Chapter 34
EMMA.
I close my locker and flinch when I see Violes standing beside me. With a furrow of my brows, I say. “What do you
“Shh.” She hisses and I stare at her in confusion as she glances around the hallway littered with a few students. “Come here,” before I can protest, she grabs my hand and forces me along. She leads me away from the hallway and only stops after we walk into an empty classrCHETTI,
1 clutch the books I have in hand to my chest and look around the space before throwing her a questioning gaze. “What’s this for?”
This might sound weird, but don’t you think you should be careful?” I til my head without a word and she continues. “With your new friends”
“Blanca and Elijah!”
She nods. “Yeah. Them”
1 look at her for seconds of silence, gauging the serious expression on her face before letting out the laugh from my throat “Ah yes. The ex–best friend who publicly humiliated and densed me in front of the entire school on my first day back after years of being away tells me I should be careful of the new friends I’ve made–ones who’ve stood and still stand by me mind you–and I should listen to her because!”
She shakes her head and takes a step forward. “It isn’t like that.”
With a snarky buzz: 1 lift a brow. Then tell me. What is it like?”
Violet sighs and lowers her head as she goes silent for a minute before she raises her head again. “I get it. I’m the last person you’d listen to right
“Glad we’re both clear on that
“But Bianca and Elijah don’t just make friends. Have you seen them with anyone else other than you!”
“And I should be concerned I’m the only friend my friends have? 1 counter and she clicks her tongue. “It’s not that just–just be careful around theoட
“Yeah. We’re done here. I hiss and move to walk out of the room, but the throws a hand on my arm, halting my steps. I turn to look at her over my shoulder as she says, “I’m just watching out for you, Emma. It’s what I’ve always done.”
“What exactly is your problem, Violet?” I jerk her hold off and turn to her, my annoyance growing. “You told me to stay away and I’ve done exactly that. Now you’re trying to what Tum me against my friends“”
I cut in before she can speak. “Whatever it is you’re trying to do it won’t work. Do you want to know why? Because Bianca and Elijah have been better friends to me than you ever were. Perhaps my words are too harsh. I can tell by the way her head pushes back as though she wasn’t expecting them and the hunt ut crosses her face is easy to decipher.
“We’re strangers. Keep to your word and I’ll keep to mine.” My voice comes out softly, and Violet gives a small nod as she blinks more times than necessary.
Guil gnaws at me, but I shove it down, passing her one last glance before walking out of the room.
A beavy exhule escapes me as I step into the hallway and I press a hand to
nd to the wall to steady my breathing.
“Are you okay?” I lift my head at the voice and Elijah stands before me with worry in his eyes. I smile and balance back on my fees. “Yeah Good, Juu needed a second.”
He stares at me as the seconds tick by before he nods. “Do you think you can get back home safe on your own today! We have to stay back for that competition. Unless you can stay with us!“
“I have training” I tell him, and his lips curl as he closes the distance between us. “Training after school?”
“Have to work harder since I’m the weakest one,” Lutter as I toss my left shoulder in the air and Elijah is quick to differ. “No, you’re not. I can count more than four people you can easily take down in the team.”
“You’re only saying that because you’re my friend.” I chuckle and he frowns. “I’m serious. And I’m not just a friend, ani 1′*
He strips into my space, bringing lus face close to mine, and a smile crawls on his face as he tucks the strand of hair falling to my forehead back. “We’re closer. Friends seem to undervalue what we have. You don’t think so?”
Chapter 34
His touch falls to my chin, and he tips my gaze to his. As I look into his eyes, there’s that feeling again. That feeling where I’m muddied about what 1 see in his eyes and, as always before I can brood more on it. Elijah laughs, bringing the playfulness back into the atmosphere. “Just kiddingTM His hold drops from my chin and he takes one step back. “You ready to leave?”
“Yeah. I was coming to give you these. Thanks for lending them to me. I push the books on my chest in the space between us and Elijah takes them from me. “Anytime. Did you see Bianca“”
“Minutes ago. Let her know I left?”
“Sure, preity. I’ll text you once we’re done here. I hurn and he throws his head to the side. His lips brush nearly against my cheek before he moves back. He winks and flicks my forehead with his finger, earning a slap to the arm from me before he walks away.
I twist to watch his frame disappear through the corner and as soon as there’s no sight of Elijah, the door to the room I was just in opens and Violet walks out. Our eyes meet as she stands by the door and I look away before she can, striding in the opposite direction.
as
I walk through the empty corridors and make my way out of the school building. I pull on the strap of my bag as I step out and I sigh as silence echoes around me, remisling me I’m walking home alone.
