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CHAPTER TWELVE
Last Updated:
2023-03-17 17:43:32Related chapters
Wish CHAPTER THIRTEEN
My mind is in shambles when I get back to the island. Both Quill and Beth claimed to have seen nothing.My mind is racing.Ever since I left Texas, strange things have been happening. The sudden quick healing, the quick bursts of strength, what I saw tonight—I can’t wrap my head around any of it. Nobody else seems to be behaving or thinking the way I am. Tonight, what I saw was in a public place. Somebody should have reacted. But nobody did.Does that mean that I’m seeing things?Maybe I’ve finally gone insane.Nothing is making sense to me.“Taylor?” Beth’s voice yanks me out of my troubled thoughts.“Y … Yeah?”She gives me a concerned look. “You okay? You’ve been quiet ever since you returned from the washroom.”I swallow, not knowing what to say. I look away, toward the barracks. “I guess. Maybe I’m just a little tired. It’s been a long day.”She yawns. “That’s true. I don’t know what the nurse gave me to drink but I can’t even feel the blisters anymore. I’m going t
Last Updated : 2023-03-17Wish CHAPTER FOURTEEN
I don’t get time to dwell on the situation because Jesse is already pushing things aside, revealing a strange-looking chain ring on the floor. He crouches down and yanks it up. I’m taken aback by how he’s able to pull it open with such ease, considering how heavy it looks.Or maybe looks are just deceptive. I stare at him as he tucks his flashlight in the back pocket of his jeans. “So, you expect us to go down a dark hole and just trust you?”His lips curve and his eyes glitter in amusement which just lends to his already attractive looks. “You’re a paranoid one, aren’t you?”“Safety’s a crime now?”His lips twitch as he holds my gaze. “I knew I liked you for a reason.”I can feel the heat creeping into my face, and he adds, raising an amused brow, “You want me to go down first?”“Sure,” I manage to say, before grabbing Quill by the back of his shirt and shoving him forward. “And then you go next and tell us it’s safe down there.”Quill gives me a wounded look. “Are you sacrif
Last Updated : 2023-03-17Wish 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. “
Last Updated : 2023-03-17Wish 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
Last Updated : 2023-03-17Wish 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
Last Updated : 2023-03-17Wish 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
Last Updated : 2023-03-17Wish 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
Last Updated : 2023-03-17Wish 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
Last Updated : 2023-03-17
Latest chapter
Wish CHAPTER THIRTY
My wounds have healed, but I’m still covered in bruises and blood.And yet, I don’t care.Director Yearwood isn’t here yet. I’ve been waiting in her office, ushered here by Dr. Brown who looks anxious.I don’t speak, my head spinning.She offers me tea, but I don’t want to eat or drink. I want to see Beth and make sure she is okay. I want to know what is going on. What am I? What is Beth?What was all that back there?For the first time, there is no fog inside of me, no fuzzy memory. I recall the way my body felt, my teeth elongated, my strength. I remember it all. I would think that I’m dreaming, but my body hurts too bad from being tossed around like a rag doll. “Taylor—”I cut off Dr. Brown, my voice hard, “I want to see the director. She told me she would talk to me.”“I did,” comes a calm voice just as the door to the office opens. I’m on my feet as Director Yearwood approaches me. She grabs my chin gently, raising myface, and studying it. Finally, she murmurs, “
Wish CHAPTER TWENTY NINE
It’s the voices that guide me.I walk slowly, building a strategy in my head. I can’t afford to be scared. Not when it’s Jesse’s life on the line.I come to an abrupt halt when the voices get louder.“… has to be a way!” Annabelle sounds furious, and I inch closer until I find a large, protruding stone to hide behind. Looking around the corner, I see the dark-clothed men holding a badly injured Jesse down against the floor, right in front of a familiar looking vault.It’s the one that I saw with Jesse and Quill.This is what they want to open?What’s even inside that’s so precious that they’re willing to spill blood over it?“Just slit his throat!” Annabelle scowls. “We don’t have time for this!”Regan approaches Jesse, his hands curled into a claw, and I see Jesse’s eyes shift back into that black color.I’m out of time. Either I do something now, or watch Jesse get killed in front of my eyes.But it’s not exactly like I have any weapons. Heart pounding, I decide to wi
Wish CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT
“What have you done, Annabelle?!” Ferguson sounds horrified.Annabelle shrugs. “It wasn’t my fault. She was struggling too much. Had to beat her into submission. Kids these days are quite stubborn, you know.”I try to dart toward Beth, but Ferguson grabs me, holding me back.Annabelle smirks. “Do you really think you can save her again? What for? Her own brother wants her dead. He paid us a lot of money to do so. You’re really a thorn in my side, Taylor. I was going to use this girl to get two birds with one stone, and what do you do? The poison wouldn’t have killed her. It would have knocked her out for hours. And besides, we had to kill her anyway to get inside the vault. You, I’m going to bleed you all over that vault door now. I’ve never met a more annoying person.”Horror settles in my chest. “You poisoned Beth?!”“Careful,” Jesse breathes when I try to rush at her. “Look at Beth.”I follow his gaze and see my semi-conscious friend looking at me. She’s not crying, and her ey
