Page 94 of Cruel Academy (Princes of Ravenlake Academy 2)

I know I can outrun them.

I just need the chance.

I turn on my heel and run towards the back of the meadow, but before I can even make it a few steps, Levi kicks out at my shin, and I feel myself tip forwards.

Instinctively, I tuck my head and roll over my shoulder, landing on my back. The fall knocks the wind out of me, but I don’t have time to catch my breath. And I especially can’t be caught on the ground. If that happens, I’ll never get back up.

With nothing but a fierce determination to escape, I throw my weight forward and make it to my feet just as a fist drops down on my spine.

The blow shakes my entire body, dropping me to my knees, but I keep moving forward. I get one foot under me and then another. Levi grabs my arm and pulls me around.

I jerk back and lean away from him, but it isn’t enough to avoid his punch entirely.

His knuckles land on my cheekbone. They don’t connect fully, rather skimming over my face, but the blow still makes my brain shake and my mouth begin to water.

I know the tree line behind me is getting closer, and if I don’t reverse positions with my attackers now, I’ll be backed into a corner.

Stay calm. Stay focused.

Caleb’s voice is in my ear, reminding me to lean on my training.

Reminding me that I’m not as helpless as I feel.

Levi still has my arm in his right hand, and he pulls me in closer, trying to get his arms around me. He is struggling for my right hand, and his friend is close behind, ready to assist him.

This is my chance.

I angle my fingers back and throw my arm forward, slamming the heel of my hand into Levi’s nose.

The feeling of his face giving under my force is unexpected and shocking. With Caleb, I never actually landed the hit. I had no idea what it would feel like, but I never suspected it would feel like this.

Like partially hardened clay collapsing.

Like pressing into sea-soaked sand.

Blood explodes from his nose immediately, and he drops my arm, staggering back several steps to get away.

There’s my opening.

Without hesitating, I circle around Levi and drop into a dead sprint. I’m aware of the deep male voices behind me, of cursing and scrambling, but I don’t focus on any of it. I lower my head, pump my arms, and run.

I run until my body thrums with blood, until the bruises on my face, my back, and my arm pulse with adrenaline and pain. I run until my feet are numb and I’m so soaked through that I can’t tell what is from sweat and what is from tears.

No one is home when I arrive. I lock the doors, set the alarm, and unlock my phone.

My conversation with Estefania is still up on the screen, and I back out of it quickly, unable to think about that right now.

I can’t think about anything right now except keeping myself safe.

I call Caleb.

34

Caleb

I turn my phone off after sending my dad to voicemail for the third time.

I don’t answer my phone before a game anyway. But I especially don’t answer calls from my dad, so it’s an easy decision to make.

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