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We walk in silence, and I try to pay a little more attention to my surroundings this time, so that I don’t constantly have to rely on a chaperone to show me around. It’s pointless though, every damn door and corridor looks more or less the same. From what I’ve been able to gather so far, the facility is split into a minimum of two levels. Doctor Seytan’s office had a window and looked out onto a thick forest. None of the other rooms I’ve seen since have windows, which makes me think that maybe we’re underground. Or maybe that’s just a ruse. I don’t suppose it matters much.
When we reach the same room we had dinner in last night, I discover we’re the last to arrive. I remember the stupid rule about not being able to start eating until everyone is present and feel a pang of guilt that they might’ve been waiting for me. Aside from Night, who’s scowling at me, no one else seems to mind. None of them look surprised to see me alive either though, so it makes me think there’s either a very good actor in the room, or none of these guys we’re responsible for poisoning me and framing Night.
Hatchet pulls my seat out for me like a real gentleman, and I raise my brows in surprise but accept his chivalry. As soon as he’s seated, the doors at the far end of the room slide open and seven members of staff file in carrying plates.
I quickly scan the staff members, observing their expressions and movements. They all look rather composed, but their eyes seem to dart around the room, as if they are looking for something or someone. Feelings of suspicion rise as they approach the table and start placing the dishes in front of us.
I can’t help but notice the odd look on Night’s face as the staff members set down plates in front of us. It’s as if he’s trying to hide a smirk. I can’t quite put my finger on what’s so amusing, but it’s starting to unnerve me.
“What’s so funny?” I finally ask him, trying to sound casual.
Night just shakes his head and takes a sip of his juice, refusing to meet my eyes.
As soon as the last staff member leaves, the room falls eerily silent.
I decide to let it go for now and focus on the food. It’s a beautifully prepared steak, eggs and pancakes, cooked to perfection. I cut into it and savour the flavour, momentarily forgetting about Night’s strange behaviour.
But just as I take another bite, a sudden sharp pain shoots through my jaw and I yelp in surprise. I spit out the piece of food and see a small, metallic object glinting on my plate.
“What the hell is this?” I exclaim, holding up the foreign object for Night to see.
His expression turns cold as he inspects it closely. “It looks like a…screw,” he says flatly. It doesn’t look like any sort of screw I’ve ever seen, but I’m hardly Miss DIY.
My heart starts pounding. It’s clear now that something is terribly wrong. Who would put ascrewin my food?
“What’s going on?” one of the others asks.
Suddenly all eyes are on me.
“Nothing. Just found something unexpected in my food.”
“Hey, Kayla. What happened to your neck?” Snow asks obnoxiously. Is it just my imagination, or is he deliberately trying to change the topic?
“Daddy Hatchet gave me a hell of a welcome party last night,” I say with a wink, knowing full well that Hatchet won’t contradict me. Night said not to tell anyone about me and him, he didn’t say I couldn’tlieand say I was having sex with someone else.
The pale one – Ghost – laughs, and the others join in, not realising the half truth in my words. Hatchet shoots me a glare, but I can tell he’s amused as well.
But I can’t focus on that now. I need to find out what’s going on with my food. I pick up the piece of metal and examine it closely. It’s a small square, with sharp edges and a polished surface. It’s definitely not something that would accidentally wind up in my meal and it’s definitely not a screw. Did Night not realise, or was he deliberately lying?
As I turn it over in my hand, I notice something etched into the metal. It’s a series of strange symbols, arranged in a pattern that seems almost...familiar. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but something about them is nagging at me.
I glance up to see Snow still grinning at me, and I’m suddenly angry. Who does he think he is, playing games with my food and endangering my life? Without a second thought, I lunge at him over the table, ready to deliver a swift blow to his smug face.
But before I can make contact, a pair of strong arms wrap around me from behind, pulling me back and restraining me. I struggle and sputter, trying to free myself, but the grip only tightens.
“Easy there, killer,” a familiar voice whispers in my ear, making me shiver with desire despite my rage. It’s Honeymonster. “You don’t want to start a fight in here, Sugar Puffs, trust me.”
I take a deep breath and try to calm down, but I can feel the rage boiling inside me. “He put something in my food,” I growl, pointing at Snow. “I saw it.”
Honeymonster nods and turns to Snow, his expression deadly serious. “What did you do, Snow?” he demands.
Snow just shrugs, still grinning. “I thought it might add a bit of flavour to her meal.”
Honeymonster narrows his eyes. “What kind of flavour?”
Snow’s grin grows wider. “Oh, just a little something to give her a kick. You know, spice things up.”
The anger rises again, but Honeymonster’s grip tightens around me, reminding me to stay calm. “What did you put in my food, Snow?” I demand, my voice shaking with rage.
