Cameron doesn’t bother looking at the source of the scream, he goes straight into killing. He barrels straight into the group ahead. With everyone masked up and it being dark, heimmediately blends in besides the skull mask. Even then, the snow helps camouflage that too.
Confusion and horror explode through the group as they scramble to grab their blades.
That was smart of him, I muse before I hear snow crunch to my left. My head whirls and I raise my arm just in time to block a knife intended for my throat. The force of the soldier throws me to the ground. Cold flashes up the side of my neck and lower back. I kick my foot against the ground to get the upper hand on the cadet, pinning him to the ground before ripping my knife across his bare throat. His panicked eyes blink furiously as his blood spurts everywhere.
Before I can watch the light go out in his gaze, another soldier tackles me off him. A scream is torn from my throat as a knife slits horizontally through my ear and into the earth behind it.That was too close.
I grab his arm to keep him from moving. Pain flares through my ear, but I fight the tears that burn at the corners of my eyes.Thunk. My eyes widen just as the man’s do. Both our gazes dip down to his throat, where a seven-inch blade is currently sticking out.
He gurgles something before his body is tossed like a bag of flour to the side. Cameron stands above me, legs parted and eyes wild with mania. His breaths plume in the air, blood dripping from his blade.
Fear flickers through me, wondering if he’s going to take this moment to kill me or not. Cameron screws his eyes shut and taps the butt of his combat knife handle to his head as if trying to clear his mind.
“Em,” he mutters, slowly opening his eyes and offering me his hand.
“Cameron.” I take his hand and gasp as he jerks me up quickly, catching me in his arms. His eyes linger on the bloodfilling my ear and dripping down to the snow. He tenderly brushes his fingers over the wound, seeming dazed.
“Mori?” I whisper. It draws his focus, but he still doesn’t look entirely present.
He takes a deep breath before stepping back and turning to face the remaining men who are now fighting among themselves with all the confusion. I wipe my chin and prepare to kill another cadet.
“Maves!” Wraith’s voice rings through the air like a war cry. I look over my shoulder, just as the band around my wrist starts vibrating again. Wraith’s KA-BAR flies toward me, the silver glint of it almost freezing time and every thought in my mind.
I shut my eyes, willing death to welcome me, but instead of pain I’m met with a warm embrace. I jolt, staring up at Cameron’s empty gaze as he watches my face just as curiously.
But…the knife.
“Trial one is over,” Cameron mutters.
I flinch, looking down at the wristband. The number fifty rolls across the top, along with the notice of the end of the first trial.
Cameron’s breaths are ragged, and his brows draw together with unease as he presses a hand to the tree at my back to keep himself from falling. My eyes move to his shoulder, where the hilt of Wraith’s knife is seated.
Horror falls into my stomach.He protected me.
“Cameron!” I say urgently, trying to move him so I can assess his wound. He blinks drowsily, but tenderness seeps into his stare.
“It’s nothing,” he whispers over my temple.
How much blood has he already lost? Why did he do that?
“You’re hurt.” Guilt ebbs in my tone. Why would he do that for me? My mind feels heavy like lead, and frustration takes over the longer he keeps me pinned against the tree.
“I’m fine.” He laughs weakly, pressing his hand to my cheek and brushing loose strands of hair back. “I feel nothing. I never feel anything.”
Tears prickle in my eyes. “You might not feel anything, but you’re hurt, Cam. You’re bleeding and suffering. You’re burning inside.”
A small smile pulls beneath his mask. “I don’t know what it is to suffer.”
I hold his gaze for a moment before muttering, “Yes, you do.”
His brows pull together, vulnerability fluttering across the sage of his eyes.
“Emery!” Bree limps over to us, her mask pulled down now and her helmet hanging loosely at her back. “We fucking made it.” She smiles and looks at us both before her eyes cling to the knife buried in Cameron’s shoulder. Her face pales.
Cameron finally moves and allows me to check his wound. It’s deep. Knowing he can’t feel it even a little makes my chest constrict with pain on his behalf.
“This is bad. Is there an infirmary in the bunker here?” I ask, pressing my hand gently on his shoulder. He doesn’t even flinch.
