Page 124 of Twisted Heathens

Kade and I gape incredulously at her words, utter disbelief taking over. This is fucking unbelievable. Rio and his group of untouchable lowlifes literally beat the living shit out of Eli, even broke his fucking leg. Why are they defending this asshole?

“Eli’s the one in hospital, beaten within an inch of his life,” Kade points out acidly.

Rio holds his hands up innocently. “He attacked my friends. It was self-defence.”

“There’s not a single fucking scratch on any of you,” I hiss.

Miss White’s patience expires and she turns to the silent guard. “Please escort Rio inside. I will deal with this and join you momentarily.”

We both fall silent and watch Rio pass, slipping into her office. He shoots me a hateful look before disappearing, promising retribution. My mouth waters at the thought. Fucking bring it, I’ll rip the cocky shit apart piece by piece.

“Kade, your privileges here can be removed as quickly as they were given, don’t forget that,” Miss White points out, face pinched with displeasure. “There are protocols for a reason around here. Elijah attacked a fellow patient, therefore he is the one at fault.”

“That’s bullshit!” I interrupt.

She glares at me threateningly. “Silence! Or you’ll spend the rest of the bloody year in solitary. I’ve had it with you, Hudson Knight!”

We both stand still, angry beyond words as the warden gives us meaningful looks, ensuring her authority is clear. “Leave Rio alone and worry about yourselves.”

She turns and marches away, slamming her office door hard enough to rattle priceless artworks up and down the hallway. We stare at each other, completely bemused by her blatant favouritism. What the hell has Rio got on her? Has he paid off everyone in this corrupt institute?

Kade rubs his forehead with a pained frown, clearly unhappy. “Rio will get what he deserves one day. There’s something wrong with this place and I refuse to tolerate it for a second longer. Nothing about Blackwood makes sense, least of all that asshole’s power.”

“What are you suggesting?”

“Right now? Nothing. We need to sort our current mess and keep Eli out of their reach. One problem at a time, Hud. Come on, we need to convince Doctor Andrew to release him and see about stealing some supplies to treat Brooklyn.”

We leave for the medical wing together, both struggling with the injustice. Nothing about this unholy place is right, it never has been. In an enclosed world with its own rules and social norms, of course things will be a little strange.

But that doesn’t explain the growing list of worrying incidents that just don’t stack up. I have a feeling that we’ve only glimpsed the horrors that happen behind closed doors. Even if we save Brooklyn and Eli…

Blackwood Institute will swallow them whole.

Forty

Brooklyn

Born To Die by Lana Del Rey

I lay stock still, body numb and tingling. The sound of the shower running fills my ears, providing the only sense of reality in the pitch-black room. My mind is so heavy, an eternal burden that refuses to shift. I shouldn’t be awake right now, judging by the metallic taste of chemicals on my tongue.

Phoenix saved me. Stitched me. Drugged me. If it wasn’t for him, I would certainly be dead by now. Little did he know, I didn’t want to be saved. I’m beyond redemption.

I test my limbs, gradually moving from the stiff position. His little cocktail of drugs kept me out for a while, but after twelve months of incarceration, I’ve built up a tolerance. He miscalculated. It takes more than a handful of Valium to keep me down these days.

This is my final chance.

No drawn-out goodbyes.

No pain or heartbreak.

I’ll just disappear and they can all go back to their lives like I never even existed. From the very first day I set foot inside of Blackwood Institute, I never intended to stay. This was just a brief stopping point, a layaway on my inevitable road to promising oblivion. I allowed the guys to distract me from my true purpose in being here, however briefly.

Fucking foolish. I’ll never be like them.

My sins are too great.

I walk barefoot and swaying, the room buzzing all around me in a kaleidoscope of confusion. It takes great effort not to fall over, but I’ve got just enough sense to keep moving, past the bloody, ruined clothes that Phoenix stripped off on his way to freshen up.

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