“I’m here.”
“Can you go and check on Amelie please?”
“Roger that.”Hedoesn’t sound like a total dick saying that, unlike my baby brother who has been pratting around on the comms all morning.
“Perfect. Thanks. Happy now?”
A tiny amount of static sounds in my earpiece before Kalen’s channel cuts in with “Breaker breaker ten four this is?—”
“What the fuck are you doing?” I growl into my hidden microphone, seething. “The comms unit is supposed to be for emergency communication only, not dicking around.”
“I’m introducing myself. Over.”
“We all know who you are, asshole,” I snap. “And you don’t have to say ‘over’. I told you this a hundred times already today.”
“Roger that.”See? Sounds like a total dick.“But I think we should all at least have codenames and I have them all picked out for everyone already. Over.”
“Say ‘over’ one more time! Give me strength.” There’s no point in saying anything else, I just need to get through this because there’s no stopping Kalen when he sets his mind to something.
“Fine. So obviously, I’m monster cock.” I shake my head, unamused. “Sawyer, you’re teacher dick.” My lips twitch at that one. “We’ve got stabby stalker, ass-cap, dark nips, frosty the snowman, Slate is country-ass mopey boy, Dad is daddi-o…am I forgetting anyone?”
“Me, you idiot.”
“Oh, well, you’re just crushed hopes and dreams.”
“Fucking hilarious.”
He cackles down the line and I swear he bursts my ear drum.
“Thought you might like that one bro.Over.”
“I hate you. Now clear the line. It’s supposed to be for emergencies.”
“Not until you sign off.”
“Kalen—”
“It’s ‘monster cock’ and you have to say ‘over and out’ followed by your codename. Or is it codename first? Erm, I’m not sure. Can anyone listening in help Onyx sign off?”
I growl down the line, my patience well and truly worn. “This is crushed hopes and dreams, over and out.”
Angrily, I cut the feed which is full of laughter. Assholes, the lot of them.
I check my watch and see that it’s nearly time for us to take our seats, so I head that way. I resist the urge to check in and ensure that everything is in place, but it’s really hard. As I take my seat I scan the area looking for anything out of place. Well, anything other than the fake students we’ve planted in the audience. But everything seems quiet.
I pray this works.
Ten minutes to go.
Chapter Forty
Amelie
Everything feels far away. Colours are muted and sounds are toned down. I feel like I’m under water, moving slowly, sinking.
Drowning.
The sense of déjà vu hits me, but I don’t have the blind panic I felt when Onyx was shot.
