Page 99 of The Divide that Binds Us

“Uh...um, is there any way he can step out really quick, or I can come in?It’s urgent.”

Roon rocks on the back of his heels.“Nope.”

“Please, this is a matter of life or death.Please!”

A red tint flickers in my vision, and I’m not sure if it’s from trying to mash a tearful lump back down, or the stress of it all crashing down.If I have to go back to that damn tunnel and travel further to find Mildred myself, then so be it.I can’t sit and do nothing and just wait for more information while Nicholas is being tortured.

“Life or death?Maybe you should go to the Guard station instead,” Roon suggests.His eyes quickly dart behind me but focus back with a small smile.His hands are folded behind his back.

I see now.He’s with her.

I step forward, invading his personal space so he can feel my hot breath seething with hatred and pain.The red tint comes back into focus in my vision like I’m wearing shades.My temples throb and the lump inches back up my throat.

Calm down.The warning is tight.

“You tell that maniac that I know what game she’s playing, and I won’t stand for it.Iwillstop her, no matter what.”My voice is ready to burst.

Roon simply nods.“Duly noted.”

I stomp back down the walkway, still only seeing red and nearly snarling under my breath.

Once I make it back to the sidewalk, my breathing is better, and the air is less humid.It doesn’t help with my red vision or warm ears and chest, but it’s a start.I pant with each hard step, unsure if I’m going to scream or cry or both.

I drag my feet a whole hour back to Elite, trying to simmer my emotions to a level where the red shade in my eyes can vanish.Summer is waning to its end, but that doesn’t stop the kids from playing basketball in the streets, pool parties from occurring despite the biting chill in the breeze, or even the kiddies drawing hopscotch with their chalk.

When I reach the street to Elite, my thoughts and energy are deflated, left to willow in the back of my mind for another day.My body jerks from constant jitters, and the exhaustion settles in the pits under my eyes.

I sit at the edge of the pond across the street from Elite, a shriveled crater of despondency.The red tinge in my eyes sucks itself out of my cloudy vision from the swaying tears that are ready to crash in a mighty tidal wave down my cheeks.

“Alice.”

I whip around to Billie’s voice with a clear vision.Guards are lined up behind her, weapons aiming at me.Screams and sirens echo down the neighboring streets, while a crowd of Elite members stand outside the front doors.

“Billie?”My heart plummets into my stomach.“Wh-what’s going on?”

Darn, this is because I threatened Mildred.

“You...don’t remember?”Billie asks, incredulously.

The Guards exchange glances.Master Azul pushes through the swarm of them to stand to create a barrier to us.

“She is not of harm,” she states.“Please lower your weapons, so we may assess her and the damage that’s been done on the island.”

One Guard lowers her crossbow and steps forward.“Ma’am, with all due respect, she has become a threat to the public and has an impenetrable shield that protects her from our attempts of subduing her.She needs to come to the station with us.”

Azul’s blue eyes blaze with a deep richness only found buried in the darkest pits of the sea, yet a fire parades behind the scenes of her irises.

“Did I misspeak?If your captain has an issue with me not surrendering my member to you, escalate it to Remington because I don’t give a damn,” Azul sneers.

I twist my body to get a look at the wreckage.The end of the street has obvious indications that the concrete has been uprooted like someone dragged a pickaxe along the road.Over the hedges is a burst fire hydrant, and multiple car crashes.Mailboxes have been torn to shreds, and kids are crying—the same kids I must’ve walked by earlier.I thought everything was fine.I was just trying to get myself under control.

I don’t have enough time to process before Azul yanks me to my feet by my arm and pulls me with her back to the base.Billie trots behind us, cheeks taut with each gulp every time I look back at her.We barrel through the crowd of members as we silently sweep through the lobby.

Azul’s iron grip doesn’t let up through the whole walk back to our dorm room.Billie rushes ahead to unlock the door, so Azul can kick it open and toss me in.I catch myself with the support of the bedframe and try to shove down a family of lumps shimmying up my throat.

“What the hell is your problem?”Azul asks.She paces around the room before grabbing our TV remote and turning it on, flipping through channels before it lands on the Garnet news station.“THIS is the mess you’ve put us in.”

I slowly sit on my bed with Billie joining me.She wraps her arm around my shoulders, bringing me closer to stubborn tears.

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