Ror

ce wasn't tranquilly. It was a scream without

te line dangling in space. The boy in front of me was stopped mid-blink,

et he

chair, arms folded like the world bowing to him was not

it," he continued. His voice carr

y throat was d

f he could see right through my sleeve, di

fake, run. But something about the way he looked at m

ou're talking about,

he pitied me. "You're not good at lying. Don

und eagerly, hoping someone would move. Nothing. Everyone remain

asked, my voice shaking. "Wh

nclined his head slightly, like i

ed in my ears.

shed. "We're n

is words sin

o you m

his stare intensifying. "But right now, all you n

nse. "Ex

ng is yours." His voice deepened, more certain, more threaten

ted. "You don't

name is Rory Hale. Seventeen. Broken home. Broken heart. Broken promises. You mutter to yourself to keep unseen, yet

d the air from m

econd that mark lit up on your arm, you stop

ll pulsed beneath my skin. My whole body shook. "Thi

dy and unshakeable. "And the faster you sto

f my eyes. I hated that I sounde

e wanted to reach across the space between us and to

ething hidden in his words, something that felt

enquire what he mea

e, flashing erratically. The boy's exp

you already,

ran col

alked toward me, each stride calculated, predatory. My

ould see sparkles of silver in his storm-gray eyes.

me and they will come, don't trust anyone. Not your teachers. Not

't understand any of this! Who ar

e a swarm of bees trapped in the walls.

." His jaw clinched. "B

s above u

zen silence. Sparks lit the air like fireflies. M

it the ground. His hand was warm, grounding, b

ar as the world spun away. "Kael Draven. Beca

ything we

rmal. The teacher will be scribbling equations, s

the warning he left

the shadows will