was imagining touching me. A fae. Even worse, a half-breed.
“It’s not—” My hand dropped away.
“I-I’m sorry. I heard you talking… then moaning.” A deep rose color flushed her cheeks, realizing what I was doing. “I didn’t know. I’m sorry.” She backed out quickly, closing the door. There were a few beats, but I heard her prancing outside the door. “It’s just… Dr. Karl called up to your room asking where you were.”
“I’ll be right there.” I scoured my face, trying to not only shove back the shame of being caught, but also the fact that I could still feel Warwick’s touch. The warmth of the sun still baked into my skin, the cool air and harsh smell of the alley still lingering around me. My imagination was not that good. I was logical, never one to color, write, or play pretend as a child. I grew up participating in strategic games and logic-based scavenger hunts. I didn’t get to practice piano as an art, but as a skill to have in my repertoire. All things Istvan thought helped Caden and me be better game pieces for him to use.
I would never come up with something this crazy. So, if it was real…? What did it mean? How was it possible?
“Brexley?” Maja tapped again.
“Yes, yes, I’m coming.” I yanked on my pants and tank and washed my face before rushing out, heading for Dr. Karl.
He would be able to tell if I’m human or not, right? The thought made me want to laugh. But after everything I had faced, the laugh became residue on my tongue.
I couldn’t be totally normal.
“Brexley!” Heading to Dr. Karl’s office, my name shrilled through the air in an excited shriek. “Oh. My. Gods!”
Twisting my head toward the voice, I saw my friend, Hanna, running for me. She wore her training outfit of cargo pants and white tank, her blonde wavy hair up in a ponytail. Her heart-shaped face was makeup-free and bursting with smiles. She was a badass, you had to be in our mostly male world, but visually she and I were night and day.
Her body slammed into mine, almost knocking me on my ass. Her arms wrapped around me, a sob erupting from her chest. She was about my height, trim from combat, but had far more curves than I did. Especially now I’d grown so thin.
“I can’t believe you are alive,” Hanna croaked,
hugging me tighter. “You’re here… you’re actually here!”
Squeezing her back, I felt my own eyes water up. As the only two girls left in our year, we had naturally grown closer, having each other’s backs. It wasn’t until now I realized how much I had missed her. I had been so consumed with Caden I didn’t appreciate my other friends as much.
“I missed you so much.” She struggled to swallow back her sobs.
“Me too.” I crushed her to me again before letting go, leaning back and looking at my friend.
“I can’t believe this.” She sniffed, wiping her eyes. “We all were sure you were dead. We had a funeral for both you and Aron.”
My head lowered, and I blinked away the surge of heartache and guilt.
“There are rumors you were in Halálház?” Her blue eyes widened.
I nodded my head in agreement.
“Holy shit,” she gasped. “No one has ever made it out of there before. Is it as bad as everyone says?”
I couldn’t respond, my brain flashing with guttural screams, the sound of the whip cutting across skin, guts and blood soaking the dirt in the pit, the endless torture in the hole, the sharp smells of urine and blood.
“Hey?” Hanna touched my arm.
I forced a smile on my face. “I’m alive.”
“Is it true you saw Aron? He’s dead?”
My head snapped to the side, my chest filling with concrete.
“Oh.” She bobbed her head, understanding me without my having to say it.
A bell clanged in the distance, letting us know a new hour was upon us.
“Shit, I have to go.” She pulled me back into a quick hug. “Let’s hang out and catch up. Maybe leave the party early tomorrow.”
“Party?”
“Crap! Bakos is going to give me hell. I’ll probably be doing pushups for days.” She turned to leave. “When are you coming back to class? I so miss you… just isn’t the same without you.”
“I don’t know. Soon?” I replied, but no excitement danced in my stomach at the idea. I used to love training; it was my life. I was always the first one there and the last to leave, working harder