.

I’m starting to feel like this camp isn’t for delinquents but sociopaths.

Beth sidles close to me, only to be grabbed by one of the boys by her braid. She lets out a pained cry and the boy grins.

“Hey, Veronica, this one is kind of pretty, no?” He exchanges a look with the other boys. “Maybe we should take her outside and have a little bit of fun with her.”

“Try it and see what happens,” I snarl.

Beth is struggling, and Veronica grabs her jaw, inspecting her face, before a malicious smile covers her face. “I have an idea. Let’s use this one to teach the rest a lesson. Cut off her braid.”

Beth’s scream is full of terror as she begins struggling violently.

“Taylor!”

I don’t hesitate, my blood searing. I dart forward, pushing the boy closest to me away from Beth. They clearly didn’t expect me to attack them.

Not like I had any other options.

I don’t waste any time, grabbing Beth and yanking her toward me, toward the door.

“Everybody out!” I roar, and the blood covered Zeroes rush outside.

Finally, it’s just me and the five Threes.

My lips curve, my voice mocking, “Oh, I’m sorry. Did I hurt you? Did a Zero manage to hurt a Three?”

They seem to place a lot of pride on being a Three, so why not taunt them with it?

“How dare you touch Fred!”

“How dare you touch my friend?!” I snap back.

Veronica rushes at me, and her friends are not far behind. I’m no stranger to taking a beating, but these five students are not only fierce but strong as well. There is no way I can win against five of them all on my own. But that doesn’t mean I won’t give back as good as I get.

Punches are thrown, along with kicks. I shield myself to the best of my abilities.

Then I see Beth run inside, screaming my name, a fierce look in her eyes. Veronica’s head whips to the side, and this time when her eyes meet mine, she looks positively gleeful. She rushes toward Beth, her hand raised. For a moment, I think it’s glowing red.

I hear Beth’s cry of pain as Veronica’s hand circles her neck, slamming her into the wall. Beth’s screams of agony are terrifying. “It’s burning! Let go! It burns!”

Veronica is just laughing.

I don’t know what comes over me. I am already angry, but this time, this heat building inside of me is different. It’s more vicious, an animalistic drive overtaking me. I can feel myself moving, but it’s like my brain is disconnected. It’s like my body and mind are two separate entities in this moment. The back of my right hand feels like it’s on fire right now and something inside me is pushing, desperate to get out.

I throw off my attackers, and their cries of pain as they slam against the bed frames barely pierce me. My body is moving faster than it has ever has. I grab Veronica by her long, pretty hair and yank her off Beth, who sinks to the floor, whimpering. Veronica’s eyes are round with shock, and I throw her outside. But what I had thought was a push turned out be so much more as she flies toward the forest, her body hitting the ground at intervals until she comes to a rolling stop.

I climb down the steps just as the same counselor who had treated us like trash comes rushing toward us, shouting, “What are you doing?”

He comes to a stumbling stop as he gapes at me, “What the hell was that?”

“They attacked us!” One of the Zeroes sobbed.

“I’m not talking to—”

“They freaking attacked us and were trying to torture us!” I snarl.

Beth’s screams are still echoing in my ears. Her pleas for mercy are engraved in my brain.

I want to kill them.

Veronica struggles to her feet, “You little—”

“Enough,” the counselor looks pale now. “Enough. You lot return to your island. You’re not supposed to be here. Go! Before anyone sees you and you get in trouble!”

Veronica’s companions are already standing at the entrance, all badly bruised.

Fury fills at his words. “And you!”

When the counselor looks at me, my eyes narrow. I can see the distaste in his eyes. This one has chosen to hate me on sight, and I just know he’s going to punish me for all of this.

Just as he’s about to say something, his phone rings. Frustrated, he digs into his pocket for it, and his face turns even whiter when he sees the name of the caller.

“M … Ma’am—” A brief silence followed where he seemed to be on the verge of peeing himself. “Y … Yes! I’ll send her right away! I’ll bring her myself!”

Veronica and her friends have already left at this point, hurrying away.

The counselor ends the call and then meets my gaze, his voice shaking but grim at the same time, “The director wants to see you.”

The who?!