Chapter 22: 21: ANIMAL

Within minutes of rejoining Talitha and the others in the bishop’s office Gracie swooped in from nowhere, cutting in between and jerking Adam to her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and Talitha caught his eye, hiding a smile when he shrugged at the display.

“Whoa,” said Jonah, peering at Adam and Gracie. “Good to see you, Gray. Did we interrupt something?”

“Nope. Pender stepped away but just for a second.” Gracie preened her hair as she batted her eyelashes at Adam. “We’ve been spending so much time together tonight. Getting real close. Stellar things going on, right baby?” She winked at him.

“Ah…sure,” said Adam. “Stellar. Right.”

“Yeah. You and me, all night long. Now come and help me pick something out.”

Kalum placed a hand on her hip and watched Gracie nuzzle Adam’s face, leading him away. “Oh,” muttered Kalum. “Are you fucking kidding me? Is that really going on? Is he really…? With Gracie? She’s got him wrapped around her finger. That’s sad.”

“Kalum.”

Talitha nudged her with an elbow and Kalum’s dark gaze streaked in her direction.

“What?” snapped Kalum.

“You’re being weird. What the hell?” Talitha narrowed her gaze, pulling Kalum aside. “What the fuck do you care? One minute you’re pissed because you think he likes me and the next you’re pissed because he likes someone else. Make up your mind.”

“It’s not just anyone else. It’s fucking Gracie. Gracie’s a bitch. She…she trashed my quarter and painted that awful picture on my wall. She’s a criminal, a bigot. Mean to me, mean to you, mean to everyone—”

“Yeah. She’s awful. We know.” Talitha glanced at the dealer setting up in the center of the sanctum and scanned the contraband on the table. A stream of figures dressed in the same black attire as the older group they’d seen at the station carried more boxes of inventory. “What does her being awful have to do with anything right now? It’s the usual for her.”

“Well.” Kalum sniffed. “She’s not right for Adam. That much I know. Not right for anyone. He shouldn’t reward her for what she’s done and what we all know she’ll continue to do. What does he see in a monster like her?” She clenched her fists. “Look—she’s all over him. He’s letting her do it!”

“And?” replied Talitha.

“My opinion matters, Talitha. Adam's not allowed to work under his mother with a ministry title so he’s working for my father. I made that happen. It was my good word that made Daddy listen. That means I have a say in who he’s bringing around Daddy.”

Talitha scoffed. “No. It doesn’t. At all, actually.” Kalum glared while she continued. “You did him a favor so leave it alone. Otherwise, it was never really a favor, just a way to control him. Are you really going to mess with his future because he might want to date Gracie?”

“I never said I’d mess—”

“That’s exactly how you’re acting right now. I know Gracie’s the worst but Adam’s my friend so I’m going to defend him. If he’s enjoying her company I have to respect that, no matter what I personally think. So do you. He knows full well how I feel and he’s on my side. He’s supposed to be your friend too and if he isn’t, I’m sure he has no idea that’s changed. That’s not fair.”

“Li,” said Kalum carefully. “Adam’s my friend. That hasn’t changed, even though…well. We discussed this already. No point in rehashing the same-old. You know how I feel about what happened and the way he operates, even you, because he can’t help himself. When he sees an opportunity he’ll snatch it without thinking twice and he might see one with you.” She adjusted the sleeves of her sleek costume. “Anyway, I’m not going to get in the way of his staff position over anything personal. The deal’s done and I still think it’s a good one.”

“Good.”

“But after Gracie’s antics and her threat against you, I won’t have her running around the temple or the staff offices or—”

“You won’t have her?” Talitha cut her off sharply. “Not your decision, K. That’s up to the temple and your dad, the actual ones in charge. Maybe they’ll agree but you don’t have a say. You’re not Queen—yet—and you need to stop throwing your weight around.”

“So I’m just supposed to sit back and—”

“Yeah. You are. Sit back and do nothing. That’s your role in this.” She narrowed her lids and looked at Kalum pointedly. “I know why you’re shoving yourself into Adam’s business. Everyone’s business. It’s nonstop with you.”

“Oh really?” Kalum chuckled. “Why? Go on.”

“You don’t want to face your own problems. Easier to try and control other people’s lives than your own. You hate what your parents did to you, putting those tattoos on your head and forcing you to marry Malek. You don’t want any part of that prophecy and you’re scared. Of your own people—because you have to be. What they might do to you.” Kalum’s dark gaze seared into Talitha’s. “I don’t think you want me gone like you say,” she said. “But fucking hell, Kalum, I'm close to doing what you asked. I must be an idiot because I haven’t left yet, but I will.”

