Page 12 of Poison Touch


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I don’t know if I’m speaking up for her or reacting to the leash comment. Both piss me the fuck off.

Without giving Edge a chance to respond, I burrow past him and through the gawking crowd. My nerves buzz as I fake my cool. I walk down the hall without knowing where I’m going, hoping Eden follows me. But after seeing the way she cowered back there, I’m probably on my own.

Chatter resumes as I pass. It was probably there all along. I just didn’t notice during my encounter with my new enemy. It’s all nonsense and barely audible until I hear phrases like “There she is…” and “She’s the one…”

I try to ignore them like they’re not talking about me, but I know better. I get to the end of the hall and can turn left orright. The left is lined with doors, and the right has an exit to the outside. Yep, this school is way more challenging to navigate than I thought, in more ways than one. I’ve entered the den of vipers and have officially become their prey.

Eden catches up to me. She’s silent for a beat, then says, “You shouldn’t have done that.” She turns left, and I follow.

I hike up my backpack. “Done what? Stick up for myself?” Or you?I want to tell her she should have stood up for herself, but she’s obviously still shaken and unable to listen to that sound advice right now.

“Listen, I know it’s your first day and all, but those guys, Venom—theVipers?—”

“Aren’t we all Vipers since that’s the school’s mascot?” I question.

“Yeah, but they’retheVipers. Like you don’t want to mess with them.”

That’s exactly what I plan on doing until I bring justice down on them. “Or else what?”

“They will find a way to make your life a living hell.”

She has no idea that they already have.I push away the unwanted feelings of remorse and pain slithering just under the surface of my unfazed facade.

Shrugging, I say, “So, I’ll park somewhere else tomorrow, no big deal.”

By the look on her face, she’s not convinced that will fix the damage I caused in less than fifteen minutes. Man, I work fast. Fuck, it would be impressive if the circumstances weren’t so dire.

“You know it’s not that simple, right? You challenged them in front of everyone. Edge, the one all up in your face, won’t let this go that easily. The others won’t go as hard, but you still need to watch your back.”

There were a ton of rumors in my high school about the Vipers, but I thought it was just a bunch of bullshit or at least about Monarch as a whole—newsflash to me. All I know is I may have found precisely who I’ve set out to destroy, and all before my first class.

I glance at my schedule to find the room number. I’m not even close when I realize the class numbers we’re passing. I stop and turn to face Eden. “Look, I know you’re trying to give me some great advice, but I just want to get to art right now. Will you help me or not?” I expect her to say no.

Surprisingly, she sighs out a defeated breath. “It’s this way.”

We take another left in the next hallway and out of the building through double doors. The uneven stone path, lined with tiny purple flowers, has got to be hell to walk on in heels. Thank God for Docs. At the end of the walkway is a building older than the one we just came from. Vines crawl up its walls like thick green webs surrounding tall wooden doors.

“This is the arts and music building,” Eden says.

“What class do you have?” Since she came after me, even if it was to warn me, I should show some interest if she has a class near here.

“Photography.”

With genuine curiosity, I ask, “Cool. What do you like to shoot?”

She tucks her hair behind her ear. “People mostly, candid, natural shots, or sometimes, the complete opposite, when the subject looks directly into the lens. I like those kinds of pictures. You can’t hide anything. They’re real, every freckle, every flaw, every scar, all of it. I get to see that person exactly how they look, feel… Sorry, I get carried away.”

“Hey, no, it’s all good. It’s awesome to be that passionate about something.”

“Yeah, I guess you could say that.” She fidgets with one of the studs lining her ear.

I follow her down another corridor, finally reaching a classroom with room number S24. Jesus, will I be able to find this place on my own?

Eden stops just outside the open door and touches my arm. I can tell it’s entirely out of character.

I narrow my eyes on her. “Why do you look like you have something to say and I’m going to hate hearing whatever it is?”

Her face scrunches before she blurts, “Gunner is in this class.”