Infinite Risk (36 page)

“Are you all right?” he asked.

“More or less.” But I was shaky as shit.

I'd come so close to being flash-fried that I appreciated the new bruises and the bloody scrape on my knee. Kian supported me all the way to the front of the school, where the nurse took charge of me. As we went inside, sirens wailed in the distance.

She checked me over, then said, “You were lucky. It could've been a lot worse. Do you want to call home?”

Shit, not this again.

But this “accident” had been so much more serious than the one with the cement blocks and other people could've been hurt. It would be abnormal if I didn't want go home, hug my parents, and cry. So I input a fake number and waited while pretending to listen to it ring.

“He's not answering,” I finally said.

“Is there anyone else you can call? I can't send you home without a parent coming to pick you up.” Her sad eyes said she felt sorry for me, but that she wasn't surprised to find a kid who couldn't get ahold of anyone who cared in a crisis.

I shook my head without meeting her gaze. “It's just my dad and me. He works a lot.”

“Let me take care of your knee,” she said gently. “You can rest on the cot for a while if you like and try again later.”

“Okay.”

An hour passed, and I went to sleep to avoid dealing with my messy reality. An announcement that the situation had been handled came on the PA; then the principal added, “There will be no loitering permitted in the parking lot, before or after school. This is not a skate park, and the rules will be strictly enforced going forward.”

Groans came from neighboring classrooms. I pretended to be asleep when the nurse checked on me. A few minutes later, the principal came to the mini-clinic to ask about me. But he wasn't interested in my welfare as much as concerned about a lawsuit.

“I need to speak with Miss Brooks.”

“The poor kid's been through enough.” The nurse sounded irritated.

“Since the personnel reduction, we've been lax about monitoring the side lot. Her parents are lawyers, Clara. This could get ugly.”

“Really? Just now, she said it was only her dad at home.”

Shit. There goes the first thread unraveling.

Incredibly stiff and sore, I rolled off the cot and went to wrangle damage control. “My parents are divorced. They're both attorneys, but I don't live with my mom.”

Sorry, Mom and Dad. I know you were happy together.

“See?” the principal said meaningfully.

The nurse sighed. “Fine. You can talk to her since she's awake.”

“Would you please come to my office, Miss Brooks?”

“No problem.” But it was likely to be a huge, insurmountable one.

He started the conversation with an apology and an explanation about budget cuts. They'd laid off two security guards who normally prevented nonsense that like what happened this morning. In conclusion, he felt sure I could agree it was all an unfortunate accident and would I mind explaining this to my parents?

“Not at all. I'll talk to my dad tonight,” I said.

“Excellent. When can he come in to discuss the incident and to sign some simple documentation for the school?”

You want a promise not to sue, huh?

But my heart sank. I'd painted myself into a corner by saying I lived with my father because I didn't know anyone who could fill in. If the Harbinger hadn't gone, he could've slipped into the Mr. Brooks persona with no problem, but José was the only older guy I knew, and he'd think I was out of my mind if I showed up with such a sudden, random request. Possibly Selena could shift her appearance like the Harbinger, but I'd already gotten two favors from her.

Plus, it was hard to pretend things were normal at school day after day. So I made an irrevocable choice. “Actually, we're moving. My dad's already in Miami. I stayed to wrap up the school year and pack up our apartment, but considering what happened today, I think he'd want me to come now. I'll talk to him about it when I call tonight.”

“You're leaving?” He sounded as if he couldn't decide if this was a good thing.

“Yeah, I don't feel safe here. If my dad flies back, it won't be to sign stuff.”
Shots fired.

In five seconds, my meaning registered with him. “Do whatever you think best for your family, Miss Brooks.”

“The nurse said I can't leave unless he picks me up. So what am I supposed to do? He's in court right now.”

“We don't want to make your father get on a plane over a skinned knee.” The principal was probably imagining how pissed my fictional self-absorbed, high-powered attorney papa would be under those circumstances. “I'll make an exception and sign off for you.”

“Thanks. I need to get home and start packing.”

“I'm sorry this happened, but I'm relieved you're not seriously hurt. We'll expedite transcripts and transfer papers when the request comes in,” he added eagerly.

You'll be waiting a long time.

Five more minutes of apologies, and I had a pass permitting me to take off.
Wow, this is the last time I'll be here.
Unlike the other times when I just vanished and turned off my phone, I texted everyone I thought might care.
I'm done at this school. You know how to find me.
By the time I got home, my friends were having lunch, and they flooded my phone with questions.

Devon:
Did U get suspended? That's BS. How's that your fault?

Kian:
What's wrong? What happened?

Carmen:
U okay? Want to come over?

With most of them, I just kept it vague, but I wrote a longer message to Kian since he knew more about me.
They wanted to talk to my parents. I had to bail.

Ah. So RU going to Miami early?

Nah. Studio's paid until June. Not smart to waste money.

He sent back,
Cool. So you'll be here for my b-day?

Of course,
I thought.
That's what I'm waiting for.

But I couldn't tell him that.
Depends. When is it?

June 3.

Oh definitely. Will probably take off right after, though.

I'll miss U,
he texted.

Ditto.

For a while, I thought that was the end of the convo, but eventually he sent,
It's gonna be weird without U at school.

U can always come over as long as Vonna's cool with it.

I'll talk to her.

*   *   *

For the first week after I left school, I just vegged in the apartment, but then it hit me.
Anything could happen to Kian. And Selena even warned me to be vigilant.
With me out of the picture, Wedderburn could do whatever the hell he wanted. That fear took hold and wouldn't let go, like a dog with a locked jaw. I considered checking in via text, but I wouldn't feel secure until I saw him in person.