Kalum flicked her hair over her shoulder in that way of hers, breaking eye contact. She sniffed again.

“I can’t stand you,” she said. “I really can’t. You’re terrible.”

“Not true. Tell the truth. Don't be that way.”

“Hm.”

“Want me gone? Tell me now.” Talitha gestured at the door they’d come through to enter the sanctum. “I saw the other wards downstairs. I’ll go spend time with them. You go find your own crowd, people you don’t think are terrible, and we’ll end this without question. I don’t need any more chaos. I’ve had enough these days.”

“Do you want to leave?”

Talitha shook her head. “No. I never did. I’m just frustrated. Do you want to leave?”

“No. Li, I don’t want to leave you.”

“Then don’t. It’s that easy.” Talitha touched Kalum lightly. “I told you I like you. A lot. I like how we are. It’s fun and a lot more. Your situation’s difficult and I take it seriously. I’ll stick by you when things get tough, like I always do. And it will turn. Soon.”

“Yeah…” Kalum nodded slowly. “Soon. I can’t…”

Her response trailed off.

“I’ll get a vial,” said Talitha after a moment of silence. “Straight shot. Nothing extra. Nothing that wouldn’t be legal for us in a few months anyway.”

“Okay,” replied Kalum.

“What do you want to drink?”

“…Clear Dot.”

“Clear Dot. Got it. I’ll be back.”

“All right.”

Talitha skirted through the crowd, flashing smiles and nods at those that greeted her as she approached one of the men serving from an admin’s desk. She paused when she heard a familiar voice nearby and looked aside, spotting Spencer selling to a group of seniors a few meters away. The painted angel who’d been with him earlier stood with him, drinking and laughing as money and product changed hands.

A payment of coin alloted Talitha a pair of single serve vials and she returned to Kalum, who stood examining the painted design on her nails. Kalum looked up and accepted one of the vials, thanking Talitha in a more agreeable tone.

“Thanks,” said Kalum, a small and bashful grin on her face. “You’re not terrible. You’re the best.”

“I know,” replied Talitha. “Took you long enough.”

“Sorry for—”

“I’ve moved on. Let it go.”

“All right.”

Talitha glanced behind her, peering through the bustle of bodies to find Spencer again within the mass of students. Kalum noticed the distraction and turned in the same direction.

“What are you looking at?” she asked.

“He’s over there.” Talitha squinted as she spied the top of Spencer’s mussed hair. “With that…older girl. Looks like they're both part of that gang and they’re hooking, I guess. Just like that, I’m replaced.”

“Who cares? A criminal found another criminal. Mind your business. Last I checked, you replaced him too. With me.” Kalum touched Talitha’s face and guided it to look away from Spencer. “If you want to get back with him, go. Otherwise, stop. I don’t want to hear it.”

Talitha nodded, meeting Kalum’s eye. “You’re right,” she said. “Don’t know why…I keep doing that. We’re over. Maybe it’s old habit.”

“It is. Let them be with each other, just like you said about Adam. Then you be with…who you want and I’ll be with who I want.”

“Right. Fair enough.”

Glass clinked as Kalum touched her vial against Talitha’s. Kalum smiled, one of the tiny diamonds embedded in her fake incisors glinting extra-bright under the light. Talitha grinned back, swallowing the vial of Clear Dot in a single gulp.

“Ladies, ladies.” Jonah blared as he approached them from behind, voice distorted into a growl from within his snarling wolf mask. Talitha held tight to the empty vial as he threw his arms around their shoulders, spilling liquid out of the bottle in his grip. “You’re both fucking hot,” he said. There was a slight slur to his words as he peered at both of them through the mask’s eyeholes. “Quit bitching, as I can clearly see that’s what you’re doing here. Get it together. Welcome to Phase Two of the evening.”

“You’re fucked up,” said Kalum, glancing at him.

“What? Not that much.”

“Yeah. Sure.”

“Is that the Purple?” said Talitha, ducking out of his hold and scanning the smoky light-red contents inside of his bottle. “That’s a lot. Way more than the sample. Are you going to take all of that?”

“Not at one time, dummy,” he said, belching as he held up the bottle. “And I’ll be fine. No bad dreams for me.” He dug into his pocket and showed her a different, opaque vial. “That’s powder. Some top of the line shit—the kind Jackal fucks around with. Only the best. Ivan’s the king.”

