Page 112 of The Scars Within
Professor Reynoski rocked on his heels, glancing around quickly before settling his gaze back on me. This time, his voice was lower, almost cautious. “Why didn’t you all use your elements to fight off the attackers? And I know you’re more than capable of air-lifting. Why didn’t you do it to get yourself and Wylder out of that collapse?”
His change in tone sent a wave of unease through me. It wasn’t just the questions, which I’d expected from any professor—it was the way he seemed nervous as if he didn’t want to be overheard. I cleared my throat and glanced at Laney. She nodded subtly.
“Once we made it to camp for the night, we realized our elements were somehow suppressed. We could still access them, but barely. We couldn’t even summon a fire. I had to use the flint Professor Lamport gave us in Survival Training,” I explained, matching his quiet tone.
Professor Reynoski nodded, taking in everything I said. He placed a gentle hand on my arm. “I’m glad you’re all okay. Good work today, Cadet. Get some rest.” He nodded at Laney before walking away.
Once I was released from the infirmary, my friends invited me to unwind with them in the Bolthole, but I declined. After the chaos of this weekend, what I really needed was some time alone in my own bed.
Chapter 43
The crack of my jaw was drowned out by his maniacal laugh. My face slammed into the dirt floor, the impact rattling my skull. Pain seared through my head as my teeth clamped down hard, slicing a chunk of flesh from the inside of my cheek. The metallic tang of blood flooded my mouth. I spat the loose bit of flesh onto his boots.
I call him Rotten Teeth. These guys are careful not to share names, so I’ve assigned my own.
Rotten Teeth scowled, “You little wretch!”
Then he nailed my ribs with his steel-toe boots.
The world tilted and blurred, but my beacon shined brightly like a thousand mini beacons covered in my dried blood. I’ve been in this lethargic state since Greasy Hair strangled me with his bare hands. But at least he was kind enough to let me catch my breath before he strangled me again.
Over and over and over. Until it wasn’t fun for him anymore.
And that was after they forced me to swallow the medicinal liquid. My plan to take myself out of the fight was working, but they threw me back into the ring. The rest of my day was so full of sunshine and rainbows that I couldn’t pinpoint what pain was connected to what area of my body.
My lungs took over on autopilot, each breath shallow and strained. My swollen eyelids refused to budge, leaving me staring through narrow slits. Body Odor pushed the wooden door open, dragging something heavy behind him.
“Cut her ropes. Boss says these are her new accessories.”
Whatever he handed to Rotten Teeth and Greasy Hair clinked with a sharp metallic rattle, the sound reverberating in my head like distant, broken bells. The sound grew louder as the three men approached.
“Wake up.”
Part of my new accessory fell on the ground in front of my face, and my vision slowly focused enough to see what they were.
Iron chains and shackles.
No, no, no, no, no, no.
The new outside sound thundered in the air.
Swoosh.Swoosh.
Other than the stampede, it’s the only sound from the outside that has happened consistently. I first heard it while slumped against the wall, the sticky warmth of my drying blood crusting through the hairs on my arms.
After I gave up.
After I surrendered.
Swoosh.Swoosh.
“She won’t be able to leave her fucking corner with these. Seal them tight,” Body Oder demanded.
“I’m here,Scarlet.”
Swoosh.Swoosh.
My legs were jerked into the air, and the blade slid between my ankles, sawing through the rope. The only feeling I could register was the relentless pounding of my heart, a drumbeat in the hollow shell of my body.
