Page 73 of Knight

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I never thought I’d be looking forward to Algebra.

Miss McGuire is a bit more of a stickler than Mr. Trout ever was but still, math sucks. So does Lea. And they’re both in my next class.

Allie’s in this class too, and that’s my only silver lining. She’s good at playing buffer when it comes to Lea and her crew. Besides Damien and I, Allie and Christian are the only ones to get Lea to shut her mouth. That reminds me, I never did get the info on what’s happening between Lea and Allie.

When I get into class, it seems I have my guard up for nothing. Allie’s on watch too but none of the girls say or do anything the entire time. Looks like there’s a reason she’s a shoo-in for valedictorian. Lea’s serious about finals.

The bell rings and when we’re all getting up to leave, Lea stands by her desk, calling to me, “Hey, Medusa.”

My jaw tightens.

Here it is.

“What?” I ask, my voice filled with dread.

Allie squares up beside me like she’s waiting for whatever this is too. Lea glances at her before she smiles at me, “My sources say Willow’s in the foyer waiting for you.”

“What? Why?” That’s strange. Why wouldn’t she text? Or call, or hell, even come to this class?

“Your sources?” Allie seems as confused as I am.

“I don’t know,” Lea shrugs. “According to Penelope, my freshman underling, she was pretty nervous.” She flips her shiny black hair and turns around. “Should go check on her.”

My brows furrow and I glance at Allie who doesn’t look like she knows what’s happening either.

Did they do something to her? I swear to god if they hurt her …

“I’ll go with you,” Allie says, taking my hand while she brushes past Lea.

“I’ll kill you if you did anything,” the words leave my mouth without even thinking, my heart pounding against my chest.

“Ew, she totally would,” Georgina snorts. “Considering she’s a murderer.”

I’ll never trust that bitch. She’ll ride the coattail of whoever gets her into ERA’s best parties. Bonus points if she gets to plan it. But a friend? Never. I know where her loyalty is and like most people in this town, it’s not with me.

Allie and I are quick to make it to the foyer and sure enough, Willow’s by the front doors. Rushing over, I take her between my palms, “Are you okay? What happened?” I’m searching her body for a sign of the problem but I don’t see anything.

She hesitates, brows lowering, “What? Penelope said you wanted to talk to me here.”

“What?” I jerk my head back. “Lea said you were out here worried.”

My sister groans, “Oh no …”

“Shit,” Allie says, looking around. “We should—”

“Hey, Medusa!” A voice comes from above, on the second-floor balcony and when I look up to see who it is, I’m hit with black.

I can’t breathe. I’m choking, the smell of metal in my nose, the taste of sandy meat in my mouth. Coughs force out my mouth as laughter erupts from above and around me. It’s followed by that familiar cackle.

Lea’s.

Shit.

They set me up. Not only that, they used my sister to do it.

“What the fuck is that?” I can hear Allie’s voice but I still can’t see her as I’m trying to wipe away this dust in my eyes.