Kalum shook her head and straightened her dress. “I can’t believe you’re going to be a medic,” she said.

“Why not?” He placed the cap back on the bottle of Purple Dot and shoved both of his prizes back into his jacket, glancing aside when Adam joined them again. “I’ve gotta try the same substances the residents use, illegal or not. First-hand knowledge. Research. I’m dedicated to my work. What if someone overdoses?”

“Dedicated,” said Adam, his hands in his pockets as he moved beside Jonah. “Ha. Makes sense. Heard there’s a PHS dope schedule to make sure everyone gets a trip. On major Union holidays every staff member lines up to try and it’s double doses.”

Jonah perked at Adam’s words. “Oh really? Ace.”

“No, you fucking waste of oxygen.” Adam searched the people around them. “Where’s the other shithead? M.I.A.”

“Other…? Oh, you mean Ivan?” Jonah waved away the question with a flick of his hand. “Fuck him. He disappeared a while ago chasing a muff from Culinary. Wolker, I think. Sandra…Wolker. She got him in the helmet with one of those stupid pistols and he was gone.”

“Wolker?” asked Kalum. “Sandy?”

“Oh God. There you go.” Jonah laughed, the wolf’s head bobbing with his humor. “You won’t dance with Rodinsky so he found someone who will. Get a grip, Khel.”

“I didn’t mean—”

“Wait—speak of the devil.” He gestured toward the doors to the office. “Here’s the king, right on cue.”

Ivan entered, scanning the room and the crowd before spotting them and walking over with a quick pace, joining them as Jonah moved aside to let him in. He gave them nods of acknowledgment and turned his head when Gracie laughed a few meters away.

“Seems better,” he said to Adam, nudging his jaw in Gracie’s direction.

Adam turned his head too. “Maybe,” he said.

“What are you doing with that?”

“She’s not causing issues. That’s where we are. The rest…still working on it.”

“She knows what she wants. Happy customer.”

“Guess so.”

“Where’s Sandy?” asked Jonah, pulling off the mask and resting a sedasig in the corner of his mouth, activating it with an inhale.

“Don’t know,” replied Ivan.

“Khel’s jealous.”

“Jealous?”

Kalum flared. “For fuck’s sake, moron—I’m not!”

A flicker of humor lit Ivan’s face as he turned to Kalum. “Oh. Kalum. Baby. No need to be jealous. I have time for you. Especially in that outfit. Good enough to eat.”

“Fuck off.”

“You don’t fool me anymore when you say that. You want it. Want me.”

“Leave her alone, Ivan,” retorted Talitha.

“Oh. There you are again, the fun-sink. Like clockwork.”

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“Fuck you. Loser.”

“Hiss.”

“Hey.” Jonah gestured at Adam’s costume. “Who the hell are you supposed to be—the geriatric version of yourself?”

“Can’t tell?” Adam pulled a pair of dark glasses from the inner pocket of his jacket and placed them over his eyes, folding his arms and creasing his face into an authoritative frown. “Think it’s easy.”

“It’s not.”

“Come on, guys.” Talitha sighed and stepped forward, showcasing Adam with a dramatic flourish as she stood before him. “This is sad. You’re an embarrassing lot. I’m embarrassed for all of us. The most powerful man in Union—no, all of Ipir—is with us today, complete with matching accessories and trademark stance. Please show proper respect to our esteemed General.”

Adam chuckled as the others groaned at the revelation. “That’s right,” he said, winking at her. “Good eye. Good attention to detail from a Vangrali. I’m impressed.”

“Aye.” Talitha shrugged, glancing at him over her shoulder. “My grades aren’t mildly adequate by accident. I pay attention. Give me some credit.”

“I just did.”

Jonah leaned his head back and nodded. “All right,” he said slowly. “I see it. The shades did it. You’re a lot younger than he ever was in office.”

“Looks natural,” added Kalum. “Typical, I guess. I don’t know anyone else who’d want to be Union General on Harvest.”

“Yeah.” Ivan tucked his helmet under his arm as he drained the last drops from a bottle of Black Dot. “Trying to outshine everyone. Figures from a Pendergast.”

“He’s just ambitious,” replied Talitha. “Guy at the top will die someday and someone has to replace him. Keep an eye on the prize, right Pender?”

Adam remained placid as he gazed back at her.

“Yeah,” he said. “Eye on the prize.”

She smiled. So did he.

