“I guess I was too in shock to notice anything else,” I finally respond after too long of a silence.
“You might want to. I’m not sure who you trust in your unit, but make sure if you have someone assist that it’s someone who won’t notify the Matrons.”
“Why do you say that?” I ask, getting defensive.
“They really haven’t told you much in your unit, have they? Mine are too willing to share information.”
“What have you found out?”
“The real reason we’re here in Tarsus.”
I almost laugh, but am able to muffle it into a chuckle. “You mean being told that Head Master Edom is trying to infiltrate The Litarian Battles so he can take over the new utopia?”
He looks wounded at my rebuke. “I take it you don’t believe it.”
“Since you’ve never met the man, let me enlighten you. He doesn’t have a solid bone in his body. He’s too much of a weakling to cook up such a scheme. Also, when we were at the mansion, I noticed he has aged quite badly since I saw him last. It’s almost like he’s been tortured like the rest of us.”
“How do you know I’ve never met Edom? He’s in charge of the whole Outer Limits, not just the orphanage.”
“Just a feeling.”
He laughs, which brightens his face. A door off to our left opens and Brink hobbles in. Matron Violet escorts him to the couch across from me, then leaves. Brink has a newly healed scar above his eyebrow, a puncture wound in his arm, and scrapes all over his legs.
“You look like hell,” I say to him.
“Thanks, Maxy,” he replies.
“You know I hate it when you call me that.”
“Yeah, I know,” he says, winking.
“Looks like you’re back to your old self. I was enjoying the new and improved you.”
“What can I say? I missed the old me.” He stands, walks over to my couch, plops down, and proceeds to stroke my arm. “I wish I could’ve seen you kick ass.”
I pull my arm away, almost knocking myself into Garrett. “I hate you. For once I was actually missing you, but I must have been out of my mind.”
“Come on, Maxy, you know you want me.” He squeezes my knee before moving his hand up my thigh.
“Don’t touch her,” Garrett says, knocking Brink away from me. “It’s obvious she wants nothing to do with you, so leave her alone.”
Brink leans in towards Garrett. “What’s it to you, Garrett? She’s been mine since she came of age. She was promised to me, and I’ll be damned if I’m going to let some miller prevent me from having her.”
“Watch your mouth, boy. It won’t take much for me to end you.”
“With what, tough guy? Our weapons don’t work outside the battle floor and I highly doubt the Matrons will let us have it out right now.”
For an answer, Garrett slams his fist into Brink’s face and I hear his nose break. I have to plaster myself against the couch to get out of the line of fire as Brink grabs Garrett and they fall to the floor. Fists fly, along with blood. Matron Violet flies through the door moments later, breaking up the fight. She escorts both of them out of the room. From the sound of it, she’s taking them to the medical office for treatment.
The final winner enters the room an hour later. Their battle was the longest one of the day. Brink and Garrett return shortly after, both properly mended. We’re escorted from the room to waiting transports, each taking us over to another set of lifts that’ll take us back to the main building so we can return to our units. I’m thankful I’m the only one in my lift. I exit into the corridor, walk the several feet to the next lift, and ascend.
The hallway is crammed with a cheering crowd as I step off. I’m patted on the back, hugged, and congratulated by all. I don’t feel much like a winner, so once I’m through the gambit I go to the bathroom for a long, hot shower. My brain hurts from jumping through an emotional range of fear, sadness, anger, and disappointment. Here I thought Brink was being a decent person, only to have it thrown in my face.
What did he mean I was promised to him? It has to be all in his head, but something about the way he said it made it sound like a fact.
I look down at my hands, trying my hardest once again to recall the events of that night, but nothing comes. I must have been drugged really well in order not to recall anything. I do a quick scan of my body, at least what I can see, but only find the same scars that have been there for years. I shake my head, clean, dry off, and dress. Addie is waiting for me in the doorway when I exit.
“That was awesome,” she says, escorting me down the hall towards the common room. “I wasn’t sure if you knew you could loop in mid-air, but you did it.”
I smile in response.
There’s a line for the food when we enter, but I’m allowed to cut in front of everyone, which I find odd. Frey even starts being nice to me again. He brings me a bottle of water and sits on the couch next to me, practically on my lap. All anyone can talk about are the battles. I would prefer not to think about them since there are more to come, but everyone is excited so I try to join in.
Around midnight, people start wandering off to bed. Frey, Addie, Rem, and I are the only ones still up. Twenty minutes later, it’s just Frey and I.
