“So?” Emily laughs bitterly. “I ain’t gonna die for some dick. IfIget a shot at freedom, I’ll grab it.”
I pick at my cuticles. “We still have our escape plan.”
“And what if that failsagain? At least I’ve got this as a backup,” Emily says. “Tell Jax I’ll be heading through the vent tomorrow night. I want to see Dan.”
“Okay,” I say with a nod.
Manni leans back in her bed and faces me. “See anything else?”
I press my lips together, biting at the skin as I ponder whether to tell them about the Bleeder and the creature who killed him. Would it just add fuel to the fire?
Besides, I don’t want them to tell Jax.
I lie flat and burrow deeper into my sheets. “Laura was finger-blasting herself over Jax.”
Emily starts choking, sits up quickly and hits her head on the bars of the top bunk. Manni cackles as Emily moan-laughs. A breathy chuckle escapes me before I press my lips together and bite down on my smile.
CHAPTER EIGHT
PLASMA
Any nightwalker who crosses the outpost and ventures into human territory must understand that they are on their own. You cannot call upon the Three due to your own incompetence.
— Serun’s Law
The warm lightgradually burns brighter as I stare up at the vent. It’s morning now, but it feels as if I haven’t slept at all. Memories of the Bleeder’s head rolling out of the shadow keep burning their way to the surface. Sliding off the bed, I quickly make my way to the toilet and vomit. Stringy, thick saliva and chunks of bread float in the bowl until I flush.
Manni rubs my back and ties my hair at my nape to keep it out of my face. Emily starts apologising for pushing me to find out where Bianca had gone, assuming that is why I was retching.
I wave my hand, brushing off her words.
“Are you knocked up or something, then?”
I spit in the toilet and grunt, “Emily.”
She chuckles.
I flush the toilet again, push myself up, and swipe my tongue over my upper teeth, shuddering at the fuzzy feeling.
Cole wakes as I make my way back to the bunk. Dark blond hair moves in messy waves, and his tired eyes struggle to focus. Instead of bothering him so early, I decide to let him be. He isn’t a morning person, meanwhile Manni, Emily, and I are already making beds.
As I tuck my sheets into the well-worn mattress, the door slides open, and a Bleeder steps inside. “It’s time to leave.” I glance over at the Bleeder, wondering if he’s sweating beneath his clothes at the fate of his colleague and whatever was in that note. Yet, he seems composed—not even a quaver in his voice.
Nothing.
Is it common for nightwalkers to kill Bleeders? Doesn’t Serun’s Law protect them?So many thoughts rush through my head, tormenting me as I wonder what happens outside these very walls.
Was it a nightwalker? The Bleeder seemed to believe it was one of theirgods.And if that is the case, it makes sense that the Bleeders didn’t care about the death—they probably saw it as a worthy sacrifice.
But there must be more to it than that.
Soon, we make our way downstairs. As we enter the bathroom across from the stairway, Cole heads towards themen’s bathroom. When he’s out of sight, I follow Manni and Emily.
Laura is already showering and washing her hair. Emily nudges me with her elbow and lets out a knowing giggle. As I watch Laura, my stomach churns in a way I don’t like.
We shower without issue, then dress and make our way to the bloodbank. By the time we reach the doors, Jax and Cole catch up to me, and with a faint smile, we enter the room together.
I stare at the empty spot where Bianca used to sit. Beside it, Julien stares blankly ahead, his arm extended to the Bleeder by his chair. Part of me wants to tell him what I saw last night, but I look away when the prickling sensation of Jax watching me shudders up my spine.