Talitha’s attention streaked to the side as a figure in red marched towards them, cutting in between Ivan and Jonah with a rough shove to enter their circle. Fear sparked as Talitha took a few steps back, eyes widening at the sight of Gracie storming up toward her and Adam.

“What’s going on?” barked Gracie, jabbing a finger into Adam’s chest. Her voice was loud enough to draw the attention of those surrounding them. Red Dot sloshed out of a half-empty bottle in her grip. “Tough to keep it in your pants when she’s around, huh? What’s that, a whole five minutes before you can’t help yourself?”

Kalum frowned, swirling the Clear Dot around in her vial. “You’re babbling, Grace, and drunk in a disgusting way. You’ll humiliate yourself more than you are right now if you keep going.”

“No one’s talking to you, haunt bitch, so shut your fucking mouth before I do it for you. Copy?” Gracie’s rage swerved from Adam to Kalum, who recoiled at Gracie’s open hostility. “I’m not fucking stupid. I see the games this social-climbing refugee reject plays with Adam. With all of you. She’s subtle about it but I notice her.”

“What?”

Adam grabbed Gracie and spun her around, clutching her shoulders as he glared. “Stop it,” he snapped. “Control yourself. You’re out of line and no one wants to deal with you.” He reached for her drink and she shoved him away.

“Fuck off,” spat Gracie. “You lost your chance to stop this. You’re a lying ass and I’m done with you.”

Talitha held up her hands in confusion. “What do you think's going on here? Something with Adam? What is it—those stupid gossip articles that put that in your head? We’re just friends—”

Gracie shoved her. Hard. Talitha stumbled and fell back in surprise, hitting the floor with a thud. A hush fell over the crowd as she clamored back to her feet, all attention now on the disturbance in the middle of the bishop’s office. Kalum rushed over to Talitha and held onto her arm as she regained her senses.

“Grace—stop it!” demanded Kalum. “Don’t do this!”

“Bullshit,” hissed Gracie. “Bullshit. You’re fucking dead, Morai. You’re fucking dead.”

“Whoa.” Jonah extended an arm in front of Gracie to hold her back. “Gray. Slow down. I agree, you’re out of line. Too many Dots circling in your head. Relax.”

Spencer bounded up to them, sparked by the disturbance as well, and shot them each a look as Talitha pushed Kalum away. “What’s going on over here?” he said.

Talitha glared, full focus on the blonde. “What your problem?” she spat. “You’re the one who trashed Kalum’s room. Not me. The paint was in your hair. Not mine. Your suspension's your fault and everything that goes wrong in your life is your own fault. I stayed far from you but you’re still after me. You hate that I exist and that’s the end of it.”

“You’re playing dumb. Another total whore.” Gracie was in Talitha’s face quick, jabbing her finger into Talitha’s chest next. “Adam’s stupid for you and you know it. It’s so damn obvious. You play mind games to keep him hooked even though you’ll never yes. At least not ‘til you need another Pendergast family favor or a bigger payday. God, Talitha—does it mean that much to you to break into A-levels?”

Rage spiked. Talitha grit her teeth to hold it back. “I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about. You’re fucking crazy. You’re just saying shit to say shit. If you can’t handle Dot then don’t take it!”

Adam was angry too by then, and jerked Gracie back by the arm. “Enough,” he said to her sternly. “Back off.”

“Your ego might be huge but you can’t throw sanctions on me yet, General,” replied Gracie, pushing him away. “I’m done with this. Everyone’s going to know.”

Spencer folded his arms and frowned. “What’s Gracie talking about, Pendergast?” He nudged his jaw toward Adam. “You've got eyes on my girl. That I knew, you sack of shit. How long were you angling for that dance? Must have been working on your approach while the two of you were talking. Helping each other out during those late nights.”

“He doesn’t have eyes on me,” interjected Talitha. “Adam’s my friend. That’s it. He’s still my friend now so watch what you say. I’m tired of this.” She cut in front of Spencer and shook her head. “Nothing happened with Adam while we were together. Ever. Nothing’s happening now either, not that it should matter to you. Gracie’s drunk, high, dumb—running her mouth. Like always.”

A crowd formed a circle to observe the disarray. Talitha’s cheeks burned red from the unwanted attention.

“You really should know this, Spence,” said Gracie, still riled. “Adam’s been trying to get you out of the way for a while. Years. From the minute he saw that little fire-crotch at the orphanage.” Gracie shot Spencer a tight, satisfied smile. “Now that you two are done he wants to get in. Just about agreed to date me for three more months to keep me out of her way, just so he might be able to get with Talitha at the end.” Gracie spat, full of scorn. “He’s got it all planned, a fucking snake like always. He’ll do whatever it takes to get what he wants. Anyone who’s in the way’s just an inconvenience. A tool for him to use.”

