Page 99 of Ava: Part Three

Mr Hansson switched his gaze to Zeke.

“And you, Mr Michelson? Do you stand with your mate?”

“I will always stand with my mate.”

His words gave her more confidence even though they were about to meet their death. Mr Patrick had let them down. They were on their own.

“Well, you’ve made your stand. I guess it’s time I made mine,” Mr Hansson said.

She heard a scream from the students behind her, and by the time she turned to look, she saw Dexter suspended in the air. He was terrified but unable to move as he strained against Mr Hansson’s magic.

She had flashbacks of how easily Andrei had ended Emily’s life and felt her heart drop to her stomach. Mr Patrick said she and Zeke could do this job because they were monsters but they couldn’t compete with this.

She took control of Nyx, realising they couldn’t make this stand by themselves. Andrei had been right.

“Let him go. He hasn’t done anything wrong,” Ava pleaded.

“But he will still pay for your sins, Ava,” Mr Hansson said. “Just like Emily paid for your sins. Just like those students you slaughtered in training. It’s all you.”

“Please...” Dexter whispered.

“I expected some resistance from you, so I’m not surprised. You two wouldn’t be worth my time if you were meek little lambs,” Mr Hansson said with a grin.

“You can still train us for whatever role you need us for,” Zeke said. “I’m sure there are many who’d deserve this fate out there, but not among the students.”

“I’m sure you’re right,” Mr Hansson said. “But it’s among these students that your nearest and dearest are waiting and watching, wondering if I will get them next. Put them out of their misery, Ezekiel. Pick five names, and everyone else can go about their day.”

She couldn’t take her eyes off Dexter. No matter what a horrible person he was, he didn’t deserve to be put in the middle of this.

How could Mr Patrick let them down like this? This had been his plan. The other students were supposed to be kept safe from this so they could concentrate on the Council and the guards.

“We’ll do whatever you want. Please put him down,” she whispered.

Mr Hansson cocked his head to the side, and his purple eyes glowed.

“I wish I could believe you, Ava. But I know from experience that this step is essential. I need to break you. I need to own you completely so you will never think you can go against me without any consequences. It’s the only way I can trust you.”

The next second, Dexter was in the air just behind the stage, so close to the forest that she could sense the creatures within it starting to approach.

“Please,” she begged.

Dexter had tears running down his face as his gaze held hers. He had stopped pleading for his life, and her heart broke. She had known that no matter what decision she made, people were going to die, but assumed she and Zeke would be the ones paying that price.

There was a snap, and then the light dimmed from Dexter’s eyes before his head fell at an awkward angle.

It took her a moment to realise what had happened, just as the screams started behind her.

“No!” she screamed, rushing forward to get to Dexter.

But she already knew there was nothing she could do for him now. She couldn’t hear his heartbeat. She had done it again.

As she got to him, she was snatched up into the air and shoved face-to-face with Dexter. Guilt ate her up from the inside, leaving its mark on every cell in her body. Her strength sapped from her body as she looked at her former bully. He didn’t deserve this. No one deserved this.

She looked into his eyes for mere seconds before his body was flung into the forest behind him.

“Now, who’s next?”

Chapter 58

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