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I try to swallow, but my throat feels like sandpaper. I can’t believe what’s happening. My mind is racing, trying to make sense of it all. I’ve just escaped one nightmare, and now I’m already facing another, mere minutes later. I’m going to be sick.
My heart is pounding like it’s going to burst out of my chest. I look around, frantically searching for a way to escape. But there’s no way out of this. I’m trapped in a nightmare, and Summer is somehow at the centre of it.
She stares at me with pleading eyes, her hands knotted in her T-shirt. She looks terrified. But why? What does she have to be scared of? I wish I could do something to help her, but I’m frozen in place. I can’t even help myself, and out of the two of us, it’s me that needs more help right now.
The detective in charge of the case looks at me with suspicion. “Do you know this woman?” he asks, pointing to Summer.
I nod, my throat still dry. “She’s my friend. I don’t understand why she would lie.”
The detective gives me a hard look. “Well, she claims that you were the one who attacked her. She even has the bruises to prove it.”
My heart drops to the pit of my stomach. Summer was attacked? By who? Shit. Is she okay?
As I stare at her, trying to come to terms with what is happening, she looks away, unable to meet my gaze. I can see the guilt weighing on her, and it makes me sick to my stomach. Why is she doing this?
I take a step forward, and the police officer stops me with a raised hand. “You’re not going anywhere,” he tells me, his voice as unyielding as his expression.
I swallow hard, trying to find the words to defend myself, but they won’t come. My mind is blank, and all I can think about is Summer’s betrayal.
Summer is my only friend. We’ve been through so much together, and I confided in her my deepest secrets. Now she’s turned on me? I can’t believe it. What am I supposed to do?
I turn my back on her, and find four faces lined with concern. Maybe Summer isn’t my only friend. Right now, these boys I barely know are acting like better friends than Summer has in a long time. Even the professor.
It’s hard for me to believe it, especially considering that compared to how long I’ve known Summer, I’ve only just met these guys. Yet they already seem to care about me more than my supposed best friend. It feels like a weight lifting off my chest. Maybe, just maybe, I’m not as alone in this world as I thought.
As I glance over my shoulder, Summer is glaring at me from across the room. It’s like she can sense the shift in my attitude towards her. But I don’t care. I’m done letting her control my life.
“Hey, are you okay?” Cove asks, placing a hand on my shoulder. He’s always been so kind to me. He looks visibly shaken and my heart goes out to him. He cares. He wouldn’t look like that if he didn’t. Maybe what the professor said is true – they all somehow care.
I nod, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. “Yeah, I’m…” I stop myself before I say ‘fine’ because I’m definitely not fine. None of this is fine. I’m confused, I’m hurting, and I’m terrified. I give Cove a little shrug. “Thanks for asking.”
“Malia, we’re all here for you,” Reef adds.
I catch Bhodi’s eye and he smiles at me, but it’s tinged with sadness. I’m so grateful for his presence as well. To think I was going to sneak out to my classes on my own. If he hadn’t followed me and insisted on accompanying me, they wouldn’t be here now to help me. I’ve been an idiot.
“I guess I better go,” I say reluctantly as Bhodi pulls me back into his arms for a fierce hug. As soon as he releases me, Cove is hugging me, and even Reef steps forward to give me a quick squeeze.
The prof doesn’t. He can’t anyway, even if he were a hugger – which I highly doubt he is – because he’s playing the role of my lawyer, and the officers are watching.
“Malia, listen to me,”the prof’s urgent voice pierces my skull, and my eyes snap to his.“You mustn’t eat or drink anything they give you. No matter how long they hold you, no matter how uncomfortable you get. Promise me you won’t touch any of it.”
I dip my chin in agreement, a subtle movement that no one would pick up unless they knew what was going on. The prof catches it.
“Good girl. They’re going to take you to a holding cell for the night and then they’ll re-interview you in the morning. I will get you out of here first thing, even if I have to break in and steal you away myself.”
His words make warmth spread through my chest. I want to smile at how protective he’s being, hownice,but I know it would be too dangerous to do that. My every move is being watched, analysed. Now is not the time for smiling. Anything I do or say will be used against me.
I just hope the professor’s words are true: that he’ll get me out of here. He managed it once – well, almost – so I have to trust he’ll find a way to do it again.
“Come on, Miss Van der Zee,” an officer calls out, not unkindly. I hear Summer leave the station and I can feel Payne’s glee from across the room.
I try to hide my trembling. I want to be strong. I don’t want to let these guys down, or show weakness. But…it’s hard. I don’t want to stay here even for one night. Not on my own.
“You won’t be alone. We will be nearby. We won’t leave the mainland without you, and I will remain at the station for as long as I can.”
I shoot the professor a grateful look, but it doesn’t make it any easier to say goodbye and let go. Before, when they took me from the lecture hall, it was easier in a way because they were leading me. I didn’t have a choice. And even though I don’t have a choice right now, I still have to take the first step. They expect me to willingly walk along that corridor to my…to acell. I don’t know if I can do it. My feet seem frozen to the floor. But I know it’ll be worse for me if the officers have to come and get me and drag me down there.
Cove, Reef and Bhodi each squeeze my hand and whisper promises: that they’ll see me soon; that they won’t leave me; that they’ll make someone pay for this. The professor patiently waits for me to say goodbye and then comes to stand by my side.
