Page 87 of The Order

Chapter twenty-eight

Forest

“I’mstrugglingtounderstandyour insatiable need to find a way to speak to their kind constantly,” Kai says, doing his best to stay quiet as several passing patrons give my untidy outfit side glances.

I keep moving forward, ignoring his badgering. It’s only been a few minutes since we decided to leave Hunter and Aaron, leaving my brother with more questions than answers, only growing his confusion.

Quickly, I ran into one of the shops, grabbing the first sketchbook I could find and paying abruptly before the shopkeeper had time to make small talk.

“Hunter was at the screening,” I finally say, doing my best to make the interaction seem as casual as it felt in my mind. “I didn’t see you complaining too much when he was talking to you earlier,” I hiss, watching his face grow flustered at the comment.

“His conversation skills were more tolerable than some of our peers at the Academy. I was simply curious about him,” Kai says, trying to keep any emotional value away from the conversation.

“And he was kind. You forgot to mention that part.”

“You mentioned that Unfortunate boy to Hunter. The one I always see lurking near you… Fallan? Why is it that more often than not, I see him around you?” Kai questions, only furthering the same line of thinking I have yet to allow myself to explore.

“Fallan helped me out of some shitty situations, even when I didn't deserve it,” I say quietly.

We continue walking, pausing once we reach a blind corner. My brother grabs my arm, pulling me behind the corner, making sure to scan the area for anyone familiar. He presses his finger to my lips, stopping me from getting a single word out.

“Are you and Fallan just… acquaintances?” Kai questions.

My face immediately grows hot, reflecting on what happened on the deck last night and the memory of Josh’s party. I took a real risk asking Hunter why Fallan took the necklace from that night back. Who knows if he even remembers that night or if it’s all just a delusion of my own mind’s making? I’m sure Fallan has no clue what the question even means. Jewelry is worth money in their sector, and, whether I like it or not, Fallan is still one of them.

“What are you trying to ask me?” I question, pushing him to say the words out loud.

“You know what I’m trying to ask, Forest. Please, tell me you haven't gotten yourselfinvolvedwith an Unfortunate,” he says, enunciating his words to get his point across.

People continue passing the street corner, too invested in their conversations to focus on our bickering.

“At the end of the day, Kai, Fallan doesn’t want anything to do with me. He hates me.”

Justifiable hate.

“Whatever you think is going on between us is not anything that pleases me. Every time he looks at me, all I can see is anger in his eyes. So no, nothing is happening between us because if that were the case, he would be able to look at me for more than five seconds and not be disgusted,” I say, letting the pain in those looks he gives register within me.

Kai pauses, closing his eyes to guide his thoughts.

“And when you turn away from him?” Kai questions, keeping his eyes closed while he speaks. “What do you think is painted on his face then?

“I don’t know,” I admit, reflecting on Fallan’s hands exploring my body, seeming to know exactly where to hold me.

“I do,” Kai says, finally opening his eyes to look at me. “I have never seen someone look so tormented in the fleeting moments between when you look at him and turn away. It’s a look that has haunted my mind for days. It's the only reason I haven’t reported any of this,” Kai says, pointing a finger at me.

“What's the only reason, Kai?” I push, moving myself away from the wall to look closer at my brother.

“That look, Forest. That look I saw on his face is the same look you have given me since that day at the screening,” Kai says, forcing my heartbeat to pick up at the mention of the blood-filled event.

“What look do you mean?” I question, hearing the plea in my voice.

“A look of someone who knows too much and has lost more than you know,” Kai says, making a lump form in my throat. “There is something you aren't telling me, Forest, and it all leads back to that night. Whether I like it or not, the answers I need include those two Unfortunates,” Kai continues, my fears of his chip’s sudden activation only growing.

The slight scuff of feet dragging across the ground is more than enough to make us pause our conversation; turning on our heels in unison, we watch people stop in their tracks as a set of Officials, Adam and Xavier, barge right toward us. Xavier looks hesitant, glancing at Adam sternly like he’s preparing for him to lash out. Kai begins to position himself in front of me. This is the first time I’ve seen Xavier since our interaction at the hospital, yet having Adam with him makes things much more uncomfortable.

The two men pause before us, Adam crossing his arms in annoyance.

“Is there a problem?” Kai questions more sarcastically than normal, crossing his arms in a mimic as he peers at the two men.

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