Page 46 of The Order

I angrily stare at the man, watching him clap my brother on the back with genuine familiarity. His pistol is attached to his side. The same pistol he used to end the injured girl's life before hauling her away like a sack of trash. Nick and my father gravitate closer to my father’s study, deep in conversation about affairs they’d rather no one else hear.

I hold the bottom of my skirt, forcing it farther down than it already goes, not wanting to have either man see any part of me. Without thinking, I moved myself back to Xavier, making my way behind him to shield my father’s colleagues from getting a good look at me.

“Are you going to tell me why you seem so scared right now?” Xavier asks in a whisper, turning back toward me. I shake my head, darting my eyes to the two men, now suddenly aware of my presence. Adam pulls away from Kai, motioning for me to move out from behind Xavier. I clench my jaw, standing my ground. Xavier does not try to force me out from behind him.

“Forest, socialize,” my father orders, waving his hand in the air toward me. I swallow slowly, taking several steps away from Xavier, continuing to hold my skirt down.

“Forest, you remember Adam,” my father says, moving his companion closer, smiling alongside the murderer standing next to him.

“What’s it been? A few years, kiddo? I always see your brother during the Student Advocate tours of the Official Headquarters. It seems like just yesterday your father was carrying you around in his arms,” Adam says, light-heartedly.

He killed her. He killed her in cold blood.

“I don’t find much interest in things as trivial as the Student Advocacy Program,” I say coldly, hearing Xavier stifle a laugh. Adam’s eyes dart to the man, his brow twitching before turning back to me.

“To each their own, I suppose,” Adam begins, scanning over my brother and the twins surrounding him. “How did you all enjoy the screening last night?” he questions, making me feel as though he’s indirectly pointing his words at me.

“I can’t say it was my favorite event the school hosted,” I say, cutting off anyone else from being able to answer.

“Any particular reason why?” Adam pauses, taking a step, looking down at me with curious eyes.

“That movie is painstakingly predictable. Can you blame her?” Xavier says, shoving himself into the conversation, de-escalating the growing tensions.

“I suppose you're right,” Adam says, backing away as his livelier attitude returns.

Nick finally pulls away from his conversation with my dad, moving closer to address Adam directly. I clench my skirt tighter, and my knuckles grow white as Nick glances at my wrist again to look at the proof of what he’d done last night.

“Your question reminded me,” Xavier says, grabbing my elbow to guide me farther away from the man and closer to my front door. “Do you remember the flowers I was telling you about? The ones that grow in the Fall?” Xavier questions, diverting the conversation to something completely new. He narrows his eyes, trying to signal me to go along with it.

“Yes, vaguely. I might need a reminder,” I say, letting him lead me closer to my front door.

“Your father took my suggestion and planted a few. Do you mind if I show her what's already started to bloom? I don't want to forget,” Xavier says, reaching into his pocket to grab his ID and check out on the panel by the front door.

“Go for it. Kai seems more eager to speak to me anyways,” my father says, dismissing us with a smile. “You all join them outside in five, or else you'll be late for the tram to school,” my father says to my brother, Rae, and Max, watching me tap my ID with a smile before Xavier and I move out into the cold air.

I scan the flower beds in front of the house, looking at the empty pots filled with nothing but the daisies each house is allowed to have.

“I was hoping he forgot I never planted anything,” Xavier says, rubbing the back of his neck before pulling me off the front steps and closer to the side of the house.

He stops, crossing his arms while he watches me.

“Why are you suddenly so aware of Nick and Adam? They have been in your house countless times, and only now are you avoiding them like the plague,” Xavier says. I glance up at the house's side camera, clenching the material of my skirt tightly.

Xavier peers up at the tiny spy, dipping down to grab a handful of rocks.

“What are you-”

He hurls the rocks without warning, shattering the camera and pulling me away from the fragmented glass that hits the ground. Its pieces smoke, crushed further by the heel of his boot, now pressed down on it.

“It’s just you and me. So please, tell me what really happened,” he pleads, watching me lean onto the side of my house. My hands drag down my face out of frustration.

“I can't,” I whisper, thinking of the implications of telling him what I saw and what the true nature of the chips behind everyone’s ears really is.

He grabs my arm again, holding it up in my line of vision.

“Who did this?” he questions, pointing to the house. “Was it one of those two idiots? Don't you dare lie. I can tell when you’re lying to me,” he takes a step closer. Unlike everyone else who has been this close, I don’t want him away from me. His scent engulfs my nose with notes of cinnamon and oak. I want to yank him down to me, exploring his face with my hands. I wonder if it’s as satisfying to touch as it is to look at.

But still, I remain silent.

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