I roll over and push up. After a few stumbles, I gain my balance. But they’re everywhere. Next to me, in front of me, climbing over the rocks. Three have Aiden trapped at the edge of the cliff and he’s either going to fall or be bit.
I shake my heavy head and move for him. My steps are sluggish and blurry colors and shapes have overcome my vision. I’m struck from the side and another bite enters my neck.
“Listen to me, Kayla,” Monarch says. “No matter what happens, you can’t give up. Sometimes it’ll seem impossible, but you can make it through anything.”
I roll over, searching for Aiden, but smoke envelopes everything. It tastes and smells like silver. I wonder if I’m hallucinating. But Sylas’ face appears above me and he lifts me to my feet.
“Did you get Aiden?” I cough.
“Ryder did.” He hacks from the silver laced in the smoke and he pulls the collar of his shirt over his nose and mouth.
We run, hopping over unconscious vampire bodies and lower down over the ledge. Sylas stays to the side of me, and has to catch me more than a few times. When my feet touch the bottom, he takes my hand and we run, through the smoke as fast as we can.
The smoke’s thick and I don’t know where we’re heading. All I can hope is that he does. Eventually the smoke lifts and the dark desert land clears into view. We curve to left and tuck ourselves into the hills. I limp to keep up with him as he weaves around a maze of rocks. At the end, is a small, narrow cave where Aiden and Ryder are huddled in the corner, a tiny flashlight the only source of light in the dark cave.
Aiden’s arm is scraped raw and his cheek is sliced open. Ryder is doting over him, turning his head from side to side.
“None of these are bites right?” Ryder panics. “They’re just cuts?”
Behind me, Sylas effortlessly rolls a boulder in front of the entrance, shutting out the outside world. Then he faces the corner and hacks the remaining silver from his lungs, spewing all over the ground.
“I’m fine,” Aiden reassures Ryder and gives her hand a soft pat. “They’re not bites. Just cuts.” His eyes drift to me. “Are you okay? How many times did you get… bit?”
I cover the one on my wrist. “Only once. And I’m fine.”
Sylas sweeps my hair to the side and his voice is muffled. “There are two on your neck.” He uncovers my hand. “And that one makes three.”
“I’m fine,” I promise. “I just need to sit down for a minute.”
He watches me hobble to the wall and slide to the ground. I let my head fall back, still feeling his eyes on me, as if he’s waiting for me to turn into a flesh eating beast. I wonder if there’s a limit of bites I can endure before my body gives up on protecting me. I wonder what it feels like to turn. Of course, it doesn’t matter if I turn because I know Sylas will kill me. But he’ll have to go up against Aiden, who’s already envisioning ways to save me.
“I’m fine,” I repeat. “It just took a lot out of me.”
Ryder wipes the blood from Aiden’s cheek with the sleeve of her black shirt. “I’m lucky I took a silver grenade with me. Otherwise…” her muffled cries congest the cave.
Sylas checks my neck again. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I just need to sleep,” I lie. Then I rest my head on the dirt. “I just need to…” With no restraint left, the darkness sucks me away.
Whether I’m changing or dying, I don’t know. I only hope for the latter.
Chapter 11
My feet rise to the sky as I swing back and forth. A gentle breeze lulls through my hair and the warm sun kisses my cheeks. The green grass stretches before me and the vibrant trees dance.
“Higher!” I shout and laugh, throwing my head back. Someone gives me a gentle shove and I launch toward the sky. Another laugh escapes me and someone chuckles from behind me.
“I’m glad you’re so easily entertained,” Sylas whispers in my ear.
I laugh again and he spins the swing so I face him. He slides his hands up the chains and holds the swing still. He’s maybe thirteen years old, and his dark eyes are livelier. His hair’s a little longer and his legs are a little shorter, but a devious look still guises his face.
“Why are you so nice to me?” My hands hook the chains. “You’re not nice to anyone else.”
He considers this. “I think it’s your smile. It wins me over every time.”
I let my smile broaden. “I think it’s because you like me.”
His eyes flash in the sunlight as his forehead creases over. “Don’t let him take that from you. Ever. Okay?”
I nod. “I won’t.”
He laughs to himself and then gives the swing a whirl. I let my legs soar out as the world spins and I think about what it would be like to fly away from this horrible place that takes away my mind, body, and spirit.
