Page 82 of Blue Arrow Island
“I’m dressed,” I tell Nova.
She turns around and meets my eyes, then opens the door. Marcus, Niran and Vance are standing there. Nova clicks off her gun’s safety and walks into the hallway.
Marcus comes into the room, closing the door. I sit down on the edge of my cot, my heart hammering with worry.
“What happened?” he asks.
I sigh softly, my gaze on the floor. “I was showering tonight, and I was alone in the bathroom. He came in just to...” My throat tightens. “Just to look at me. He said he thought I yelled, but I didn’t. I tried not to fall asleep, but I did. And I woke up to him”—I tuck my hair behind my ear, holding myself together—“pulling on my blanket, grabbing me. I fought back.”
“Are those the clothes you were wearing?” He nods at the pile I left on the dresser.
“Yeah.”
“Can I take a look?”
I shrug. “You can do anything you want.”
I hear him walk over and pick something up.
“Christ,” he mutters.
He turns to face me, still standing in front of the dresser. “Will you look at me?”
I raise my face and turn, locking my gaze on his.
“Did he sexually assault you?”
“He was trying. But no.”
He winces. “Briar ... I’m so goddamn sorry. This is my fault.”
I nod. “It is. He could’ve killed me and gotten away with it.”
Shame clouds his expression and he looks away. “Ellison is on her way.”
“I don’t need her. I’m fine.”
“I want her to at least look you over.”
“No.” It comes out more forcefully than I intended. “It’s my body and I know what my injuries are. I said I’m fine.”
He nods.
“So you believe me?” I ask, still not sure I trust it.
“Yeah. No one pounds on a door screaming for help when they’re trying to escape. I’m very fucking disgusted with myself for trusting Vance.”
“Locking a woman in a room with a man against her will seemed like a good idea?” My voice shakes with emotion and I clear my throat. “I didnothingto earn your suspicion. He was armed, Marcus. I fought him off with a fucking shelf.”
He pinches his brows together and looks away. “I’m very sorry. This is on me.”
“Either let me have a weapon, or I’m leaving.”
He jerks his gaze back onto me. “Leaving?”
“I deserve to be able to protect myself. This place is a literal fucking prison, and in this camp, you’re the warden. What gives you the right?”
“We’ll talk about this more. But right now I have to go.”
