Page 3 of The Revenge
One of them has redressed me. And my hair is damp.
But why?
I take a step towards the door, but this time, Syn steps in front of me. Unlike Royal, he’s not here to help. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“Why do you care?” I start to roll my eyes, but that makes me dizzy. I can feel my body start to sway, but Royal gently grabs my elbow and places a hand on my back. The simple action has me hissing in pain.
“Tori?” Royal’s eyes are wide.
I turn, lifting the sweater by my hip. My side and what I can see of my back is red, like I forgot to put sunscreen on before I fell asleep sunbathing. Only when I touch the skin, it’s ice cold.
“That didn’t look that bad before,” Royal mutters, his face paling as he stares.
Gemini lets out a low whistle. “I have drugs.Reallygood drugs which will help with not feeling that.”
“Get them.” Syn snaps.
“I’m fine,” I say as Gemini bounds off the bed.
“Bull. Shit,” he tells me.
He’s right. I’m not fine. And the longer I stand, the more I feel different parts of my body start to hurt in places that weren’t hurting before. That’s on top of the overall ache of every muscle, and my pounding head. But whether Gemini’s drugs are of the legal variety or something else, pain means I’m alive. It also stops anything from inhibiting me further. I need everything I have to be able to concentrate right now.
“I said, get them,” Syn says through gritted teeth.
Folding my arms makes me want to squeak in pain, but I do it anyway, as I glare at Syn. “Unless you’re going to hold me down and force me to take them, don’t bother.”
II
Tori
Surprisingly, Syn is the first to look away. “Suit yourself.”
Whatever this weird vibe is from Syn, I don’t have enough energy to figure it out now. I find the drawstrings on the sweatpants and pull them tight to secure them. Then, trying my best to ignore the pain, I walk stiffly out of Royal’s room.
The door to ‘my’ room is closed but opens easily when I walk in. One of the guys told me that the whole house had been renovated the winter JP was killed. Given that was a few years ago now, the house probably has regular maintenance because there’s little evidence of wear and tear from the house being lived in by a bunch of college guys.
As far as I know, I’m the only person who has stayed in this room during the semester, at least. In the less-than two weeks I’ve been in here, there’s little evidence of even my presence. I’ve not gotten many belongings with me, and it’s easier to keep it clean and tidy than to deal with Syn.
The bedroom is big enough that the large four-poster bed doesn’t dominate the space, even though it’s the main feature. The walls are golden yellow and cream, and with the light coming in from the windows, which stretch almost from ceilingto floor, the room seems to glow. The effect should make me feel warm, but instead, a shiver runs down my spine.
Footsteps behind me make the hardwood floors creak under someone’s weight. Even though I know with absolute certainty they belong to either Syn, Royal, or Gemini, all of a sudden, I’ve gone back in time, and it’s like I’m reliving everything in fast forward.
Being attacked—right here in this room—fighting for my life and being dragged up to the attic. Being hung and left to die up there…
My hand curls into a fist like I’ve no control over it.
From my side, Syn’s voice breaks my thoughts. “What do you remember?”
Turning, I swing at him.
My aim is off, and my blow lands on his annoyingly chiseled jaw instead of his nose. Worse, my injured arm doesn’t give me enough power to hit him anywhere near as hard as I’d like, but it’s still enough to make him stumble backwards.
“What the fuck?” he yells.
Gemini steps between us. “Chill, Synnie. She obviously remembers what happened and thinks you’re not you, but the one who attacked her.” His voice is calm, but he’s grinning like an idiot.
Clutching my throbbing hand against me, I arch an eyebrow at Gemini. “Do I?”