“You know what,” I say. “I think it might be my birthday today.”
“I was waiting for you to remember.” He stops the swing again. “Close your eyes,” he instructs. I hesitate and he adds. “I promise I won’t hurt you.”
“I know.” I shut my eyes and hold my breath, my heart leaping in my throat.
Sylas’ heart is steady as he fumbles around. “Okay, open them.” A bright red object rests in the palm of his hand.
“What is it?” I wonder curiously.
He takes my hand from the chain and sets the red object in it. It’s fragile and soft against my skin. “It’s called a flower,” Sylas says proudly.
I touch it gently and the texture reminds me of powder. “Where did you get it?” I sniff it. “It smells good.”
His grin expands. “Now what would be the fun in telling you?”
I frown. “Sylas, if you keep wandering off, Monarch is going to—”
He puts his finger to my lips, shushing me. “Quit worrying about me.”
“Sylas! Kayla!”
Our heads snap over to a brick building. A dome tent canopies the front and under it stands Monarch. His anger burns as he stomps over, red faced and ready to scream.
I vault out of the swing and step protectively in front of Sylas. “It’s my fault. I made him come out here with me.”
Monarch’s grey eyes are cold and his white coat is blemished with various colors. His gaze darts to the flower in my hand and he quickly confiscates it. “Where did you get this?”
“I… I found it in the grass,” I lie with a shrug. “It looked pretty so I picked it up.”
He shakes his head and his eyes pierce Sylas. “You did this.”
Sylas doesn’t protest, already giving up, and Monarch grabs his shoulder roughly. I open my mouth, but Sylas shakes his head at me. Monarch shoves him for the canopy.
“I’m very disappointed in you, Kayla,” he says sharply. “You should have come straight to me when he gave this to you.”
I stare at the flower in his hand. “It was a present.”
Monarch shakes his head disappointedly. Then he smashes the flower in his hand, breaking it into pieces. He opens his hand and tiny red flakes float to the grass.
“No matter what I do, I just can’t get that right with you.” He turns to Sylas. “And you’re a lost cause... always breaking the rules. How many are we up to now? Five—six injections. By the time they get done with you, you’re going to be as doped up as the lab rats. If you’d just quit breaking the rules, then I wouldn’t have a problem.”
He pulls Sylas by the arm and heads for the building, leaving me alone with my ruined present. I stare at the pieces of the flower for a long time. Even when the sky shades and the screams fill the air.
***
When I wake up, the cave is soundless, the flashlight is flickering, and my hair is stuck to my sweaty forehead. I wipe the sweat off and drape my arm over my head. Why do I keep seeing things that happen in the outside world? And why is there sunlight?
“You’re awake.” Sylas’ voice fills up my thoughts.
I roll to my side. He’s lying within arm’s reach, staring up at the ceiling with his arms behind his head. “How long was I out?” I ask.
“Not very long… What were you dreaming about?”
“I wasn’t dreaming,” I say. “I was remembering things.”
“Oh yeah,” he remarks. “Did you remember anything good?”
“No, not really.” I pause, my loud breathing stuffing up the cave. “Well, except for maybe a red flower.”
The muscles in his arms tense, but he pretends to be unbothered. “Hmm… it doesn’t sound like a very good memory to me.”
I have this sudden urge to touch him, but the intense emotions emanating from him stop me.
“What did he do to you?” I push up on my elbows. “You say we were experiments, but what I see is just plain torture. Why did he make you suffer so much?”
Sylas turns his head. “Who are you talking about?”
I trace my finger in the dirt. “Monarch.”
He doesn’t blink. “Why did he make you suffer so much?”
“I can’t remember that much yet,” I say.
“Neither can I.” But he can. He can remember pain. Pain that he’ll always carry with him.
“Perhaps it’s time I remembered for the both of us then.” I stand up and head for Ryder, who’s lying next to Aiden, snoring. “You want to help me with this?”
“Nah.” He rolls over facing the entrance of the cave. “I think I’ve done my good deeds for the day.”
I shake my head and soundlessly step over Aiden. I pull my hair back, take out the pocket watch, and aspire for a plan where no one will get hurt.
“Hey, you’re awake” Aiden strokes my leg. He sits up, rubbing his eyes. “What are you doing?” He sees the watch in my hand. “Kayla, don’t. Just let her sleep.”