Page 36 of Degradation
‘I’m sorry,’ I say, my tone bland, pleasant.
I make sure the robe is around me tightly as I swing my legs out of the bed, praying that I can walk at least across the hall without needinghishelp.
I don’t look at him as I get to my feet, straighten my spine, and take a small step. It hurts but it’s doable. I walk to the door, minimizing my limp as much as I can even though moving my foot properly makes my stomach roll. I hope I’m not damaging it more, but the thought of hobbling around in front of him... I can’t do it.
‘Fucking knew you were pretending,’ he snarls from behind me. ‘Was it all bullshit?’
I don’t even know what he’s talking about but won’t give him the satisfaction of an answer anyway. I cross the hallway without even looking back and go into my room, shutting the door softly and leaning against it.
A sob makes its way up my throat, but I don’t let it out. I ruthlessly push it deep inside where it belongs. I spent ten years at The Heath, and I barely cried even once. I’m not going to give Blake that kind of power over me when I never gave it to Stoke, or anyone else.
I’m stronger than they know. I need to start acting like it.
MAV
The scream is blood curdling and I’m out of bed and in the hallway in record time.
I run right into Shade and we both jump back with a curse.
‘What the fuck was that?’ Shade asks groggily, clearly half asleep because it was a woman’s scream, and we only have one of those up here.
I move past him, going to her closed door.
‘Daisy?’ I call.
Nothing.
‘Fuck it,’ I murmur, turning the knob and opening it.
I feel Shade at my back and, when I look over my shoulder, I see him just a step behind. Blake, however, is watching from his desk, his expression concerned.
He’s hanging back. Why?
But I turn back and go into Daisy’s dark bedroom.
I hear her moving on the bed, and I cross the floor quickly, turning on the light on her nightstand.
Her covers are a mess and she’s laying on the edge of the of the bed, her face contorted.
‘Please,’ she whispers. ‘Don’t. No.’
She whimpers, turning this way and that, writhing as if in pain.
‘Daisy.’
Saying her name does nothing, and she rolls, teetering on the edge of the bed. She starts to fall in slow motion.
I jump toward her, catching her before she hits the floor and putting her back in bed.
Her eyes are open as I put her down. She’s breathing heavily, her hair damp with sweat.
‘Mav?’ she asks, eyes confused.
‘You were having a bad dream,’ I say. ‘Are you okay?’
She nods cautiously and then her eyes cloud over with sadness for a second before her face goes blank.
‘I’m fine. Could I have a couple of painkillers, though? Ankle is aching.’
