Page 32 of Crimson Flames

“You got the other camps then?”

Evie spins to look at me, and Alexi crosses his arms. I’ve learned that this isn’t him being angry or trying to look intimidating, it’s just his normal posture.

“I’m sorry, what?” Evie blinks, brows pulling together at my question.

“The other camps. There were two more. They were smaller than ours with only like twelve or fourteen kids at each. Most of them were older. Once we moved up in the ranks, we got sent there. I was supposed to go in a few weeks or something.”

The two of them exchange a glance.

“You didn’t know there were more?” I question, the confusion on their faces clear as day.

They shake their heads. “Do you have any idea where they are?” Evie asks.

I scratch my head trying to remember. Since I was more of the leader at the camp, the guards would talk about plans with me. It helped me get the smaller kids ready for bigger exercises. I hated it, but if I could keep them from breaking down and crying, the guards would leave them alone.

“One wasn’t very far from us. I only know that because he had just left there to check on our camp before he shot Nessa.”

“You know who shot her?” Alexi asks with shock written on his face.

“Yeah, didn’t you all see him? He was the sponsor.”

How has it been nearly three days and no one told me they don’t know who shot her? Have they not been hunting him down?

“Fucking Donovan,” Evie curses.

“He actually shot his own daughter?” Alexi looks perplexed, but neither of them are more confused than I am right now.

“The guy's name wasn’t Donovan, and he looked nothing like Nessa. I thought you guys were like superheroes or something. How do you not know this?”

I try to keep the anger from my voice, but it’s hard. They said they saved us, but if they didn’t take care of everyone running this thing… Well, I know all too well that they will just rise again.

Alexi rubs a hand down his face as Evie pulls out her phone.

“We need Lev here. He’s gotta talk to Kai.”

I nod my head in agreement while clenching my jaw. I thought this was over. I thought I would be able to find a sense of peace and belonging. But if these people are still out there, we won’t be able to rest anytime soon.

“You are angry,” Alexi says in a low tone while Evie talks on the phone.

Taking a deep breath, I let it out slowly.

“I’m just trying to not be scared,” I admit.

His hand lands on my shoulder, squeezing slightly.

“It is alright to be afraid.”

Scoffing, I shrug off his touch. Evie throws her hands in the air, walking down the hall to pace, talking about how they can find the other locations.

“What do you know about being afraid?” I ask, a little more spiteful than I meant.

But who can blame me? I thought this was over. Alexi looks at Evie for a second, then back at me.

“She was taken from me once. I thought I would never see her again. I have been afraid plenty in my life.”

Looking up at the man who I can only see as a carbon copy of the Dark Knight, seeing the truth in his eyes, it doesn’t make me feel any better.

“If you’ve been here before, then how can I ever hope for something different? How could I ever believe that this feeling will ever truly end?”

---