I almost walked right into Seth’s room when we got back, but then I saw Mimi entering March’s old room at the end of the hallway, and realized mine was now right across from hers. I didn’t wait for March, who was walking behind me with Russ and Helen. I just got into my new room that looked identical to the old one, and collapsed on the bed, clothes and all.
27
Iwoke up not forty minutes later to a knock on the door—Lida, coming to tell me that breakfast was served, and that I needed to eat if I wanted to sleep properly through the night. The next night was going to start early, she said, because a surprise was coming—and no matter how many times I asked her what it was, she refused to say.
The thought of it made me anxious on my way to the eating hall. A surprise in a place like the Labyrinth? Yeah, I was pretty sure I didn’t want any part of it.
Most of the Hands were already there when I made it—and so was Elida. She’d taken a chair at the very end of the table, a spot that was usually empty, and she was eating while she scribbled in her pad furiously. I tried to see what it was she was writing as I passed by her to get to my seat, but it was impossible to read her handwriting. It looked like rubbish.
March wasn’t there, and neither was Mimi or Levana. The rest were quiet, exchanging sneaky looks Elida’s way every now and then. We all knew now not to speak in frontof her, after the dinner with the White Queen earlier in the night.
They all looked atmemore often than they ever had before, though. I could have sworn Russ was even widening his eyes at me every now and again, and Anika was nodding her head in a strange way, too, like maybe she wanted to signal me about something. I didn’t understand any of it, and that made me anxious, too.
That’s why I barely ate, and when Erith stood up to leave, so did I, as casually as I could.
But when I was halfway to the door?—
“Guys?” Erith was still by her chair, holding onto the back of it, slightly bent over. “I think…I think I’m going to be sick.”
In a second, she turned, bent over all the way, and threw up all over the floor.
All my instincts crashed against one another.
Others stood up, chairs slammed to the floor. Erith fell on her side, too, holding her stomach, throwing up like she had a hose in her mouth, and she couldn’t even breathe.
My gut turned. My mind screamed. My body was torn in half—a part of me demanded that I go to her, help her, pull her to sit up at least like the others were doing, and the other part, the stronger part, demanded,why?!Why would I do such a thing—she was only vomiting. Why would I do such a thing—the others were already there. Why would I—whyshouldI care?
Then I was running.
I had no idea when I started, just that I could barely see where I was going. My muscles screamed, tired from the trial and the workouts, and the tears kept on coming, more pooling in my eyes as old ones slid down my cheeks, always more, and I didn’t know why.
Why did my body behave the way it did?
Why did it feel like Iwasn’t meat all?
Finally, I slammed onto a wall, and I stopped. Deliberately, I think. A hundred blinks, maybe more, and the tears allowed me to see for a second—the wall I’d slammed against was the one right next to the door of Master Talik’s workshop.
Time’s Teeth, I was exhausted. Not just from training and running—but from being at war with myself. How was I to live like this, when I was a stranger under my skin?
What had happened to me? Or had I always been like this?
Because I couldn’t remember.
With my eyes closed, I slid down the very wall I’d slammed against. I’d stopped, all right, but now I couldn’t bring myself to move again. The door would be closed, Master Talik would be gone, that much I knew. I had to go back to my room, lock the door, try to sleep again, try to forget.
But for a while, all I could do was sit there and breathe.
So many things rushed through my mind at once. My own stomach was turning, but I wasn’t sure whether I was going to be sick, too, and throw up all over this hallway, or if I was just overwhelmed by all that I felt, and all that Ididn’tfeel—as well as the physical exhaustion.
I was trying to calm down by sittingverystill and holding my breath when I heard the sound.
Tick-tock-tick-tock-tick-tock—and it was definitely coming from behind the door next to me. From Master Talik’s workshop.
I stood up so fast I would have lost balance had I not grabbed the handle already. I pulled the door open the very same second.
It gave.
The door opened, and there was light inside theworkshop, and Master Talik was in there, hunched over his desk, working on a clock the size of a suitcase.
