Cameron lets out a soft breath as he turns the dial to his shower. He secures a towel around his waist and walks over to me. “Let’s get you patched up.” He takes a moment to analyze my expression and then adds: “Let’s get usbothpatched up.”
I study his gait as we move through the barracks. It’s worse in here than it was in the showers, which means his legs are more injured then he let on. My attention shifts to the room. Every bed in the center of the room is vacant; the few alliances that remain stick close on the perimeter. Arnold and Wraith are closest to the door leading out into the hallway.
I survey the area for Bree and Damian, but don’t find them among the sea of beds. They’re likely grabbing some dinner before getting some rest.
The thought of food right now makes me queasy. I can’t eat after death as brutal and senseless as that. The scent of blood stays in your nose long after—each bite would taste foul.
My eyes flick to my scraped up and reddened fingers. Purple bruises are already blooming beneath my skin.
“Hey runt, I wonder if your keeper will be able to protect you in the final trial,” Wraith calls out as we briskly walk by. Arnold snickers at his comment.
I open my mouth and am about to turn to say something nasty back to him, but Cameron grips my wrist and keeps me moving. He gives me a stern look over his shoulder once we pass a few doors down.
“You know it’s senseless trying to argue with him,” he mutters, looking forward once more. His grip is warm around my wrist.
My cheeks flush at the softness in his touch. “I know.”
“You know, I was a lot like you when I first came through the Under. Feisty.” He sounds like the idea is terribly amusing.
“Well, you didn’t have someone both watching your back and trying to stab said back, so we couldn’t have beenthatsimilar,” I mumble with a smirk.
Cameron shakes his head and laughs. “I guess you’ve got me there. But still, it’s entertaining to see how easy it is to tick you off,” he mutters.
The infirmary lights flicker on slowly, one at a time. For a second, I think they won’t all turn on, but they continue to light up after a bit.
“Hop on up, it’s my turn to fix you.” Cameron smiles as he pats the table. I groan before pulling my pants down and getting up on the cold steel. My thighs burn with the frigid touch of metal before it soothes and warms.
I want to tell him that everything hurts. That I’m in so much pain I’m barely keeping it together, but I’m worried he’ll see weakness in me. I’ve gathered enough knowledge about him to know that his triggers to losing himself are weakness on his squad and when he’s just finished killing or exerting himself. My pain can stay on the back burner.
He smooths his warm fingers down the back of my shin, assessing the wound before cleaning it. I grip the edge of the table and set my jaw, bracing for the shock my body is about to experience.
Cameron’s eyes flick up to my face. I wasn’t expecting him to, but he clearly sees the trepidation in my expression.
He slowly straightens and shoves his hands into his pockets, staring at me, through me, as his voice permeates my heart. “I have something I think I should confide in you.”
My lips feel dry as I watch his discomfort grow. His cheeks flush and his eyes fill with tension. “What is it?”
Cameron fists his hands inside his pockets and flexes his jaw, looking away from my gaze. “I really,reallydon’t want you to suffer. I can’t stand seeing you in pain. It…makes me experience things I’m not fond of, and I like it better when you’re not suffering.”
I give him a quizzical look. Is he trying to say that he likes me?
He tenses his shoulders and looks at me as he mutters, “There aren’t many things I would choose over myself, or my squad, and I don’t know why or how you’ve managed to slither your way inside my heart, but…” He lifts his hand from his pocket and offers me two small black pills in the center of his palm.
My lungs cease and I snap my attention back to him. “Cameron…you know I can’t take those. They’ll kill me.”
His eyes are full of restless thoughts. “The first few won’t hurt you, and these are the latest upgrades. Nolan thinks they’re ready for others to try, so I’m certain a couple wouldn’t harm you.”
A throbbing pain shoots up my leg, and the flinch that rolls across my back makes my shoulder deeply ache. A few tears prickle in my eyes.
“Are you telling me the truth, Cameron? Or are you trying to kill me?” My voice is callous. His eyes narrow with torment.
“I promise, Emery, when I kill you it will be with my knife to your heart. You’ll see me coming. You’ll know without a doubt that I’m going to take your life.” The corners of his lips kick up innocently as if what he just said will never happen. I’m quick to believe it. “The pills take everything away so fast that you won’t even remember how badly you were hurting the moment before.”
I stare at the pills in his palm.Death pills.But we both know I can’t fucking run, let alone walk fast with the gash in my leg.If the last trial requires running, I’m fucked. The shoulder pain is so bad that I can’t lift it above my chest without crying out in agony.
I want them more than I can admit. Death is but a gambling tool down here. Everything is a wager. If I don’t take them, I will probably die. If I do take them, Imightdie. Those are the odds I’m faced with.
Cameron clamps his fingers down over his palm and pops the pills in his mouth. My brows pull together with turmoil.
