Unfaded (42 page)

             
“I’m sorry,” Marley said. She didn’t dare mention that she’d been packing and dressing Granny for the past two years.

             
Outside, Seito was waiting for me in Kian’s car. Yesterday’s snowfall had been a record and there was too much ice on the roads for even him to risk driving the bike. Climbing inside, I threw my bag at my feet.

             
“How’s it going?”

             
“Ug. Granny forced me into breakfast hell this morning. Pancakes, bacon, eggs, way too much food.”

             
“And you didn’t invite me because...” Seito grinned and hit the gas. “I love breakfast. Only the most important meal of the day.”

             
“I’ll pack you a doggie bag next time,” I said. “I think she’s planning on making this a daily event.”

             
“Fantastic!”

             
I didn’t get a chance to respond because suddenly I wasn’t in the car. I was somewhere else.

The air was still. Not a single breeze dared flutter a leaf or stir the grass. The clouds were stagnant in the sky, refusing to move or even change shape. They were dark and hazy, waiting. Below them was a valley,
a place I recognized, it had once been full of life and beauty, now it was silent but not calm. Even the animals had long departed, following their instincts and running for shelter.

I was high up on a hill and an entire army waited with me
. Weapons drawn, bows poised, swords oiled. They were ready to fight, ready to die. Beside me was Rafferty. Even though this was my first real look at him, I immediately knew who he was. On my other side was Dialexa, her eyes blazing and fingers itching. Nostrils sniffed the air and the smile on her face was that of pure anticipation. Apani waited beside them. Her hands held no weapon for she would not take part in what was coming. Once again I was witnessing the event as a ghost. No one took notice of me.

“It’s a good day to die,” Rafferty said.

“Who said anything about dying?” Dialexa said. “We’ll defeat them all and put an end to their misery. Do they really think having humans on their side will make them stronger? Let’s free them all.”

             
“This is utter foolishness,” Apani said. “No one will win this war. Is it really worth the fight?”

             
“Hush, sister. I’ve grown impatient with your constant babbling. I know you’ve been talking with Aelin. I wonder how you’ll feel when I kill her.”

             
Raising her bow to the sky, she let forth an arrow that flew through the air and straight into the throat of the closest Unfaded. The poor soul fell to the ground, clawing at the wood as it drew his life force from his body.

             
A voice screamed somewhere in the middle of the opposing side. Another answered it. Soon both sides surged forward, feet trampling the wild flowers and once green grass of the valley. Bodies dropped as arrows pierced hearts and swords sent sparks flying as metal met metal.

             
The rain continued into the night, tiny rivers flooded their way through the soil, and blood mixed in with the mud.

             
Apani was the only one left behind on the hill. I stood next to her, watching the event.

             
“It’s started,” she said. Turning, she looked me right in the eyes. “You’d better be prepared. They’re coming for you. He’s already started the journey. He’s not going to leave you alone this time.”

             
I came back into the real world with a loud gasping breath. Seito was watching me, both amused and concerned at the same time.

             
“Welcome back,” he said. “Nice trip?”

             
I held my hands up to my head, trying to steady my brain. For days I’d been begging my mind to give me a vision, any vision at all. Why had it chosen to give me this one?

             
“It was a battle,” I said. “Dialexa and Apani were there. And Rafferty too. She told me they’re coming for me. Him. She said ‘he’s started the journey’.”

             
“That sounds like a warning. Have you had that happen before?”

             
“I don’t think so. It was a past event. How could something that happened in the past be warning me about the future?”

             
“No idea.” Seito thought about it for a bit. “Maybe it wasn’t a warning. Maybe it was just part of the flashback.”

             
“Yeah, I guess so.”

             
We drove the rest of the way in silence. There was only one person I could ask about this. Kian had spent four hundred years watching me repeat these visions. He might know whether or not I’d ever gone prophecy girl before. Now I had two reasons to see him. I turned to Seito, ready to ask him the question I’d spend most of last night debating.

             
“Can you do me a favour? Can you drive me over to the motel after school?”

             
“It’s about bloody time,” Seito said. “I was beginning to think you’d never ask.”

             
“Is that a yes?”

             
“It’s more of a smack for waiting so long, but yes, it’s a yes.”

             
“Thanks.”

                                                        *              *              *

              It was the longest Friday in my life.

             
By the time English came around, I was about ready to fall to pieces. I still wasn’t sure about what I was going to say to Kian once I saw him. I’d been hoping I’d figure it out. But at the day slowly rolled to an end, I was still completely unsure of how to approach things. A very large part of me still wanted to go in and scream at him for about an hour until all the pain went away and that probably wasn’t the best approach. Another part wanted to fall to my knees and gush about how thankful I was that he’d helped Granny. But I could always be grateful once I’d gotten all the screaming out. What to do? I guess I’d have to wing it and I hated being unprepared.

             
The classroom was relaxed considering it was a Friday. Ms. Gray was pretty lenient and offering us some last minute advice on the essays. She’d taken pity on everyone and given us the weekend for an extension. I was happy because it meant I’d be able to try and fix my paper but disappointed at the same time. So far I was homework free, now I’d be busy again.

             
Everyone was in happy spirits.

             
But that stopped when someone pulled the fire alarm.

             
There was a lot of confusion and laughter while the students dropped their books and filed out the classrooms and into the hallway. This wasn’t a drill. We were always informed ahead of time so everyone, even the teachers, looked confused.

             
The panic didn’t start until people started smelling the smoke. It was drifting through the halls, coming from the direction of the library.