Wish CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN
I want to run toward the cry, but Jesse holds me back, his eyes narrowed.“Why’re you stopping me?!” I hiss. “Can’t you hear her?! We have to go!”“Something isn’t right.”His words have me coming to a halt. “What do you mean?”“Her voice,” he murmured, his eyes darting down the tunnels. “It’s moving.”A moment later, he’s proven right when she cries out again. The voice is closer this time. “Come on!” Jesse grabs my hand. “We have to go.”“Go where?!”I struggle, but he drags me into a smaller tunnel on the side. “Sshh! It is always better to know who you’re going up against!”He has a point. “You want to get the drop on them?”His voice is whisper soft, “Yeah. We don’t know who we’re dealing with.”We wait for a few minutes, and soon enough, we hear soft footfalls. My hands tremble, not out of fear, but worry. Worry for Beth. We’re so focused on the main tunnel that neither of us is paying attention to where we are or whether or not we’re alone.That’s when a hand gr
Wish CHAPTER TWENTY SIX
“What?” Quill looks indignant. “Why the heck not?!”Jesse just smirks. “Well, we’re going to need a lookout, won’t we?”I look between the two of them, unable to figure out what their problem is. Annoyed, I look at Jesse. “This isn’t the time for some pissing contest. We need all hands on deck and that’s just us three. And I don’t want to waste time while Beth might be in trouble.”Jesse scowls. “Fine. Go wait by the trees and don’t make a sound.”Quill opens his mouth, clearly annoyed at the authoritative tone, but luckily, he keeps his mouth shut. As we head over to the trees and wait, Jesse doesn’t take long. He is back with flashlights and a sweater.“Put your hands up,” he orders and without thinking, I do so. He immediately tugs the sweater down over my head and arms, adding, “It’s going to get really chilly.”I can’t feel my face turn red, and when I glance at Quill, he has a strange look in his eyes. However, before I can speak, he quickly says, “Well, what are we waiti
Wish CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE
“You must be mistaken,” Quill looks pale once I tell him what happened in the tunnels. “Why would Beth be down there?”“I don’t know,” I’m just as confused. Why would Beth go into the tunnels at night? Or at all?!“What if you’re wrong?” Quill demands, stopping me in my tracks as we rush to the tunnels, and forces me to face him. “You can’t be a hundred percent sure that it was Beth!”I stare at him.How can I explain to him this sense of knowing and dread that has been building up inside of me since the moment I heard that scream? “All I’m saying is,” Quill looks tense, “that if Suzie and the counselors are aware of Beth missing, they’ll be looking for her, and they will definitely look in the tunnels.”“They searched the tunnels and found no one.”“Well, then your theory doesn’t make sense!” Quill bursts out. “The counselors checked—”“What part of this place makes sense to you, Quill?!” I raise my voice, my frustration building. “And don’t tell me you haven’t noticed! This
Wish CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR
I grab a gasping Anderson and move rapidly toward the entrance of the tunnel. He stumbles but follows.I don’t know how we manage to get to the tunnel’s entrance, or how we get to the top, but we’re both out of breath.I fling the trap door close, sinking on top of it, gasping, “We have to—have to tell—”“O … On it!” Anderson looks pale, but his color is still better than before. He’s already reaching in his bag to take out a small, square device with a button on it.He presses it multiple times, muttering, “What was that down there?” “P … Paralyzing agent,” I gasp, still trying to catch my breath.“That’s why I can’t feel my legs,” he mumbles. “They feel stiff.”“It’ll wear off,” I reassure him, my heart still beating like a drum. “But more importantly, I thought the whole point of guard duty was to prevent students from roaming the tunnels. Where would students here get a hold of such powerful stuff?”Anderson immediately casts a suspicious look toward me. “How do you know
Wish CHAPTER TWENTY THREE
I’m lying on the cold ground with Anderson a few feet from me, his whole body shaking.“W … What happened?” I mumble, groaning as I move.“C … Crazy freak!” Anderson gasps. “That Level three girl—she was right! You’re a freak!”A freak?My memory is dim, and I feel like I’m slowly emerging from a deep haze. I manage to sit up, “W … What’d I do?”I fumble for my flashlight to look at him because he sounds like he’s in pain. When the light lands on him, I wince. “I didn’t do that.”Did I?Anderson looks pretty banged up. I can’t see any visible wounds, but he’s bruised.I struggle to get up as he groans, “Of course you did! You went apeshit crazy! Started throwing me round and screaming!”I help him up, feeling a wave of nausea overtake me as he continues, “And then you fell to the ground, convulsing like you were possessed!”As soon as he’s on his feet, he shakes off my hand, looking pale, “What is wrong with you?!”“I—” I open my mouth before snapping it shut, not knowing wh
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
