Mariya looks up, smiling. “Thanks, fam! Should we take these back to our place? We can compare notes.”
“Mariya,” I lean in until our noses are almost touching. “This childishness is beneath you.”
Tati’s helping her clear up their clutter of books and papers. “This would be a good time to leave her alone,” she says coldly, precisely.
I’ve never heard her speak this way.
“She doesn’t deserve this. Andyoudon’t deserve her.” Linking arms with my silent fiancée, she pulls her away quickly.
Dropping heavily into a chair, I watch them go, running my finger over my lips.
“This can’t be good,” Lucca mumbled.
We were all abruptly ordered out of class a few minutes ago and instructed to meet in the center square in front of the Dean’s building. All the students are here, pulling jackets tighter against the cold and grumbling quietly
“Good afternoon, students,” Dean Christie stepped up to the granite podium. “Given the excellent underground network of intelligence on campus, I am quite sure that most of you were apprised of the attack on Konstantin Turgenev during the Leader’s Challenge last week.”
Dozens of heads turn to look at me, but not with surprise. The Dean is correct about the gossip here.
“After a thorough investigation, we have uncovered the two people responsible.” A low murmur runs through the crowd like a cold wind. The guards pull two men next to the Dean, both handcuffed and in dry suits. The younger one - I think he’s one of the new freshmen - is crying, the other isHwan Jeong, the Junior who joined the Academy this year. He’s stone-faced, but I can feel the rage vibrating off him like a bonfire.
“We embedded tracking chips in all the drysuits the teams wore during the challenge,” she continued pleasantly, “of course, we would wish to make certain none of you were lost or in unanticipated distress.”
Lucca snorts, quickly changing it into a cough as one of the guards glares at us.
“After following all the trackers through the underwater task, we determined that these two diverted off course and to the cavern where Mr. Konstantin was attacked. Additionally, they released the rest of the oxygen from his tank in case he was able to regain consciousness.”
The freshman begins shouting, a mixture of English and French, trying to beg for mercy. Jeong looks over at him in disgust as the younger man is gagged.
“We all know the first rule of conduct here at the Ares Academy, do we not?” Dean Christie continued, “An eye for an eye.”
“Shit,” Lucca whispers, “I almost feel sorry for these bastards.”
“These two will both be given tanks and sent back through the original challenge course in the sea caves,” she says. “One of the tanks is tampered with.” Jeong’s expression doesn’t change, but his fists tighten against his handcuffs. “Now, both students will have a chance to survive if they can share the working tank and follow the directions. If not…” she shrugs lightly. “It is a fitting disciplinary action.”
There’s some angry shouting from some of the students, and the Dean’s cold gaze sweeps the crowd. No one steps forward. “Very well,” she says. “These two will be taken to the challenge course. You will be notified of the outcome.
“Let me be clear.” Her voice suddenly thunders through the square. “Murder attempts against a student at the Ares Academy will always be met with a corresponding level of violence. And I assure you. I will always find those responsible. Am I clear?”
Everyone’s been stunned into silence.
“Am. I. Clear?” Her voice whiplashes through the audience.
“Yes Dean Christie,” hundreds of voices dutifully reply.
As everyone turns to leave, the Dean’s voice stops me. “Mr. Turgenev? Attend to me, please.”
Following her to her office, I’m trying to sort through all my questions. She’s not known for her patience and she’ll likely only answer a few. When we’re both seated, she sighs. “Go ahead.”
“Did they confess under questioning?” I ask.
“Mr. Dubois did,” she said, “though he could not, or would not give us further details. He said he was told to do it and did not know in advance who his accomplice was. Even knowing what his punishment would be, he would not tell me who targeted you for this action.”
“What about Hwan?”
“Not a word,” she said, “but his family’sJopokis ruthless. I am not surprised that he was trained properly. This does raise the question: do you know why these two would target you?”
Frowning, I try to go through any interaction I’ve ever had with them. “We both know there’s been multiple attacks on students here at the Ares Academy, but none on campus. I don’t know why Dubois and Jeong would go after me. I can’t even see a connection between those two.”
