He shot Elora a sharp glance, his mouth twisting slightly. “Especially when some of us get special treatment.”
Of course, he would bring this up. That’s right, blame me for all of your problems.The sting of his words bit her skin, but she kept her expression neutral.
Rian rested a hand on Elora’s shoulder, her gaze sharply directed at Symond. “Stop blaming her for your problems. We all have it hard, Symond. Even Elora.”Thanks, Rian… That’ll definitely change his mind.
His head snapped toward Rian, eyes narrowing into slits.“Hard?”He exaggeratedly pointed at Elora.“You think she has it hard?”He barked a laugh, short and bitter.“Must be real tough getting coddled by professors while the rest of us get torn apart.”
“You’re not the only one who’s suffered.” Lily shot back at him. If she was baiting him, then he latched right on to the hook.
Symond moved fast, snatching a jagged branch from the ground. His eyes shifted from Lily to Rian, then to Elora. “Right, because we’re all treated exactly the same.”
Crack.
The branch slammed against a nearby tree. The sound of wood against bark split the air. Elora jolted, her nerves sparking. He was being reckless and emotional. It was a stark contrast to her stoic, deadpan demeanor, and it irritated her.
He struck again, harder. The wood splintered, sending jagged shards in all directions. “None of us are people to them.” Symond snarled. “We’re tools. You break? They’ll just find another.”
Each blow fell faster. The sound of wood slamming against the tree echoed like a drumbeat. Again. And again. Each hit punctuating his words.
“You think she knows what that’s like?” His gaze shot back to Elora, searing.“To beg for mercy that never comes?”
The branch finally shattered in his hand, splinters embedding in his skin. He didn’t seem to care. He hurled the broken pieces at the tree, a growl ripping from his throat and his chest heaving.
The clearing seemed to vibrate, the air thick and suffocating. No one said anything. No one even dared breathe.
Rowan scooted back. Rian’s hand flew to her mouth. Everyone recoiled. But Elora remained where she was, her fingers digging into the ground, the cool earth coarse under her fingernails.
Symond stood there, panting. A hollow laugh escaped his lips. “But sure, we all have it hard.”
What does he think he’s accomplishing with this?A flare of anger ignited in Elora’s chest. She didn’t flinch at the sound of his ragged breathing or the tremor in his voice. His theatrics were annoying. Useless. His words were another burden to her sorrow. It was an unwelcome intrusion on the pain she was already struggling to contain.
The curfew bell rang out, a sharp metallic sound that cut through the tense silence of the clearing. The students lurched, their heads snapping up, eyes wide with sudden panic.
“We need to go,” Rowan said, glancing around frantically. “If they find us out here…”
One by one, they moved, pushing themselves up from the ground and casting nervous glances toward the path back to the Institute. The fear of punishment was enough to pull them from the gravity of Symond’s outburst.
Alfie stood slowly, his face tight, hands curling in front of him. It was as if he were waiting for permission to leave. He looked at Symond, who remained rooted in place, and then at Elora, now lying down in the grass. “Are you coming?”
Elora didn’t respond. She just stared into the darkness of the trees. Her thoughts were too tangled and heavy. She could feel the pull of the curfew bell, but it felt far away, part of a different world.
Lily urgently tugged on Alfie’s sleeve. “We have to go, now.” Alfie nodded, and they hurried off together, their footsteps quick as they crunched over the fallen leaves.
The others followed; some cast backward glances while others focused intently on reaching the safety of their dorms. The clearing slowly emptied, and with it, the hushed voices returned, trying to worm their way through Elora’s barriers.
Symond tilted his head toward the ground, his hands remaining clenched into fists at his sides. He seemed frozen in place.Why isn’t he leaving with the others? Just go.
Rian lingered, glancing back at Elora, who was still in the grass. “Come on, we have to go. We can’t get caught out here.”
Elora turned her head slightly but said nothing. She wasn’t ready to leave yet. It didn’t matter if she stayed out past curfew. Tehvan might warn her or send her to bed without dinner, but he wasn’t Thorn. And, if she were being honest with herself, she knew Tehvan wouldn’t do anything to punish her. He hardly ever did.
Rian sighed, her shoulders sagging with resignation when Elora didn’t rise to meet her. “Just… don’t get in trouble, okay?” Again, Elora didn’t respond. Rian bit her lip, maybe wanting to say more, but she turned and hurried after the others. Now, it was just her and Symond.
Elora stared at him, waiting for him to head back down the path. He looked tense, his shoulders rigid as he stared at the spot where Rian had disappeared. Elora felt a distant throb of pain in her temples, and her chest felt hollow. Her thoughts were like waves in the middle of a storm; she could sense the turmoil inside, but it was all muted and numb under a thick fog that refused to lift.
“Don’t get in trouble…” Symond muttered under his breath, followed by a low, mocking laugh. His words slipped through her haze, piercing it like a sharp needle. Irritation flared in the depths of her mind, small at first but growing.
“You never do, do you?” he said louder. His shadowed eyes were fixed on her. “Curfew and rules don’t concern you. You never get punished for anything.”
