Page 30 of Ravage

Haven't they learned the most obvious fact by now? The rich get richer and only look out for themselves. The only way to secure your future is to fight for it, but these bastards have thrown it away. The best we can do is ignore them in the hope they get sick of us. Eventually, they will realize they are wasting their money, forcing us out on the street to make room for another victim to try to manipulate.

I knew it from the second I arrived here. It was obvious—their overly confident behavior and well-crafted spiel. It's why I refused to cooperate with them from day one. I don't need saving and I don't need lectures. I'm just doing my time until whatever happens, happens. Maybe they'll let me go, or maybe they will torture me to see if I'm breakable now that I know what happens beneath the surface. Either way, the only goal I have now is to ensure Avery is safe and gets away from this hellhole. I'll happily die fighting for it.

We step into the large hall and behind them, I notice Avery's back tense up with nervousness. Grey must sense it as well because he squeezes her hand, not pausing in his movements as he leads us to the table where Damon is already sitting. He looks up as we approach, eyes lingering on Avery's frame for a few seconds before he forcefully rips them away, replacing his gaze with a nonchalant expression. It doesn't matter how well you master your emotions, you'll never be able to hide them completely.

I'm surprised that Grey hasn't picked up on it yet—then again, I think he has. He's just choosing to ignore the obvious.Sometimes ignorance is bliss. He's too focused on beingokaywith me, that he's not ready to face the reality that someone else may come into the picture. There's no rush though. It's clear that Damon is feigning ignorance too. The guy probably wouldn't recognize his feelings for a good girl even if she was sitting on his face.

"Hey," Avery greets him meekly, sliding into her seat.

His eyebrow twitches ever-so-slightly as he gives her a brief nod of acknowledgment without glancing up from his plate.Yeah… real smooth, asshole.

I could slice the tension with a knife if I wanted. It's a mixture of chemistry, pathetic incomprehension, fear, and the unsettling expectation of today.

"Arthur's going to make an announcement," Damon replies casually, glancing up. "Probably shortly. After breakfast, we'll escort you to Markel's room. Then, it's normal schedule."

"So, that's it?" Avery asks in disbelief. "They are just going to pretend everything is okay?"

Grey lets out a sarcastic laugh. "It's what they do best, babe. They don't want to alarm anyone and cause a riot."

She stills, contemplating his words. Then, her face flushes with a pained expression, followed by anger—like to them whatever she has gone through is nothing more than an inconvenience and insignificant.

I hate to say it, but it's true. I'm not sure what they did to her, but in their eyes, it was meaningless, only important to their own needs.

I'm calm now, but when she opens up about it, I have no doubt I'll want to avenge her. The real question is who will get there first.

On her other side, Grey gives her leg a squeeze, smiling before his eyes dart toward the door. Instantly, his face hardens,eyes glancing over as Whittingham struts into the hall with an entourage of guards by his sides.

When Avery spots him as well, she tenses up, eyes widening briefly with a mixture of apprehension and fear before she squashes it back down. She's trying to be strong, hiding her vulnerability. But it doesn't stop the tiny tremble of her frame as she acts like she isn't bothered. That alone sends a thunderous wave of anger down my spine, but I remain calm, directing those emotions with my gaze at the prick in his expensive suit.

As the guards set up the wooden podium, Whittingham glares around coolly at the room, stopping when he finds our table. His lips purse together with disapproval and dissatisfaction before he steps onto the podium, speaking into a small microphone.

"Good Morningstudents," he grunts out, choking on the word like he'll choke on my fist soon. "We have some wonderful news to share."

Avery scoffs under her breath, Damon's lips twitching to fight a smile when he notices. I shake my head myself, turning my attention back to the podium.

"We were wrongly informed of another student's passing. It turns out she was in a critical, emergent condition—thus the misinformation. I'm pleased to say she's made a full recovery and is back with us at Lilydale."

When Avery looks away, I follow her line of vision, spotting Vivian huddled in a corner with the mean looking redhead and a petite girl with blonde hair. Her friends don't seem to catch on to the bullshit, but judging by Vivian's glare at Whittingham, she won't soon forgive or forget.

Avery frowns when Vivian seeks her out too, something passing between them. My fists curl under the table, unmistakable anger ready to pop out and splatter blood all over the walls.

Whittingham flashes his pearly white teeth into a creepy smile, plastering on a relieved look as he pretends to give a shit. "And another student who was alsounwellhas re-joined us. This is a gentle reminder that if you need help withanything, our professional staff are more than happy to assist. You're not alone in Lilydale."

You could hear a pin drop around the room at his words, patients shifting uncomfortably at his bullshit statement and offer. But it's Avery's change in body language that has my attention, her breathing intensifying like she's fighting back a panic attack or something.

Everyone stays silent until Whittingham and the guards have vanished back through the doors, the chatter slowly returning as people go back to their food.

Avery's eyes are on the metal table, dissociating as her hands grip the edge, turning her knuckles a shade of off-white.

"Did he… did he just insinuate to the entire room that I was suicidal?" she whispers angrily to herself.

Grey shoots a glance at me over her hunched shoulders. "Don't worry about him," he says, rubbing the small of her back. "He's just trying to save face."

"At my expense?" she mumbles in disbelief, finally snapping out of her trance to look at him. "By telling everyone that I'm mentallyunwell?"

My gaze flickers over to Damon, watching as the wheels turn in his mind. He's probably thinking the same as me—this isn't the end. They aren't going to stop. It's the perfect alibi to cover their tracks, as well as protecting their own asses if she were to gomissingagain.

"This is just what he does," Grey murmurs. "You're safe though. They won't touch you again."

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