Page 39 of Anchor

“They’re…they’re waiting for you,” he repeated.

His smile looked a bit painful.

“They’re right outside the doors, Rosabel. Come on, they’re waiting.”

This from someone else—Abigail, another one of my colleagues. They had all gathered somewhere behind me, watching me, some smiling and some murdering me with their eyes, and I didn’t move.Couldn’tmove.

Who’s right outside—who? Tell them to leave me the hell alone!

Then Cassie basically pushed the group of agents apart and came through, eyes wide and glossy, her hand around my arm: “We have to go—now.”

Theywere the reporters, and they had really come inside the gates, and they’d set up their cameras right outside the building’s main doors as they waited for me.

Surreal.

At least thirty people were there, not to mention the dozens of IDD guards that surrounded them, their eyes wide, their arms to their sides, ready to jump to action if it came to it.

Because they’d let reporters in like they shouldn’t have because it was against protocol, but…

“They let them in so you could give a statement. Make it quick.”

Those were the words Cassie—or maybe even someone else—whispered in my ear from behind, then pushed me forward, out those doors and onto the top stair of the entrance. In front of all the cameras and the reporters.

They talked at the same time. They asked a hundred questions at the same second.

Is it true that you were Mud?

Did you commit murder while in this Iris Roe?

Which one was the toughest challenge?

How were you able to enter through the gates without magic?

How did you complete the challenges without magic?

Did you cheat during your challenges?

Did you smuggle illegal spells and weapons into the Iris Roe? How did you bring them in undetected?

Is it true that the IDD gave you permission to enter the game even though they knew you were Mud?

Is it true that the Council gave you permission to enter the game because they didn’t know that you were Mud?

How did you turn Mud?

Is it true that you ran away from your grandmother to enter the Iris Roe?

On and on they went, and they didn’t stop.

My head was threatening to explode the more I heard, and strangely I understoodeverything.I heard every single question that left their lips while the flashes of their cameras took my vision away every few seconds.

I realized that I was stuck here, that even if I wanted to run right now, I wouldn’t make it.

And if I tried, I’d only get in trouble with the Council, with the IDD.

Trouble with the IDD meant possible jail time in the best-case scenario, and death in the worst—and most probable. If I was in jail or dead, how was I going to look for Taland?

If I died, how would I know if he’d survived with his magic intact?

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