HundredKnives
Ravenweal
I tear my headphones off and launch myself across the room, bouncing on my toes, flinging my arms back and forth. I did it. I fuckingdid it. I haven’t moved like this since I was younger—people don’t like it, they think it’s weird—but I need to get the energy out.
“We’re going, Liss,” I say to the ceiling. “We’re gonna do it. We’re gonna win world first.”
I do ten push-ups, roll around on the floor a bit, then get back up and slide into my chair, out of breath and beaming. I scroll through in-game chat to see what I missed.
[Zookini]:Just posted raid list. Check it out when you get a chance.
[fireballboy]:awesome!
[Healzzzorz]:I’ll be there, Z. Still need me to send you a message?
[Zookini]:Nah, I figured.
[Faustus]:Hey guys, I have to log for tonight. I’ll talk to you all tomorrow.
[Zookini]:No worries, man.
[VegaV]:Need another DPS? I’m open
I pause. Ash wouldn’t log off this early unless something was wrong. He’s already logged off, so I grab my phone and text him.
What’s up? Everything okay with your mom?
He doesn’t text me back.
Chapter 14
Iwait, hunched in my chair. No response. I go back to the game, but my mind is no longer in it. We find new group members and run more instances. I tell myself Ash is just busy. His mom asked him to wash the dishes, or go with her to the store. Around ten, I try to call him, something I never do if I can help it, but he doesn’t pick up then either.
I don’t sleep that night. A heavy feeling sits on my chest while I lie in bed; my thoughts ping-pong from one disaster to the next, while I futilely try to reel them back in with rational explanations. Around three in the morning, I finally pinpoint what this feeling is: dread.
The next day is the first in weeks I’ve wanted to go to school.I’m out the door early, while Mom is still eating her breakfast. Her shocked questions follow me out the door. At school, I drive past Ash’s parking spot, but his car isn’t there yet. I park in my own, then walk back to his and wait. Other students glance at me as they pass by. I ignore them. I have to focus on my breathing, because when I don’t, it gets short and shallow and my vision starts to tunnel.
When the first bell rings and he’s still not there, I call him.
“Hey, Evie,” he says.
“You picked up.” All the breath gets knocked out of me at the sound of his voice. I squat down in his parking spot, my legs suddenly jelly. “Where are you?”
“Pulling in to school. Why?”
I push myself back up and look toward the street. There’s his storm-green Toyota turning into the lot. I hang up and get out of the way as he parks.
“What happened last night?” I ask as he gets out. “You left the game suddenly and didn’t text me back.”
He fishes his bag out of the back seat. “Yeah. Sorry. I got distracted and didn’t check my phone again.”
He sounds too calm. I grab him, turn him toward me, and look into his face. His pupils are slightly dilated. “Did you take an edible this morning?”
“Only half of one.” He edges past me and starts toward the building. I hurry after him.
“What did your mom want to talk to you about last night?”
He shakes his head. Chews his lip. “My grades.”
