“Go to sleep, Red, and I’ll take care of your demons tonight...” Annex leans in, placing a soft kiss on my forehead, “And from now on.” He murmurs, kissing my cheek and trailing down toward my lips, where he gently kisses me. It wasn’t a passionate or all-consuming kiss like I’m used to from him, but one of comfort and care.
He pulls me in toward his chest, his head resting on mine as I listen to the soft thumps of his heart next to me.
My thoughts jump back and forth between my memory and the familiarity I feel…the crazed beasts…that strange black liquid dripping from their teeth…It all seemedtoosimilar to the recent attack on the academy.
Could there be a connection between them both? Was The Facility somehow involved in the attack?
But why?
What would The Facility want with the academy, or harming its students?
More questions build, adding themselves to my ever-growing list.
Annex’s hand slowly rubs up and down my back, creating a slow and soothing rhythm that quickly calms my darkening thoughts.
I close my eyes, and the soft beat of his heart lulls me into a restful sleep.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CREED’S POV
“Just pick something already.” I grit out, annoyance building and joining the thrumming pain in my head.
Never before had we taken so damn long to place an order at ‘Pages and Pies’. We had been standing here for almost ten minutes already, with Annex and Ezra going back and forth on what‘Red’would like to eat. Two minutes is all it would usually take to place it…for all of us. But now these idiots can’t decide on what Micai would like on her damn sandwich, holding us all up.And it was pissing me off.
Why the hell did I have to wait while they discussed whether she would like red onions or tomatoes?
I push past them and up to the counter, Daina giving me a small smile of relief as I open my mouth. “The usual four and a whole-wheat sandwich with chicken, spinach, cheese, tomato, and red onion.” She gives me a quick nod, jotting it down before quickly shuffling toward the kitchen.
“What if Red doesn’t like that shit?” Calls Annex.
“She might prefer turkey or ham.” Adds Ezra, his brows drawn.
Why were they this serious over asandwich?
“She’ll eat it, or she won’t. Either way, she doesn’t seem like the picky type.” EvenIcould tell she wouldn’t turn down a meal so easily.
That girl liked her food too damn much, and seemed like she would stab even Annex if he came too close to something she was enjoying.
“Red will love this little surprise.” Annex grins before his brows quickly crease, something flickering behind his eyes as a strange look forms on his face. “She didn’t sleep well, so this will help.”
“I knew you snuck away!” Yells Ezra, elbowing Annex in the side. “Not fair dickhead.” A playful glare takes over his face as Annex rubs the spot. “You should have called me.”
“What, so we couldbothtry to squeeze into that tiny cot?” He flexes his shoulders, wincing as he moves. “We’ll need to get Red a bigger bed before that.”
“A bigger room in general.” Adds Ezra, his brows pinched as he gazes at Annex, who nods in unison.
“Agreed.”
Why the hell did she need a bigger room? The dorms weren’t as big as our place back in the abattoir, but they were reasonably sized. Giving her something bigger would just be overkill.
“Order up, boys,” Daina beams as she comes toward the counter with all five wrapped sandwiches before putting them in a brown paper bag.
“Keep the change,” I call as I take them from her, handing her a bit extra for the boys holding her up. “Let’s go. I’m not wasting any more time. I have enough to do.”
Ezra sighs. “We’ve all had enough to do.Too much,in fact. We need time to ourselves—”
“And with Red,” Annex adds, a grin lacing his lips as he takes the bag from me, cradling it like some precious package.