Spencer frowned at Talitha. “Is that true?”

Talitha rested a hand on her chest—her heart was beating so fast. Everything was falling apart in a matter of seconds and growing worse by the nano-moment. Nothing made sense. Nothing.

“I don’t think…that’s true,” she said slowly. “Adam’s my friend. Close friend. Really close. That’s…that’s all.” She’d said the word ‘friend’ so many times the syllables almost lost meaning, sounding like paper on her tongue. “We’re linked together forever because of our families. I told you that I don’t know how many times. I never hid that from you.” Talitha glanced at Gracie. “This girl hates me because of that connection to Adam. I can’t do anything about that. She hates me because I grew up in Asylum, went through Quarantine, got selected by Pender-Pal—hates that I’m Vangrali by blood too. Hates my mother, whoever my father was, my DNA, my height…I don’t know what else. Might be more. I’ve lost track of all the reasons why she hates me.”

“So many.” Gracie moved close to Talitha again. “I hate that your kind of people put the rest of us in danger. But that’s not all.”

This time Spencer scowled at Gracie. “Gracie. Enough. Don’t say shit like that.”

“You forget I was there with you in Juniors. Different class, same school. Yeah? I had time to observe you in action. I know what you’re all about.” Gracie’s stare was a cold rod jutting through Talitha, rimmed with drunken fatigue. Her voice lowered meaningfully. “You’re playing lots of people and you've got some other kind of hidden agenda. Generally a sign of an awful person.”

Hundreds of eyes watched in silence. A huff escaped Talitha’s chest. She narrowed her lids.

“Nothing I can do about my past,” she said. “Nothing I can do about your delusions. You’re a bully, picking on anybody you think’s weaker than you. Full of hate because you hate yourself.”

“I don’t hate myself. I love myself. I do hate you. That’s why I get so much pleasure doing stupid shit like this—” Gracie raised a bottle of Red Dot and poured the remainder over Talitha’s head, drenching her in the crimson drink and shaking the flask until every last drop was expelled. Gasps and curses resounded around them. “—To make you look like the animal you are. Now you look like Mommy.” Gracie snickered, glaring at Talitha with cunning viciousness. “Was the native whore dead before or after they ripped you out of her cunt? I can’t remember your bio. Please give us the scoop. I’m just…dying to know.”

Talitha wicked away fluid that dripped into her eyes. The rage that had sparked within her exploded. A clamor of voices objected to Gracie’s drunken outburst but Talitha didn’t hear that. All she saw in front of her was a target—a stupid, bobbling, blonde bitch of a target.

Her right hand curled into a tight fist. She retracted her arm. Wasn’t conscious of the action, it just…happened.

Her fist popped forward and her knuckles bashed upward, striking Gracie across the nose and mouth with powerful force. Flesh and bone crushed against her fingers and a heavy pop of pain resonated down her wrist. Gracie stumbled backwards, clutching her face.

Something wet slid down Talitha’s fist and she gripped her aching hand, panting and blinded by the surge of sudden adrenaline. She stood straight and peered around her as the crowd erupted into cheers and loud laughter. They were laughing—laughing at her and making fun of her. Making fun of all of them. Somewhere, somebody shouted with glee.

“Oh…shit! It’s on!”

“Fucking ace! Finally-something happening!”

“Li! No!”

That last cry was familiar, from someone in the crowd. It was one of the Pender-Pal wards—Angeline, maybe—though Talitha couldn’t see who it was. Didn’t matter anyway.

Jonah streaked in front of Talitha while Adam grabbed hold of Gracie. The crowd groaned at the interruption.

“Fucking hot!” someone shouted. “Get out of the way, Pendergast! Keep going!”

“Kill her!”

“My money’s on Finnegan—that fairy’s finished!”

Talitha heard Kalum’s shrill voice beside her. A delicate touch clutched her throbbing wrist, although none of that made sense.

“Enough!” barked Jonah. He left Talitha behind when Spencer moved swiftly toward Gracie with fist raised, ready to strike. “Don’t do it, Spence! Don’t fucking do it! Don’t be an ass!”

Adam shifted in front of Gracie to defend her and within split seconds Spencer swung the strike at Adam instead. Adam shoved Gracie aside, evading the hit, and met Spencer for the fight. He threw the blow right back and slammed contact across Spencer’s jaw, ducking when Spencer recovered and swung another time.