I can’t recall the lau time I went back on my own and I’d have preferred staying behind, but I have a priority.
A smile creeps to my face at the thought of seeing him again, and I take the route I usually do. As I trot down the tracks, chills cover my skin as I’m reminded of what happened the last time I took this path. The thought makes my throat tighten and I pick up my speed, nearly sprinting down the Foad
I take the corner that leads away from the track of the school and I squirt my eyes when I see a shadow several feet away from
My heart skips a beat and I slow on my feet but don’t stop. After more steps, the shadow becomes clearer, and a gasp slips from my mouth when I make out the figure standing only inches away from me,
Goddess!
consumes me when I remember the chans he
It’s him. It’s the same monster from that day. The one that attacked Will and the one who fear consume provoked and the way he ruthlessly hit anyone and everyone in his way,
Without wasting another second, I swiftly turn on my heel in an attempt to run back to school, but I’ve only taken two steps when he’s suddenly in front of me and I yelp, my breath catching in my throat as I fall backward.
His eyes are yellow as he snarls at me, baring his fangs trickling with saliva, and I stagger, my heart thundering in my chest. With each step I take away, he trudges closer. He doesn’t attack. He just keeps coming near
Shiver scatters through my body as I look into his frightening eyes and my lips part when I notice the scales adorning his rather greenish body. I look back into his eyes and when he bars his fangs again; I turn and run
Like before. I’ve only taken two steps when he’s before me again. My breathing quickens, the pants loud in the air, and I glance around. The road is quiet and no noise can be heard other than that of my thumping heart. There’s nothing in sight except for the two of us and realizing he won’t attack me for whatever reason, I grab the stick lying on the road and point it at hi
His gaze falls on it before he looks at me and I swing the stick in the air, my voice breaking as I yell “Stay away! Don’t come any closer
He doesn’t listen. With each step I take, he follows, and mustering all the courage I can feel, I shove the stick forward, driving the sharp end into his chest with as much force all can gather. I gasp when it pierces through and black blood drips onto the wood. I scream and push the stick deeper before removing my hold on it and dashing
I run in the only direction my mind can make and beads of sweat roll across my forehead as I turn my backpack to the front and pull out my phone,
I click on his contact and in rings twice before the line hangs.
Fuck. Please pick Please..
I dial the contact again and it’s the same–it rings and cuts
With frustration storming through me, I move my bag to the back and run from the tracks. I stir into the woods and I’m sliding through the trees when I look over my shoulder, there’s nothing in view but when I turn my gaze back to the front, he’s standing ahead of me with the trick out of his
My sirges wize, and my chest heaves heavily. Bumps rise on my skin when I see him drawing near and I look around the woods. I’m grasping another wick when Im swept off my feet and I scream
“it’s me – It’s me, Emu” He whispers, and my body calms as ou
as our eyes lock. He nods before he looks ahead to where the monster is still drawing
Hold on tight” He tells me when he looks back at me and I hurn. I throw my hands around his neck, clinging to him as he speeds off. My hair ways in the air as the wind gushes past us and I stare at the side of Will’s face. He’s concentrated with his jaw clenched and eyes not wavering from
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Chapter 31
his front. I look back to see we’ve made it out of the words, and the creatine is now within sight only.
us strangely, and I book away when he Exles the distance,
He doesn’t run after us sIERA
Will runs into the pack hisose and takes me into his office. Elet out any unstable breath as he drops me to my feet and I grab onto the ridge of his.. desk for supNIN
“He came out of nowhere.” Diell Will as I struggle to catch may breath. “I was on my way from school and he just appeared-
“How were you able to hold him of?” He asks, and I lift my gare. I shake my head as I lick my sal diet. He didn’t attack.”
“It didn’t?” He asks, sounding less surpass than 1 felt, and I nod, “It sholat. It post kept following or, Even after I showed a stic he caught us with me; he didn’t attack”
thing away from me. His fick is tense av 1
Silence stretches between us after my words and I push off his desk when Will furrows his brows, turning away approach him and I stop behind “Wat?”
He doesn’t turn instantly. Several minutes pass belone his gaze is on use again. I didn’t want to adusit it” His voler is laced with an emotion recognize when he speaks and there’s a ring of dark around his nelis.
The aura that emits from him tertifies me and there’s caution in any one when I call his name again “Will I don’t-
file’s right. It’s you”
The sound of a heartbeat and then. “Emma, It’s you he’s after. You’re the one drawing him.”
E
