It must’ve pissed Chancey off, because he spat, “Why don’t you channel that part of Ava you’re so attached to? You’re just as nutty as she is. Go psycho on me, just like your crazy-ass ex-girlfriend—”
That was the last straw. My fist connected with the side of Chancey’s head, and he went down. He hit the floor so hard, I was certain he’d been knocked out instantly.
The crowd screamed so loud that my head spun. Captain stepped into the ring and announced me the winner, but I barely heard it over the roar of the crowd. All I could focus on was Chancey being hauled off to the med tent on a stretcher.
Chancey was one of my closest friends, and I’d fucked him up because he’d gotten to me about Ava. I could hardly live with myself.
“You did well, Bandit,” Captain praised. “Keep fighting like that, and I’ll be a little more generous in the ring.”
“You’re a cold-blooded snake,” I seethed.
Captain laughed. “A proud snake. Hit the showers. You look disgusting.”
My nostrils flared, and my hands curled into fists.The bastard!I jumped out of the ring, Captain’s laughter echoing behind me over the crowd.
I shoved my way past the next fighters and burst through the door to the locker room. I was so pissed that I couldn’t hold back. My fist slammed into the closest locker, the sound echoing through the empty room. Pain radiated through my knuckles.
“Fuck this!” I screamed.
Captain knew exactly what he was doing— knew exactly how tomotivateme. No matter how much I enjoyed the fights, I didn’t care to knock out one of my best friends. I had no interest in continuing to play this man’s puppet.
I needed to get out of fight club as fast as I could. Problem was, I wasn’t going anywhere without some damn answers.
Without them, I was fucked.
* * *
“Charles Wahkin.”
The sound of my name rattled my bones. I sat beside Eddie in Supernatural Government when a guard came in. He’d listed off a bunch of names before getting to mine. Oberi tensed at my feet, pressing his body to my legs protectively.
“Come with me,” the guard demanded.
Chairs squeaked as half a dozen students rose from their chairs. No one questioned where we were going. We already knew.
They were blood testing us for Elven heritage.
The Warden must’ve increased demand for testing, because I’d heard people were getting pulled out of class all week. I knew they’d get to me eventually, but I’d hoped I had more time.
What the hell was I going to do?
“Charlie…?” Eddie whispered.
Get up,Oberi said.The guard is watching you.
My fists shook on the top of my desk.I can’t,I told him.
You can, and you will,Oberi demanded.
The Warden will figure out what I am,I reminded him.
No, he won’t. Let’s go.Oberi nudged me with his wet nose, and I stood.
“What are you going to do?” Eddie hissed.
“I don’t know yet,” I whispered back, before Oberi nipped at me to get me moving.
The guard huffed, like he didn’t like to be kept waiting, but he turned out of the room, and the rest of us followed. He started giving some speech about how this was just routine to keep everyone safe, but I was preoccupied with Oberi.
