Page 177 of The Order

I grab her hand, giving her a soft smile.

“You're not worthless.”

“And you're not wearing that,” she says lightheartedly, looking over at the small box resting on the table closest to us.

“He never has custom clothing made for any of the contestants. You must be special,” she says, prying away the top of the box.

“You said people were betting on my success? Putting their faith in me?” I begin, her body pausing. “How does anyone even know who I am? Why put any faith in me?” I question. Her body is still.

“I have been a slave to this society for years, bent at the will of mindless Commanders for just as many of those years. Xavier may look young, but his reign in this sector is not recent. Even when he wasn't in the light, he was around. In all my years, I have seen many try and cross him, each one grasping for life by the end of their time here, but not a hair on his head out of place in the process,” she says, pointing to me. “Just one day with you, and I saw him clutching his chest in pain. He rubs his throat every time you are near him, barely able to breathe. You've hurt him in more ways than one,” she finishes, pulling away the gear from the box. She unfolds a sleek, form-fitting combat suit made of black leather. I reach out to touch it and find that its lightweight material is protective and flexible.

“You're special to him,” she starts. “Andthatis a weapon,” she continues, holding out the gear to me.

“So put this on and make him regret dragging any of us down here."

The pit is sullen, a deep pocket in the ground. The walls are so high that even a ladder would struggle to get you to the balconies that overlook this deathtrap. Glass surrounds each observation point. Men and women, all dressed in their best clothing, watch from above, their faces covered in golden masks.

I lean patiently against the wall, my hair wound in a tight braid that falls down the length of my back. The combat suit hugs my body securely. A singular blade is positioned in the middle of the pit. I imagine how many lotteries it's seen, how much blood it's spilled. Staying shackled to the wall, I sit still, looking for some sign of my friends anywhere, praying they aren’t down here with me. I look up and see Xavier’s blonde curls as he works through the crowd. His eyes look down at me, and his movement pauses.

Holding my gaze on him, I spit on the ground, pointing my fingers toward him, pretending to hold a gun as I point toward his head. All he can do is smile. The screens behind him have images of me, Kai, and our Unfortunate friends on a continuous loop, the text scrolling on the bottom of the screens is hard to make out but seems to be a list of our crimes against New Haven, and a warning to stay away from us.

Deviant citizens, charged with first-degree manslaughter of Andrew Blackburn- if seen, contact nearest Official immediately.

My stomach churns at what this means.

“It doesn't matter if we get out of here. He's ensured we are hunted,”It whispers, a wave of relief passing over me at Its presence.

“I thought you were gone.”

“Not gone,”It starts. “Been testing the waters,”It says, a small smile curling along my mouth.

“I don't know how much longer we can remain separated.”

I look up at Xavier, his canines flashing as he forces that devious smirk across his face.

“Then let’s not be,”I say, my resolve for vengeance fueling my next words with abandon.“I want all of you, no matter the cost.”

“You're going to make us kill him.”

“Give me one good reason not to!”I snap out loud. The Officials guarding the way we came from look at me with confusion.

“I can't answer that…. Not yet,”It says. The loud creak of the gate across the way from me breaks my concentration.

It gradually rises from its still position, its metal scraping up the sides of the wall. Bagged and bound like me, more people are forced into the small pit, each wearing white robes. The people look frail, begging for mercy beneath the hoods. Even from here, I can see the marks on some, others bearing the scars undoubtedly of Unfortunates who’ve had one too many interactions with Officials.

Confused, I look up to find Xavier again. I find his gaze, an amused expression on his face.

"You look at me with such confusion,”his voice echoes in my mind. My body jolts at the unexpected invasion.

“So it was you were lingering in the back of my mind all those times?”I question, narrowing my eyes.

“This is my first time stepping in…. Or should I say, your first time allowing me in,”he clarifies, my head shaking.

“You forget to mention the part where you made me kill my father-”

“As much as I'd like to take credit for that wicked display of power, beautiful, that wasn't me,”he seethes, clenching his glass of champagne.“Trust me, I’m aggravated by the fact that I can’t sort it out. I didn't particularly like seeing you forced into that position,”he says, the irony in where I stand now almost comical.

“Right, but watching me die now is the kind of position you don’t mind me being in,”I mutter, his head cocking.

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