Page 19 of Red

“Weird. It’s definitely not red.” Think quick. “How about we do something else?”

“Anything you want.” He slides the chair he moved away from the coffee table.

“Could you drive me to my house?” This isn’t safe. I need to leave.

“No way,” he says, close to a shout. “Stark will have my head if I let you leave the property.”

“It’s not like you won’t be with me; you can protect me.” I put on my best pouting face and look up at him.

“I’m serious. Stark is not one to mess with.”

“He won’t care if I die. His life will just get easier. Plus, nothing will happen. I haven’t got all my stuff yet and really need to grab a few things.” I’m desperate. “Please,” I beg.

Jocko shakes his head. “If he didn’t care, he wouldn’t be where he is.”

Nothing like being put against twelve Elders.

My stomach drops like a dead weight at Jocko’s thoughts. Abandoning the scattered pieces, I sink to the cold wooden floor, soothing under my bare legs, and lean my head against the couch.

“Where’s that?” I ask. The weight turns, and every instinct in me braces for something I don’t want to hear.

“You can’t tell him I told you.”

“Secrets are safe with me, remember?” My smile is soft, welcoming.

He looks straight into my eyes; a few curls hang loose around the sides of his face. It clicks. I don’t have anyone to share things with.

“He just ignored orders for the past two weeks to stay here. Don’t worry about it.”

Be lucky if he can walk when he gets back. The Elders’ Council is pissed.

My face falls, and my chest constricts. My vision blurs, narrowing until I can only see the rug. My chest won’t rise, won’t move, and the sound of Jocko’s voice is just static somewhere far away. His hand rubs across my back, I get up and away from him. The room spins and he catches my arm.

“It’s fine, Aloka. He can handle it.”

Imagine what she’d do if she knew the truth.

I’m too hot, I need space.

“Take a breath, you’re panicking.”

Right. I cup my hands over my face take a few slow breaths, and the heat subsides.

“Sorry, that was weird. I think I’m going to go rest.”

Jocko doesn’t argue with me. I head back to my room.

There’s nothing I can do, but I just want to barge in and scream at the stupid council. Why didn’t he follow orders? Two weeks? He’s been here the whole time since I got attacked. There was no reason for him to be. Was he supposed to just let me die in the parking lot?

The need to see him in one piece stretches across me. Hatred for Pratt’s decisions fills my mind. He should have left me at home.

I head into the bathroom and turn the tap ice cold. Splashing water on my face, the mirror’s reflection reminds me why Jocko thought I had red hair—burgundy red peeks out at my roots. I lift a piece, and underneath is a little less noticeable. Somehow, I must make it home or into the human cities. Both seem impossible unless I escape. The windows in my room are large enough and close to shoulder height. Next time Stark leaves, I’ll have enough time. He can’t ignore orders forever and there won’t always be someone keeping watch.

Dinner is in a few hours, and I need to figure something out for Stark’s dress nice request. I grab the bag my clothes are in. Unpacking only makes sense if you’re planning to stay. I tear out everything until leggings, shorts, and various shirts lay across the bed, and I slump onto the clothes, defeated. There’s nothing to cover my hair, and I didn’t bring anything close to nice. What the hell am I going to wear to this fancy dinner? If I want to get out of the house, it’s best if I show up and know what’s going on. Or should I accept my fate and skip dinner? Who will be here anyway?

I roll onto my stomach and stare out the window I plan to jump out of tomorrow. I will come back so Stark doesn’t get in trouble with the Elders again and so I don’t as well. I might want to be alone, but I don’t want anyone to ever get hurt. The window is framed with large ruby-red curtains, same as the one on the other side of the bed. This might just work and add to Stark’s disgust of me, which is fine—then he won’t make such dumb decisions and be at the wrath of the Elders’ Council.

Searching through the bandage box Stark never took away, I find everything I need.