             
I knew immediately what was happening. Lina had been right all along. They’d been biding their time until they’d devised a trap. I was completely alone and that’s exactly what they wanted. Seito was on the other side of the school and he wouldn’t get to me in time. I had two choices. I could try and navigate myself through the packed hallways and find him before Anique and Sobek caught up with me or I could wait in the classroom and be an easy target.

I decided to move. Maybe they’d have more trouble spotting me in the crowd.
I pushed my way in and started walking towards the closest exit. Bodies crowded against me, shoving me in the right direction. Ten feet ahead, a freshman tripped. People stepped over her, ignoring her cries. I stopped and grabbed her by the arm, her glasses had fallen off and been trampled to pieces under an army of shoes and boots.

“Can you see?” I asked her once I managed to help her to her feet.

“Yeah.” She was a little battered but she’d be fine.

“Stick to the side, it’ll be easier.”

The smoke was really filling up the halls now, adding to the confusion and panic. It was getting harder to see anything. I was having trouble scanning the crowd for Unfaded. There was no sign of Anique and Sobek, but I couldn’t find Seito either. A boy beside me had a coughing fit, his lungs burning. I couldn’t breathe either. I could feel the pressure building up inside of me as the smoke began to replace the oxygen in my veins.

It was hard not to sink into the sea of endless panic. I kept getting pushed from behind and each time I’d try and twist myself around to make sure I wasn’t getting attacked. Dozens of faces surrounded me, wide eyes, open mouths, they blurred together in a smoky haze until I couldn’t tell who was who. I wasn’t even moving by choice anymore, bodies shoved me forward
and I had no choice but to move along with them.

“Mai!”

Through the crowd I could see Seito’s white bangs. He was fighting against the horde but it was a losing battle. Every time he managed to move a few steps forwards, students would crowd him, forcing him back.

“I’m here!” I called to him. I wasn’t sure if he’d actually seen me or not.

Fingers closed around my arm and yanked me backwards. Struggling not to fall, I tried to right my feet but I was being shoved around. My head smashed against the side of the lockers, forcing stars into my eyes. I caught a flash of blonde hair as a hand wrapped itself around my throat. I opened my mouth to scream but I was pulled off my feet and slammed into the locker again. The last of the air left my lungs and I gasped several times as my legs stopped working and I started to slide along the smooth metal and towards the floor.

No one noticed. They continued to race down the halls and for daylight. I couldn’t scream for help, my mouth wouldn’t open. It wasn’t hard for Anique to pluck me off the ground and drag me into the women’s bathroom.

Please, please, let Seito have seen
, I begged just in case someone was listening.

The door closed, separating us from all those people that might have been able to do something if they’d only seen.

“No one to help you now,” Anique said, reading my mind. She kept her hand closed over my throat although it was pointless. I could barely breathe. Even if I were to scream it was doubtful that anyone would hear me.

She tossed me again, just like a ragdoll and my body hit the side of a sink, sending white hot fire into my hip. I rolled off the
enamel counter and hit the floor; barely managing to bring my arms up before my head cracked against the ground.

“Whoops,” she said. “That must have hurt.” When I didn’t respond she kicked me hard in the stomach. I doubled up, my arms covering my chest as a measly form of protection.

Somewhere in the darkest realms of my mind, a voice screamed at me to fight back.
Haven’t you suffered enough? Get up! You’re stronger than this. Fight! Prove to her that you’re worthy of living.
I knew that voice. It was me but not me. Voices being whispered on the wind. Somewhere my sister was trying to reach me. If I died, I’d never find her again.

And Kian would be doing penance until the day
in which I would be reborn.

I kicked out at her with my leg, catching her in the stomach and throwing her back against the wall. She hadn’t been exp
ecting it, the surprise was evident on her face. Grabbing hold of the sink, I pulled myself up. But something was wrong, my eyes were blurry, I couldn’t make them focus. The back of my skull was throbbing from where it crashed into the locker. Taking an awkward step forward, I kept one hand on the sink for balance. I tried to stand up straighter to hide my handicap but Anique’s eyes were sharp.

“What’s the matter?
Feeling a little lightheaded?” She held up her hand. “How many fingers am I holding up?” Without waiting for an answer, she threw a punch straight at my nose. I barely managed to bring my hand up to block it. I stepped to the left, tightening my hand around her arm, and I got behind her, just as Kian had shown me and stuck out my foot. Tripping, she sailed forwards and I shoved her to give a bit more momentum. Her body slammed against the sinks, sending cracks along the wall and breaking the mirror into a million pieces.

“I beat you once,” I said. “I can do it again.”

A big piece of glass was sticking out of her arm. Grabbing it between fingers, she pulled out the shard and dropped it on the floor. Blood dripped from the wound, snaking down her arm. Her eyes glowed with excitement. She was enjoying the challenge. Wiping a strand of hair from her eyes, she brushed some of the glass and plaster from her shirt.

“I killed you
several times, I can do it again.”

Pushing at me, her arms caught my shoulders. I brought my hand up and she caught my fingers, gripping them hard. I tried to pull back but my foot slipped on the broken glass, sending my legs flying in different directions. Anique caught my shirt and
yanked me forwards and I went down on one knee. My fingers bent backwards and I heard the snap as they broke. This time I managed to scream and I did a pretty good job until Anique’s foot stomped against my stomach, cutting off my air once again and forcing me to curl into a foetal position while I struggled to breathe.