The second week in May, I stalked him, harder than it sounded. Unlike Boston, where he followed me around, the crowds weren't as dense in Cross Point and I constantly had to dodge aside and hide around corners. Kian definitely had the sense something was up because his attention sharpened, as if he sensed I was watching. But then, I didn't have any cool tech to help me with the mission.

School was another problem, however. Against my better judgment, I sent a request to Devon.
Do me a favor?

Depends. What?

Watch out for Kian. And ping me if you see any weird, shady types hanging around.

A long silence followed. Finally, I got,
U, not the cops. RU in trouble?

I debated a long time before answering,
Unsure. Just want to be sure U guys R OK. Help me out? Pls.

U got it.

That message relieved my mind. If anything went down at school, I could tag Selena and we'd ride to the rescue. Instead of going to class, I studied at the University of Kian. In the morning, I watched him from the shadows across the street. He smiled a lot more these days, usually while checking his phone.
Must be messages from Vonna.
Once he left his house, I ran to the stop before his and got on just before. Since he tended to sit near the front, he never saw me hunkered down in the back. The aching emptiness of just observing, nothing more, hurt more than usual, and even meditation couldn't make it go away.

Is this how he felt, watching me?

I'd done a good job of smothering it, but I did still love him, for all the good it did.
At least he's still alive in this world.

As he got off at school, I twitched into a full-on seizure, and maybe because I looked weird, nobody tried to help me. When I came out of it, my head lolled against the window and blood trickled from my lips. I got off at the next stop, disgusted with humanity.
Really? They'd just let me die of whatever was wrong rather than get involved.

My mouth tasted of copper, but it was actually a pleasant change from nothing. As usual, I killed time at a nearby park and slept in the sun, waiting for school to end. I woke to a text from Devon.
Might B nothing, but … past 2 days, a weirdo seems 2B stalking UR boy.
My nerves crackled to high alert. Aegis quivered on my wrist.

Description?
I sent.

Old woman. Scary, not sure why.

With that news, I ratcheted to high alert.
Has to be the hag. No time to find Selena, I have to handle this.
I remembered our fight in Wedderburn's compound … and back then, I'd had Allison's help. Weak as I was now, it couldn't be a straight up battle. I had to catch the monster unaware, or I'd lose.

If I lose, Kian dies. This has all been for nothing.

Terror and urgency created an adrenaline cocktail, and I raced faster than I ever had. I spotted Kian leaving school alone, headed for the bus stop a few blocks down. There were a couple of decent ambush points—I'd scouted them a week ago while on silent watch—and if I was the hag, I'd be lurking in one of them. Gathering my full strength, I pushed to a sprint, feet slamming against the sidewalk. I dodged people like I'd just stolen someone's purse and vaulted over a bench, determined to get ahead of him. Wheezing, I reached the first danger point and found it empty.

Only one other spot she could be.

I changed directions, circling to enter the alley from the next street.
Can't stop.
My chest burned; full body pain threatened to cripple me. Somehow I pushed on, despite feeling like I could shake apart at any moment. A woman yelled at me for nearly bumping into her, but I couldn't stop. Seconds might separate the distance between victory and defeat. My knee still hadn't healed properly, and running broke open the scab, so blood trickled down my shin.

Here, she has to be here.

I charged in from the back of the alley, startling the creature lying in wait. She lashed out, but I already had Aegis drawn. Dizzy as hell, I whirled in and delivered a wound to her gut. She hunched over, raking my back with her iron claws as murky fumes boiled out of her belly. I ate that pain too and spat it back at her, slashing in a vicious swing that would determine who lived.

In a golden shimmer, Aegis arced like a throat-seeking missile as it sliced through her neck. She dissolved in a swirl of dark smoke.

I collapsed.

For a few seconds, I just curled up on my side and waited for the pain to implode me. But it receded, leaving me more or less in one piece, though I shed gold sparks like a lizard molting from its old skin. After a while, I staggered upright to find a small boy staring at me wide-eyed. There was no way to gauge what he'd seen, but adults never believed little kids anyway. So I put my finger slowly to my lips, and he ran off in the opposite direction.

So … I killed Buzzkill twice. The hag too. Screw you, Wedderburn. I beat you. Again.
He'd be so pissed when he found out. But I couldn't savor the triumph. My brain felt like liquid oxygen sloshing around in my skull as I stepped out of the alley.

Recognizing me, Kian stared, taking in my sweaty dishevelment. “You look like shit.”

Which was concrete proof that he wasn't in love with me.
You're welcome,
I thought. But it was also gratifying that he had the confidence to say something like that. Before, he was so skittish and timid that it hurt my heart.

“Rough run. I haven't worked out in a while.”

He appraised my jeans and sweatshirt with a dubious eye. “Maybe put on exercise clothes first next time?”

“That's just a gimmick to get your money. Did cavemen wear track pants when they ran after saber-toothed tigers? No, they did not.”

“God, are you doing that Paleo thing? My aunt won't shut up about it and now there's no bread in the house. No wonder you're acting weird. Want to get something to eat?”

How am I supposed to act after killing the thing that meant to murder you?

Mentally, I shrugged. “Okay. Let's have coffee.”

 

THE DEATH OF WINTER

“You smell like violence,” Selena said when I got home a few hours later.

Exhaustion overwhelmed me, and my legs went watery. It had been pure hell to hang out with Kian with the claw marks burning on my back. I'd been careful to keep him in front of me to avoid awkward questions, but the pain made it difficult to focus. A text from his uncle finally prompted him to head home, so I wearily did the same.

Now I have to break the bad news to Selena.

“I had to fight the hag.”

“Without me? That's
so
mean. You know I wanted a go at her.” She radiated pure petulance, like I'd set out to rob her of a battle.