“That’s me!”
“— But you should be careful to make good decisions.”
“We won’t get into trouble. Too much trouble, anyway.”
“Behave yourself.”
My voice took on a whining tone. “But I don’twantto behave, I want to be evil!”
“We’re all aware.”
“You approve of him, don’t you, Daddy?”
There was a long pause, and I really hoped he said yes. His blessing meant the world to me.
“If you’re happy, that’s what matters,” Daddy said. “As long as he treats you well.”
“He does, I promise.” My heart fluttered at the acceptance of my boyfriend. “I can’t wait until we’re all together again. Charlie’s so sweet. You’ll see.”
“Just slow down, okay?” Daddy sounded so worried. “I don’t want you getting too attached too quickly.”
My spirit twisted.Too late for that now.The thought of this ending badly gutted me. “I won’t. I’m keeping my heart safe, I swear.”
But it was a lie. I’d given Charlie my whole being— not just my heart, but my soul, too. I had a deeper connection with Charlie than I had with anybody.
And even now, part of me feared losing him.
* * *
The video had gotten three-thousand hits within the first twenty-four hours. I figured all my subscribers would’ve forgotten about me by now, but apparently, they hadn’t. I guess they really had been hoping I’d get back to making music again. Some comments on the video were mean, but most were very supportive. I couldn’t watch the feedback come in, as we were only allowed spotty access to the Internet in the crappy library, but from what I’d seen when I’d checked this morning, people were thrilled that I was creating content again.
On Sunday, I worked in the laundry room of the Institute in a better mood than what was usual. I hated my shifts down here, but my video launch had really lifted my spirits.
Every inmate at the Institute had a job they had to perform, to keep the prison running. Charlie worked in the noxite mines. Kallie worked in the cafeteria on Fridays, a job she despised, and Marcus swept the floors before class on Mondays.
I worked Sunday nights in the laundry room, washing all the gross sheets and uniforms. It wasn’t a glamorous job, and it was boring, but at least I wasn’t stuck down in the noxite mines working my ass off. I felt so bad for Charlie and Ez, being stuck down there.
Usually, there were other inmates down here with me, but one of them had gotten sick and the other had gotten hurt in a fight, so it was just me tonight. Guards lurked around, but they obviously had better things to do, as they’d checked in on me a few times during my shift and hadn’t returned in hours.
I could totally ditch without being caught, but I’d get in trouble if this laundry wasn’t done, so I finished up washing a round of blankets with a bored sigh. Only one more hour, and I’d be able to go back to my cell.
The only sound that could be heard was the sound of the washers, and the rain pounding on the roof of the Institute— then hushed voices as I heard someone whisper, “It didn’t work! We need more power!”
That sure sounded like Professor Gael. The door to the laundry room had been propped open, and people were having a conversation outside.
Despite my better judgement, I pressed myself to the wall to listen in… like I was drawn to whatever secret discussion was happening.
“We can’t keep continuing with these experiments. Eventually, parents will start to notice their children have gone missing,” Professor Cusak replied with a shaking voice.
My jaw dropped. The Institute was stealing inmates toexperimenton? Why? And who? Nobody I knew had gone missing— or maybe their absence hadn’t been noticed.
“Do you think most of these wretched families care where their children have gone? Most are glad to be rid of the degenerates,” Professor Mazur hissed.
All of them were angel professors. Interesting. I went to take a step closer, until a shiver traveled up my spine as I heard the Warden say, “Be patient. We merely need to find a demigod.”
My stomach dropped to the floor, and my skin went ice-cold. A demigod? Why did they need one of those?
“Demigods are hard to find, my lord,” Professor Cusak whimpered. “Who knows if they even still exist?”
