Uninvited (Uninvited, #1)(73)

A chill flutters across my skin in the warm night. “We’re not supposed to harm each other, remember? This is a training exercise. My behavior will be forgiven, but you come after me in the dark some night . . .” I tsk and shake my head at him. “I don’t think you want to get kicked out of here. Sent to a detention camp. Or worse.”

That smile returns, slow and easy and hateful. I want to slap it off his face.

“It might be worth it. To watch you bleed . . .”

My throat thickens and the prickles are back, breaking out all over my skin. Thankfully, it’s too dark for him to see me clearly. If my face is splotchy and red he can’t tell. No way for him to know that he’s getting to me.

“Come on,” Richard urges, clutching the rope attached to our prisoner.

Snapping from his gaze, Felix takes the lead in front of Richard. Leaving Jackson and his teammates behind, I bring up the rear. No one else stumbles upon us, and we manage to make it back to the main grounds without further incident. Just as we clear the trees, our captive decides to put forth one more effort. He yanks hard on the rope, surprising Richard with a kick to the chest. The boy hits the ground. The target spins and lunges away, but I’m on him, tackling him to the earth.

He grunts and starts talking, his words all a hot mash of sound.

“Come on!” Richard grabs his rope and yanks him to his feet.

Felix offers me his hand. “Let’s finish this.”

Nodding, I accept his hand and rise. When the guards and instructors see us approach, they sound the bell, signaling the end of the game.

We deliver the captive to the waiting guards and watch as the rest of the carriers trickle back toward the main building, many grumbling and scowling. I can’t help but stand proudly, my shoulders pulled back. Tully and the rest of our team joins us, beaming and nodding in approval. Looking at me differently. With respect. After yesterday, this win is significant for me. I’ve proven myself.

I spot Sean and Gil. I breathe easier at the sight of them unharmed. Until that moment, I didn’t realize fear for them had lurked in the back of my mind. Cut loose in the woods with fifty armed carriers, anything could have gone wrong.

Sean’s eyes find me. He grins then, his lips curving in one of his rare smiles. Relief lights his eyes. He’d been worried. For me. Smiling back, I nod at the target, indicating that my team brought him in.

His eyes widen, understanding my meaning. He shoots me a thumbs-up, impressed. I blow on my fingers and brush them against my shoulder.

He rolls his eyes and shakes his head, mouthing at me: show-off.

I giggle. Richard looks at me strangely and I instantly sober, facing forward again as the guards take a head count and recount. And recount again. One of them turns to Harris and calls out, “We’re four short.”

“Well, what are you staring at me for? Go find them,” Harris barks.

Felix, Richard, and I swap uncertain looks.

Felix clears his throat. “You’ll find them that way.” He points west.

Harris narrows his gaze on the three of us even as he addresses the guards. “Go. Fetch them.”

We wait in silence for the guards’ return. Harris watches us as though we might make a sudden bolt for it.

Jackson, Addy, and their other two teammates walk ahead of the guards into the quad. One of the guards holds up severed rope for Harris to see. “They were tied up.”

“But otherwise unharmed, I see.” Harris looks back at us questioningly. After a stretch of silence, it becomes clear he expects an explanation.

I lift my chin. “They tried to take the target from us.”

“And you weren’t going to let that happen?”

“No, sir.” I clasp my hands behind my back. “We did what we had to in order to complete the drill.”

“What’s your name?” He glances at Dusty rather than me for a response.

“Davina Hamilton,” she supplies.

“Good job, Hamilton.” His gaze flicks over my entire team that now surrounds me, adding, “Good job, green team.”

Harris’s eyes widen at something behind me.

Curious, I turn, glimpsing the blur of a swinging fist and jerk out of the way. Jackson’s knuckles just graze my jaw. Pain radiates throughout my face, and I stumble back. Felix and Richard catch me, steadying me with their hands.

Looking up, I see Jackson still coming at me. The deceptively friendly mask he always wears is ripped free. In its place is simple hate. Hate for me. Clearly, I pushed him past the point of self-preservation.

I scurry back, but he’s headed for me like a charging bull. There’s no breaking him from his course. Richard steps in his path, but Jackson knocks the smaller boy out of the way. Just as he’s about to reach me, Sean cuts across my line of vision in a streak of movement. His body plows into him.

They twist and writhe on the ground. Sean gains the upper hand, pinning Jackson beneath him. The cracking sound of bone on bone reverberates on the air as Sean’s fists connect with Jackson’s face.

I shake my head. Not again.

Guards arrive, their hands seizing Sean by the shoulders and arms, pulling him back. I step forward and press one hand to his chest, trying to ease the tension radiating from him. It’s like he doesn’t see me. His eyes fix on Jackson with blood-hungry intensity.

“Sean,” I hiss, shooting a quick glance over my shoulder at Harris, watching us like specimens under a microscope.