“I keep a bag in my Jeep.” He glanced at me from the side, no doubt reading the surprise on my face. I hadn’t expected Ender Hart to keep a ready-to-go bag like I had. “So where are we going?”
I sighed then asked, “Do you have a passport?”
“Yes?” He tilted his head. “It’s in my Jeep.”
“Good.”
“Hey!” a guard shouted behind us. “All students are supposed to be in their dormitory rooms.” The guard caught up to us, assessing my bag and glancing in the direction we were headed, toward the staff headquarters and garage. “Where are you going?”
“The obvious. The woods for a midnight stroll and picnic,” Ender said.
The guard narrowed his eyes and pulled out his phone, dialing someone.
“Headmaster John. I have Selene Thomas and Ender Hart on campus grounds and out of their rooms. They appear to be headed in the direction of the garage.” There was a pause. “Yes, sir.” The guard pocketed his phone and looked at us. “I will escort you to Mr. Hart’s vehicle.”
“What?” Ender blinked. “Can you please repeat that?”
“Follow me,” the guard said.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Selene
Ithadbeenalong trip to Dominica. Ender’s vehicle navigated through the snow with ease. The guard—Guard Taylor—who had stopped us at the academy followed us all the way to the airport. John messaged me, informing us that he was to ensure our safety until we were on the plane. He was concerned there could’ve been a dark mage outside the dome and didn’t want us to be followed. Surprisingly, I was relieved once it was just Ender and me.
The flights were uneventful, and Ender helped pitch in for costs, even though I had enough money stowed in my bag and the guard had attempted to hand us a prepaid Visa at our boarding gate. I kept John updated through our travels, per his request, and Ender informed his guardian. Though John was disappointed I hadn’t accepted a pair of guards to join us, he appreciated that I kept him up to date about our plans and our whereabouts. He seemed slightly relieved I hadn’t gone alone.
I stared at the quaint island cottage that I had called home my entire life, part of it in shambles. Our own private piece of paradise, as Mom had called it. It was the only house for half a mile on either side along the ocean.
The door creaked open as I pushed against its cracked wood and stepped through the threshold. The broken pieces of wood, burnt soot trails, and glass shards brought together the disturbing memory of that horrifying day.
Fractions. I hate fractions.That had been my last thought before my world came crashing down. I had been scribbling numbers on my homework, the swaying of the hammock making my writing even messier. Viv’s cheers were distracting as she jumped over the small incoming waves like she was a kid again and not a teenager, water dusting her shorts. The heat from the sun would dry them quickly.
“Girls!” Mom had shouted from the back porch stretching over a mix of sand and grass, the alarm in her voice giving me goosebumps. “Get inside! Now!”
I had shot straight up, clutching my notebook. Never had I heard her voice so commanding yet full of alarm. I went to wave Viv to hurry up, but she was frozen in place, her gaze fixed on the ocean. My heart began to race as soon as the pungent odor struck me. Before I could react, the ocean water rushed at us. The water burned as its force knocked me out of the hammock and onto the sandy ground.
I sat up, coughing out water.
“Viv!” I shouted as I blinked away the burn from the salt and sand.
My blurry vision slowly began to focus on the three hooded figures standing at the water’s edge. Though I couldn’t see their faces, I could feel the one front and center staring at me, as if it were looking into my soul and freezing me to my core.
“Run.” Mom hoisted me onto my feet.
Viv had been blown back away from the water’s edge and was scrambling to her feet.
“Viv!” I shouted again and she turned. Her face was pale as she ran over to us.
“Now. Selene.” Mom never called me Selene.
I grabbed Viv’s arm and tugged her up the cottage steps as loud crashes that sounded like thunder boomed behind us.I have to get me and Viv out safely, no matter what. That had been the drill if we were ever attacked.
“Mom!” Viv cried out as I rushed her into the living room and led her behind the rocking chair. The same one Mom had rocked us in when we were little.
“Stay here.” I placed my hands on her shoulders. “I’ll get Mom. If I’m not back in five minutes, take the car and go.”
Before Viv could protest, I was running through the living room and toward the back door. Just as I reached for the handle, the door swung open. Mom rushed in, slamming the door behind her and locking it.
