The silence hangs comfortably between us before Lenny quietly adds, “So are you. You’ll always be special to me.”
Orion has been pushing me extra lately, introducing a variety of puzzles for me to solve at night when it’s just the two of us. Heading into the third week, I prepare for another night of mental warfare when he surprises me. “Get dressed; we’re trying something different tonight.”
“Where are we going?”
“Back to the training grounds.” His tone is clipped, tension radiating from his body.
“Okay… I’ll be right back.”
I quickly parted and braided my hair into two plaits, then dressed in my standard training attire. Orion gives me a quick nod and has me follow him out. “Quietly; it’s just us tonight.” His low voice murmurs as we silently proceed down the hall and into the waiting hovercraft.
“Is everything alright?” I bite my cheek. I’ve never seen him so worked up. What has gotten him so upset?
“It’s my job to prepare you, Zellie. Trust me to do that.”
Unease eats at my insides, making my stomach churn. Why do I have a feeling this will not be good?
The training grounds are darker than usual. No one is expected at this hour, and the orb lights are dimmed. The lack of light, combined with the silence and anxiety settling into my bones, creates an eerie atmosphere. “What are we doing here?”
“You’re going to navigate the obstacle course with some added barriers.” Orion brushes by me, examining the course. He raises his hands, palms skyward, and the course ignites.
“What the fuck?” Orion ignores my exclamation, flicking his fingers to move a flame or adjust its size. “This is a joke, right? I’m not training with fire.”
Orion looks over his shoulder, flames dancing in his eyes. This version of him differs from the Riri I know. Gone is the humorous, sarcastic,kindmale. “Today, you will.”
I scoff, “Today, I will? Orion, look at this. This is dangerous. I’ve never been arou—”
“The games are dangerous, Zellie!” he bellows. “I can’t protect you in there. This,” he gestures behind him towards the infernal playground, “is how I can protect you. Bypreparingyou. Soyes, Zellie, today, you will.”
Nope. No fucking way. “And if I don’t?”
Orion slowly crosses his arms, closing himself off from me. “I didn’t take you for a coward.”
My jaw drops, the insult stinging as he intended. I acknowledge the hurt briefly before tucking it deep within me. There’s no time for that now. In its place, a slithering anger snakes through my veins, wrapping tightly around my heart.
My tone is calm and detached as I approach the fiery gauntlet. “Today, I will…sponsor.” I watch as the word lands its blow and see the hurt in Orion’s eyes flash briefly before disappearing. I thought we had finally turned a corner in our friendship, but if this is how our relationship needs to be, so be it.
The flames lick wildly, as does the raging inferno inside me. I eye the course, trying to strategize, but the longer I look at it, the more anxious I feel. He created fireeverywhere. I’ve never been around flames like this. Fuck it, here we go. I take off at a sprint on the running track. The flames seemeasiest to dodge here, as the path allows for a wide berth. Fueled by anger, I don’t take time to note how much faster I complete my lap. I don’t expect the blaze atop the hanging rings, though, and I hiss as the flames lick my fingers. I let go, falling back down the ramp.Damn it.
Shaking out my fingers and ignoring the burns at the tips of my fingers, I make another go, avoiding the section I just encountered. I grab another ring; the metal is overheating from the surrounding flames. If I move quickly enough, I can get through this section unharmed. I immediately begin swinging my legs to propel myself towards the ledge. The heat is so intense that sweat coats my body like a second skin, and I’m quickly losing my grip. I sloppily throw myself forward, my left arm landing dangerously close to a flame.
The pain is immediate, and I cry out, quickly heaving myself up and singeing the end of my hair. The sky has turned an ugly shade of charcoal, thickening with each passing moment. My lungs protest the lack of clean air as I struggle to take deep breaths. I gasp violently, panic paralyzing me. Heavily, I fall to my knees. The impact is jarring, snapping me out of my pain-induced trance. Stars above, I need to get this over with. Crawling to the weapons, I take a dagger and toss the throwing knife freely without aim. I roll myself to the edge of the platform, not bothering with the stairs, and attempt to slide down.
Unfortunately for me, my body is failing me. I fall the rest of the way, banging my head hard against the ground, but I’m too angry and exhausted to care. I lay there, taking deeper, cleaner breaths. Orion has extinguished his flames, yet the smoke lingers, much like the damage he has done to our partnership. Tears form in my eyes—from what I endured, from what was to come, and for trusting him not to hurt me. I need to get out of here. I can’t stand the sight, the smell of this fucking course.
Drip, drip, drip. The tears fall to the ground as I force myself up and off my knees. I stagger briefly before walking to Orion, pushing a finger into his chest. “Don’t youevermake me do something like that again.” He’s frozen in place, his expression unreadable.
His eyes shoot to my head. “You’re hurt. Let me help you.”
“I don’t want your help.” I walk past him, hailing a hovercraft without looking back.
I’m woozy the entire ride. Keeping my head between my knees, I cough and work on breathing. The pungent smell of smoke has filled the vehicle, so thick it’s nauseating. “We’re here, miss. Will you be alright?” A kind Celestial driver asks me.
I nod, unable to form an answer. The world is dizzy as I enter the hallway to the apartments. The orb lights spin violently, door frames tilting. My legs cease to work, and I trip over myself, my shoulder slamming into a door loudly. I slide down to the ground. I need a minute to regroup, to get my bearings. I need to close my eyes, only for a second…
Twenty-one
“What the—Zellie?” Confusion.
