“Is anyone allowed to kill us?” Rose asks.
“Yes, but only masters have that authority. They are also allowed to kill one another. This is survival of the fittest,” the headmaster says. “You have five minutes to run. Stay on campus. Be safe.”
I turn and walk away, prompting the others to sprint. I don’t really give a fuck at this point. Nothing good will come from Adrian claiming me. Maybe it’s best that Fredrico claims me. At least then I won’t have to feel like this again. I’m so goddamn angry with Brent. Why would he do that to me? This isn’t even about what happened during the last test; this is about him abandoning me.
I walk through the woods, aimlessly wandering. A few days ago, the masters took us out and walked the property with us. There are several structures on campus that are seemingly abandoned, like me, so I decide to find one of them and just sit there.
By the time I find the little shack, it is dark. I go in and sit in the back corner of the empty shed. Unless someone actually comes in here, they won’t be able to see me from the windows. This gives me time to lay my head back and think. I end up closing my eyes and drifting to sleep.
I suddenly jolt away when the door opens, but frown when I see Mark. “Hey,” he says, stepping in and closing the door. “I thought you were dead for a second.”
“Too bad I’m not,” I mutter and close my eyes.
“What’s wrong?” he asks. I say nothing, because I don’t know how to say it. He deserves to know. “Alania.”
“I had sex with Brent,” I say, opening my eyes. He stares at me with a mix of confusion and rage. “Last week. He was the seventh person to come to me for the test. I had sex with him, and now he’s gone. He packed his stuff and disappeared.”
I can see how angry he is getting, so I close my eyes and pretend not to care. I do, though. I never wanted to hurt anyone. I don’t know what I’m doing, thinking I’ll get a happy ending. With a man like Adrian or Brent? Yeah right. Dad—Edward—must have hit me in the head one too many times. I’m a fucking idiot for thinking I deserve happiness.
“I have Alania. Want her?” I hear Mark say. I open my eyes and see him on the phone. “Yep… The old equipment shed… see ya…”
“If you think I give a fuck, you’re wrong,” I say, closing my eyes.
“I know you don’t. If you did give a fuck, you never would’ve hurt him like that. So many fucking people here want you, but you just had to go and fucking mess with Brent?”
“Whatever,” I say.
“Unbelievable,” Mark scoffs.
“It didn’t even take you five seconds to decide to call that idiot,” I say. “You were working with Fredrico all along, weren’t you?”
“I have been for years,” he says. “You’ll be dead soon, so it doesn’t matter.”
“You think he gives a fuck about you? Ten bucks, he puts a goddamn bullet through your head the moment he walks into this shed.”
“We’ll see,” he laughs.
We sit in silence for a while before the door opens again. “Hey, she—”
A loud pop makes me jump, and I open my eyes in time to see Mark hit the wooden floor. He has a hole in his chest now, and I laugh. “You know how fun it’s been to sit and watch everyone know what’s happening but you?”
“I don’t know, but I don’t actually care,” I say.
Fredrico grabs me by the hair and slings me down to lie on the floor, but I don’t fight. I still don’t know when he shoves my legs apart and kneels between them. I stare at him with a deadpan expression while he pulls his dick out. He spits into his palm and slathers his saliva all over himself before leaning down and shoving himself into me. I am so numb and uncaring, it’s easy for me to just lie here without a reaction. He pumps his hips and rails into me, trying to get something out of me, but he gets nothing. It’s not until he wraps his hands around my throat and squeezes tightly so that I react. I try to pry his hands off my neck when I can’t breathe. My lungs are burning and I’m getting desperate. He is trying to kill me. Instinctively, I am trying to save myself, but then I question what I am fighting for.
What kind of life will I have if I survive? This is what I deserve. Death. I have and always will be a problem for anyone I am close to. It’s easier for everyone if I am gone. How would I explain to Brent that the man he’s been with for a decade was working against him? How do I explain that I love Adrian so goddamn much, but I don’t want him? I mean, I do. I’d give anything to make him happy, which is why I have to die. For Adrian. For Brent.
My body weakens, and the world tunnels. My arms drop to the floor, and my body rocks as Fredrico continues his assault. The heavy feeling in my chest lifts off me, and just as I am drifting toward my death, a loud bang has oxygen rushing back to my lungs as Fredrico’s body drops on top of mine. A spiral of emotions slams down on me, and I start screaming in shock.
I could’ve died. I wanted to die. Why do I feel so relieved that I’m not dead?
“Fuck, baby. Talk to me,” Adrian says tearfully as he holds my body. When did he pick me up? Where are we?
“Consummate or hand her off,” I hear the headmaster say simply.
Fuck. His son. Does he know that his only child is dead?
“Baby. Please. Look at me. Open your eyes,” Adrian begs. I blink up at him, and he sighs in relief. “I have to, baby. I’m sorry. We can go home after this, okay?”