“Oh…shit,” uttered Kalum from Talitha’s side. “Oh—they’re fighting. This is terrible!”

Talitha had only a moment to register Kalum’s exclamation before a hard shove toppled Kalum to the the ground. Talitha’s attention swerved aside at the disturbance only for her face to snap back as a hard punch cracked her in the side of her head. A wild cry escaped her chest when a figure lunged at her and took her down to the floor, punching her in the skull as they fell.

Reeling, shocks of pain radiating everywhere as fists pummeled into her, Talitha felt the paper wings on her back crumple against the ground, the thin polymer frame of the accessory rumpling and jabbing into her spine. More punches hurtled into her from all sides, hitting her anywhere she was exposed, and she shielded her head with her arms. She grunted as the hits slammed into her without rest.

At once the weight on her released and firm hands grabbed hold of her, yanking her up and away, separating her from the melee. Jonah stood in front of her and seized her chin to point her face toward his, scanning her face quickly and touching the hot parts of her face. He waved Kalum over, keeping Talitha steady as she tottered in place.

“She’s bleeding, took a lot of punches to the head, get her water,” Jonah said quickly. “Make her sit. Find a helo-pack—somewhere. One of the dealers. I’ll be back. Gracie—fucking hell. Li broke Gracie’s nose. I’m sure of it. I don’t have the right…stuff to deal with this. Where the fuck’s Garrett? He was just here. Fuck—!”

Jonah hurried away as Kalum swooped into Talitha’s line of vision, touching her cheek and trying to meet her eye.

“Li, are you all right?” she said.

“Let go of me!” Gracie howled, struggling against both Adam and Spencer, desperate to get back at Talitha. Bright red flooded her face and streamed over her mouth and chest. “That fucking savage is fucking dead!”

“Gracie,” said Jonah, approaching slow. “Let me see what’s going on—”

“Fuck off, fuckhead!”

“She won’t stop,” snapped Adam, voice tight. “She’s lost her shit. Go—lock her in that closet there until she settles. She’s fucking wasted. What a…fucking disaster.”

A warm taste filled Talitha’s mouth, a taste like metal. Her face felt tight and her head pounded with stabs of pain as she wiped away wetness collecting at the corners of her lips, wincing at Kalum’s touch.

“Are you there, Li?” said Ivan, approaching from within the crowd. He waved a hand in front of Talitha’s eyes. “Still with the living?”

Talitha’s gaze rolled slowly from left to right, front to back. Everyone was staring. At her. Every senior, every junior that managed to sneak in under their wing, every dealer in black and every trash junkie wearing a feathered angel costume—everyone. They stared. She heard their whispers and laughs. They pointed. Gasped.

She shoved both Kalum and Ivan away and screamed at the crowd in return, fingers clutched into fists again.

“What the fuck are you looking at?!” Her voice cracked and tears brimmed in her eyes. “What the fuck is so fucking funny?!”

“Li,” said Kalum. “Wait—”

Kalum called out to her but Talitha was already on the move, shoving her way through the ogling crowd. The bodies shifted like water to allow her a fast, merciful exit. She wanted to be alone, with no more eyes gawking at her this way. When she was alone she’d look at the damage—and look at what Gracie did to her. Look at the stains.

She wanted to be alone. Wanted everyone gone.

“Li!” Jonah rushed after her and kept pace, talking fast. “You need to take it easy after those hits. Let me help you. We’re not in Capitol City and if anything goes wrong while we’re out here—”

Talitha stopped her escape to face him, glancing as well at Kalum who was following close behind.

“I don’t need your help,” she said. “I don’t need any of you.”

Kalum slowed, a frown forming on her face.

“Li…”

They stared like she was an animal. Stared at her like Gracie stared, the same way everyone stared. Jonah…Kalum…all of them. They were no different no matter what they said. Talitha was a wildland monster, domesticated enough by society to play a role yet still terrifying to others whenever she stepped even a touch out of that line.

“Everybody…leave me the fuck alone,” she said, ripping the wings off her back and flinging them to the floor. “Get away from me. I don’t want anything to do with any of you guys anymore. I don’t want to be here. I hate…this fucking place.”

The night was over and Harvest Eve was a mess. Society rejected her—laughed at her—and she was humiliated. More alone now than she’d ever been in solitary quarantine.

All she wanted to do was go back to her quarter at school and crawl into her warm bed. There, she could pretend that she—and everyone else—didn’t exist.

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