Defect - By Ryann Kerekes Page 0,52

want anyone to see me.

She balances on my ladder for several seconds more, watching me.

I roll over and fold myself up into the covers. “Just go away, Sam.”

I hear her climb down and leave. I feel bad about pushing her away, but she needs to be worrying about herself, not me. I didn’t know if it was wise for her to be friends with me at all. I was starting to feel more and more like a marked target.

A few minutes later, I hear footsteps in the dorm again. “I’m not going out there with you, just give it up.”

“But you don’t even know where I was going to take you.”

Will’s voice. Will is here.

I turn, and he’s on the other side of my bed looking at me. He’s so tall, it doesn’t matter that I’m on the top bunk, he can easily see over it.

“When I saw you weren’t in training …” He stops, and lifts my chin, inspecting the bruises on my face. “What happened last night?” His voice is demanding.

“You weren’t there.” I don’t mean for it to sound like an accusation – it just comes out that way.

“I was off, since I had night duty the day before.” He removes his hand from my chin, almost reluctantly, his thumb caressing my cheek before his hand falls away. “Who did this?”

“Hand-to-hand combat in the dark. It was me against the evil twins.”

For a second, he just looks at me. It’s too quiet, and suddenly I’m self-conscious lying in bed, while he just watches me. I rise up on my elbows. “So what are you doing here?” I ask.

He looks down at the floor and runs his hand along the back of his neck, looking unsure. “I was going to see if you wanted to go for a hike, but since it doesn’t look like you’ll be up for that … maybe we could go for a drive instead.”

I’m stunned silent for a second. “Oh.”

“But if you don’t want to …”

“No, that sounds … sure.” I know I’m not making any sense, but I don’t know what’s gotten into me. I sit up in bed and move toward the ladder. I swing one leg around and place my foot on the top rung. I wince as my body shifts.

“Let me help you down.” Will’s hands find my waist and guide me carefully down the ladder until I reach the floor.

I stand in front of him, looking up into his gray eyes, wondering why he is being so nice to me. Why he is always so nice to me. He is a guard here, an instructor. That is all. I must remember that, no matter how difficult he makes it.

He looks down again. I swear I’ve never seen his confidence waver like this. It’s like he’s nervous around me. “Why don’t you get changed, and I’ll wait in the bunker … unless …” he pauses, drawing his mouth into a line and biting his bottom lip.

“Unless what?”

“Unless you need help getting dressed.” He meets my eyes again.

“I can manage,” I choke out in a whisper.

He nods and slips out of the dorm.

I brush my teeth and comb out my hair. I avoid the mirror as much as possible, not wanting to face the girl I see there. Her blackened eye and hardened expression don’t match the way I feel right now.

I select something to wear: a pair of black workout pants and a fitted long sleeve t-shirt. I ease the clothes on, moving my battered limbs as carefully as I can. I pull on my running shoes and go to find him, the anticipation already building in my belly.

Will stands in the bunker, his backpack hanging over one shoulder. “Ready?”

A slow smile spreads across my face.

We head outside to the Jeep, and when I try to climb in, his hands are there, boosting me up. He tosses his backpack in and gets in beside me. The Jeep hums to life, and I remember my trip out into the woods with Kane. I try and remind myself that this trip will be much different.

“Everything okay?” he asks.

I swallow, looking ahead into the woods. “Yeah, just remembering what getting in this Jeep led to the last time.”

He places his hand on my knee. His palm is warm and covers most of my thigh, a movement that makes my heart skip. “You don’t have to worry.” His eyes are serious, like he desperately needs to know that I trust him.

“I know,” I