Page 86 of The Order: Rise of the New Empire

"Why have we still not heard from Xavier? Or Fallan?" he questions, clearly worried about the pair.

"You said it yourself, the Prophet got a hold of them, and we have no way to know where Forest really stands. At this point we have thrown ourselves into a coin toss."

"And what are the odds?" I question, squeezing her hand a little tighter.

"Heads they bring her home," Bekah smiles.

"And tails?" Aaron questions, waiting for a response.

"We have to kill all three of them," Mason pipes up, taking a seat at the table

Growing silent, we all look away from him.

"Don't quiet down the conversation to spare me," Mason snaps, clearly aware of our intrusion on him. "You all want to help Xavier and Forest? Find a way to be useful down here," he hisses, hitting his hands on the top of the table as he walks away.

Staring at the man as he walks away, the position he holds in reference to Forest is clear.

"I had better go see Kaiden," Aaron whispers. "He was a wreck when I left."

Grabbing my cousin's hand, I look him up and down.

"You can't tell him anything about the Underground-"

"I know, Val," Aaron snaps. "I know what has to be done."

Saying nothing else, he moves away from the table, leaving the conversation in the dust behind him.

One thing is for sure.

I don't recognize anyone anymore.

Chapter twenty-seven

Forest- Years Ago

Time moves slowly down here.

Every day drags on, the only thing I get to look forward to the brief conversations I share with my wall and whomever remains on the other side.

For six years, Xavier has remained down here, his face something I have yearned to see.

This year, I am supposed to turn 14, or so that's what Melanie says.

Everything about the way I age is a wonder.

Spending every day being prodded and tested, the idea of celebrating anything down here seems useless.

"You're not focusing," Melanie scolds, trying to get me to crush the neck of the rabbit in the cage before me without touching it.

"I don't see the point in stealing an innocent life," I hiss, delivering her defiance she will only see as a biological result of my spike in hormones for my age.

"You will have to see a point. I won't bring live humans in here for you to test your Hold on," she warns, tapping my fingers with her pen.

"I want to go outside this room," I yell, standing up with anger, my chair skidding across the room, slamming into the nearby wall.

"I'm so tired of all of you gawking at me, watching me like I am as caged as this damn rabbit-"

"Watch your mouth, Thirty-"

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