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“Since when did it become your choice?”
“Virgo.”
“This is not the same.”
Biting at my lip, I lean forward as though the extra inches will help me hear the conversation that’s dropped to a whisper. What is Virgo? The star sign? I’m a Leo. Syn’s birthday is December, and Gemini’s is February…
Syn spins around, lips twisted into a grimace. In his hands, instead of the pizza, he’s using a napkin to wipe away the mess. “You will no longer have the privilege of being waited on. Get your own food and bring it to the table yourself.”
I have no idea what happened, but I nod anyway.
Syn walks around to the other side of the table and sends Peter to get his food while Lissa clears the smeared pizza away. Neither he nor Gemini are talking to each other, but as neither are focused on me, I don’t really care.
The little I know about Syn, he’s volatile enough that he could change his mind again tomorrow, but, for some reason, with this, I don’t think he will. Whatever Gemini said to him, it seems to be enough.
Even if it means Syn’s probably sitting there, devising other ways to torment me, I pick up a new slice of pizza. The knots in my stomach are easing off, but this is the richest food I’ve eaten for weeks. Despite Syn’s presence in front of me and the desperate urge to get out of there as quickly as I can, I eat slowly.
When I’m finished, I stand, hesitating for a moment before walking up to their table.
Syn looks at me without raising his head. “What?”
Ignoring him, I hold my hand out to Gemini. “My bag.”
Frowning, Gemini looks at me. Then what I’m asking seems to dawn on him, and he reaches down beside his chair and picks my bag up before handing it over.
“Thank you.” My gratitude is actually for the meal, and I don’t know if he realizes that as he nods, but I’m not about to clarify anything. Instead, I hoist the bag over my shoulder and leave.
By the time I get back to my room, I’m exhausted. But before I can allow myself to relax, I check every inch of my room. Only once I’m certain that there’s no hidden ‘presents’, that nothing is damaged or missing, do I finally sink onto my bed.
It’s early, but I don’t care.
I have no energy or drive to do anything else, and finally feeling full, all I want to do is sleep. If I’m lucky, I might even get a solid five hours before the stupid beeping starts up again.
Only because the room is still so cold do I even bother to change into a pair of joggers and a sweater, otherwise, I’d have crawled straight under the comforter. As it is, I manage to fall asleep easily.
When I wake, it’s not because of the beeping.
Sleep has made me groggy, and my throat is dry, but there’s a sensation that has settled over me and something doesn’t feel right.
Rubbing my eyes as I try to shake the sleepiness, I roll over and stare at the light coming in through the door.
Bolting upright, I’m awake, adrenaline and panic mixing together to fuel my actions, ready to reach out and turn the light on.
But as I sit up, I find myself staring at a hooded figure, their face hidden behind a mask.
I take a deep breath to fill my lungs, ready to scream, ready to fight back, but the figure raises their arms, I’m drenched in something cold and wet.
Instinctively, I bring my arms up to protect my head, even though I’m already drenched, leaving a small enough gap to keep an eye on my attacker. But as I cough out whatever was thrown on me—my brain not yet registering taste—I scream, sending the person bolting from the room, dropping something that crashes to the floor.
Before I can reach for my lamp, a figure is back in the doorway.
I scream again and then the room is thrown into light, and I can’t see a thing.
“Holy shit… Tori, it’s me. It’s Penny.” Hands are on my arms, trying to stop me from hitting. “It’s Penny, I’m here to help.”
Penny…
Recognizing her voice, I stop fighting, squinting between the light and whatever is covering my face. Through a red haze, her face comes into focus.
