‘A story? What the hell are you talking about?’ My shoulders drop. ‘You’re starting to freak me out.’
Lillian stares at me for a long moment as if she’s trying to read me. When she doesn’t find what she’s looking for, she closes the distance between us and grabs me by the arms, bringing her face down to mine. ‘I need you to be honest with me, and I mean it. I know you might not think you can trust me, but I’m the one who told you where he was. So, I need to know if you did it.’
Nothing she’s saying makes sense. I have no clue what she’s talking about, and for a split second I wonder if I’m still sleeping and this is yet another strange dream that I’ve plummeted into.
‘You need to know if I didwhat?’ I ask, feeling exasperated.
‘Did youkillHarley?’ she whisper-yells, darting a quick look over her shoulder at the door that’s slightly ajar.
The ground feels like it’s swept from beneath my feet as I register her words.
‘Did I dowhat?’ I shriek, jerking out of her hands. Why would she think—‘Wait, Harley’s dead?’ My jaw drops when she nods. ‘How … and when? And why does this have anything to do withme?’
‘Nocthare, the last person Harley spoke to wasyou. He was put in solitary and was supposed to come out today. I told you that.Me.’ She stabs a finger to her chest. ‘The headmaster just went down there to release him, and he found him lying in his bed.Dead.’
Holy shit.
‘Okay … okay!’ I start pacing the length of my bed. ‘But I was in bed all night. There’s no way they would think I did that. Hell, I don’t even know where solitary is! You only told me that it existed, not where to find it.’
Lillian is shaking her head.Whyis she shaking her head?
‘They found bruises on his neck. He was strangled to death.’
Strangled.
Coincidence? I’m not so sure they will see it like that.
‘They’re going to be here any second and you’re going to be questioned. Youcannotlet them know I told you he was in solitary. If they get even a whiff that you had any idea where he was, they will find some way to pin you to his death.’ Her tone is urgent, as is the pleading look she gives me with her eyes. ‘Do you understand?’
I don’t get the chance to ask herwhois coming or to reassure her that I wouldn’t tell them it was her, or that because I didn’tdoanything there’s nothing for me to confess to anyway, because loud voices echo up the staircase and into the corridor outside.
Lillian and I both turn to the door. My heart is racing, my palms sweating, and I feel like I should try to run as the thunderous sounds of shoes close in. But there’s nowhere to go …
Is this what Lukas felt like? Did they swarm him while he was in his room, standing helplessly innocent in his nightclothes?
My door slams against the wall, making me jump back. Lillian moves to stand beside me as two figures step into my room, taking up what’s left of the space with their presence.
‘Arianell Nocthare.’ It’s Professor Kroff who steps forward, wearing a slate grey button-up and navy trousers. His hair is dishevelled as if he has run his hands through it several times, and even the tie that matches his trousers is off centre and loose. ‘You need to come with me.’
Professor Nicks, who looks like he’s seconds from losing his shit, stands behind him teeming with fury. ‘Stay where you are, acolyte. You’re not going anywhere.’
‘For the last time, this is not up for debate. You have no say over this,’ Kroff bites back at Nicks, red-faced. They glower at each other as if they’ve been at each other’s throats all the way up here. It would explain the yelling we heard coming from the corridor.
‘Oh, I have plenty to fucking say,’ Nicks snaps. ‘Like the fact that you’re not taking my acolyte anywhere when she’s barely dressed.’ He gestures to me, and my arms immediately rise to cover myself. The baggy shirt I’m wearing hides my braless chest, but it’s long, overhanging the sleep shorts I have beneath them. This, I realise, makes it seem like I have no pants on. ‘She’s indecent.’
‘As is the act of harming a fellow student,’ Kroff defends, stepping further into the room.
‘Woah!’ I start shaking my head. ‘I didn’t—’ I start to protest but Nicks holds his hand up, silencing me.
‘You will get the chance to speak. Now is not the time. Get changed, and you—’ He points to Lillian as if finally realising she’s here with me. ‘You shouldn’t be in here, get out.’
‘But—’
‘Now!’ he commands, stepping back so there’s space to exit the room. ‘And find your unit leader and send him to Agate. I want him in there.’
‘Yes, sir,’ she nods, offering me a weighted glance before she leaves.
Keep your mouth shut, it warns.
