Page 268 of Midnights
When we're finally done, Tyler joins us for a much-needed lunch break. It’s the only time of day we’re all together, and they’re not trying to teach me something. Which mostly means they spend it teasing me about how much I still have to learn.
Once lunch is over, it’s time for my session with Cam.
These moments are usually a lot quieter, and there's a lot less laughing. Which is ironic, because Cam is usually always the one cracking jokes.
He has a way of balancing his natural confidence with an impressive amount of patience when he walks me through exercises. I know they're designed to help me tap into my magic and all, but I struggle to find that control.
“It’s about intention,” he reminds me as he watches my frustration grow. “You have to feel it, direct it, own it.”
There are days when my frustration boils over, where nothing clicks, and I question everything. But Cam never wavers. He always stays calm, telling me I'm right on track. He’s a damn good teacher.
Slowly, bit by bit, I’ve started to see progress. They're not massive breakthroughs, but the small victories I did have, felt monumental. It feels like I finally have a sliver of control over something I barely understood weeks ago.
By dinner, I'm usually so exhausted I can barely lift my fork, but Cam always insists I eat. Either Cam or Lynn are always scolding me for not eating enough.
“You won’t make it through tomorrow if you don’t fuel your body.” His tone never leaves any room for argument. I honestly just laugh it off, because truthfully I’m always starving.Exhausted, but starving.
Most nights, I’m asleep before my head even hits the pillow. My body's usually wrecked from the intensity of the day, but for the first time in a long time, the exhaustion feels earned.
I’ve been here for nearly eight weeks now, and hate how much I've come to love it. The people, the routine, the way I don't flinch every time the wind changes. I've made progress—real progress.
But lately…something feels off. Like the ground is shifting under me again, and no matter how hard I try to ignore it, part of me knows it might be time to go back.
Surely, enough time has passed that Kane must be wondering where I am. I’m assuming even by now, I have messages from Rachel.
Cam, for the millionth time assured me that isn’t the case, but still, the nagging thought lingers. So last night, I decided to try sneaking out again to find answers, only this time without Tyler. Despite what he says about me needing to realize I have people, he does talk too much, and Kody always catches us because of it.
And every time I think we’re about to find something, Kody appears like he’s waiting for us, and I’m starting to think Tyler rats us out. I know I’m good at sneaking around, considering I did it all the time with my grandparents when they thought I was sleeping.
I waited until the halls were empty, and Kody was looking the other way, sticking to the shadows. I want to try to find where the King and Queen stay. Maybe if I can just get a peek, then I can come back in the morning and demand to talk to them.
I can’t get what Tyler said out of my head.He’ll find me if he wants to? No thanks.
Why let me stay here, just to leave me in the dark, and then do absolutely nothing about it?
The castle's a never-ending maze of hallways and shadow-drenched corners. Every step I take feels stolen as I hug the walls, barely breathing when the silence gets too thick. It feels like this whole place is holding its breath with me.
I've never made it this far without getting caught. Not once. This has to be a good sign.
Except, every door I tried was locked and every hallway stretched into more dimly lit nothing.
I somehow stumbled into a hallway I hadn’t been down before, and at one point, I thought I heard something. I could've sworn I heard voices echoing from somewhere down the hall, but the moment I turned the corner, they vanished.
I was just about to turn the knob of thefirstdoor that wasn’t locked, when I hear footsteps.
I pressed myself into the shadows, waiting, praying that it wasn’t Kody.
The footsteps eventually disappear down the hall and I genuinely thought I was going to get caught. I opened the door, only to find out it was just an empty room with two doors in it. Both locked.
When I finally closed the door, and turned around, I ran right right into Kody.
He stood there with his arms crossed, like he’d been waiting for me the whole time.
“Are you serious?”
He didn’t even flinch or look surprised. He just shook his head like he’d expected to see me.
“Come on, kid. I’m impressed you made it this far.”
