Page 51 of Her Feral Beasts

“Yes, Minnie?” I say softly, tucking my duffle back under my bed.

“You really think this is your only option?”

I don’t even need to clarify what she’s talking about, because I’ve thought about nothing else since I made my decision. And honestly, Minnie has been the sole person who’s gotten me through the last few days. She’s hilarious, and the inner nerd in me is amused to no end to see the extensive, organised, colour-coded notes she has in her pink folder, which goes everywhere with us. She’s so proud of it that even when Sabrina and Stacey tease her about it, she doesn’t even care.

“I really think so,” I say honestly. “I’ve just been trying to get through each day until…”

“You leave,” she finishes for me in a whisper, as if the room is wired. I seriously hope it’s not, and I look around the room with new interest. Though Lyle doesn’t seem like the wiring type.

“I respect that you don’t want to tell me your plans, Lia,” she says softly, tucking a pink curl behind her ear as she applies her blush. “But I just want you to know that I’ve appreciated your being friends with me this past week. Wherever you end up going, maybe I can visit you after I get out of here.”

Minnie has never spoken about why she’s in here to start with, and our respect for privacy has gone both ways.

But her sentiment makes me well up because, fuck, this is scary and she’s been my only real friend in, well, ever. I tell her so and her face crumples.

I rush over to her and hug her tightly. She makes a squeaking sound and so does Gertie on her shoulder. Henry returns a sad croon.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” I say, pulling back. “Theresa said we have to ask consent before we hug each other.”

“You have my fucking consent,” she sobs, pulling me back towards her. I laugh and kiss her on her pink head. “Will you take Henry with you?”

“I’ve stolen everything else, so I might as well steal him, too.” I take the nimpin from my shoulder and look into his liquid-black eyes. He bops up and down on his tiny feet, clearly having no idea what I’m talking about. I’ve made sure I’ve packed his food and grooming brush so I know I’ll be able to look after him. I won’t be able to live with myself if Henry has to eat rubbish out of a bin.

There’s a knock at our door and all of us violently flinch. Neither me nor Minnie moves to answer the door. We just stare at each other, wide-eyed, as if a predator is on the other side. But whoever it is slides a piece of paper under the door and our spell of terror is broken. Minnie leaps to grab it.

She reads it and her brows shoot up. “It’s for you.”

Gingerly, I take the thing, noticing that it’s on a fancy piece of thick card, like our previous detention notice.

But this is no detention notice. It’s something much worse:

Reform Therapy for Aurelia Aquinas

Session: Saturday 9 a.m.

Therapist: Lyle Pardalia, Deputy Headmaster

Location: Senior offices, top floor, central building (use elevator)

“Why do I have to seehimfor personal therapy?” I ask, horrified.

The date is listed for tomorrow, and Lyle’s elaborate signature is below it in his trusty fountain pen. I run my fingers over the bold, black script and shudder.

Minnie chokes. “Lia, I don’t think you realise the gravity of your situation… other than the three monsters. According to the handbook, the deputy headmaster sees the worst students, and you’re literally wanted for murder.”

All I can do is stare at her because she’s right. But the thought of sitting down withthatlion and talking about my thoughts and feelings? Unthinkable. Laughable.

It’s just as well, then, that I won’t be here for it. I almost wish I could see the look on that angelic face when he realises I’ve stood him up and thwarted him all in one swoop.

* * *

We attend our hygiene and human interaction classes as normal and I’m a little bummed because Theresa tells us we get to see the student village on Wednesday and I was excited to see the little town made by decades of academy students. We also would have started ‘Healthy Dating’ classes in a few weeks, and I know I’m missing out on a good time.

But my freedom is far too important. Minnie, Raquel, and I have been watching the three monsters closely for anything weird. Savage is still determined to ignore me, and Scythe and Xander have just been apathetic today. I don’t have time to ponder it though, because far too soon, it’s time for lunch and I know the delivery truck will be arriving.

We walk out of hygiene and I say to Minnie, “I just need to get a tampon.”

Minnie immediately realises I’ve used a code phrase. “Oh.”

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