Uninvited (Uninvited, #1)(81)

I whirl, at least relieved it’s not Jackson. He’s more formidable to me. More dangerous.

Twisting around, I face the boy holding me. “What about when Jackson turns on you? When he decides to use you for a punching bag? Remember what he said? There will only be a few left standing at the end of this.”

“Yeah. And I’ll be one of them.”

“If he’s picking off the weaker, you look like a good target.”

“Shut up!” He shakes me.

I kick him hard in his shin and slam my heel down on top of his foot, grinding deep.

He cries out, releasing me. I’m up and running again.

Only I don’t make it three strides before I’m caught in the face with the sharp crack of a branch.

I fall on my back, my skull throbbing from the hard collision. My face stings. I gingerly touch my nose, my cheek, fingers roaming, testing, brushing over my lips. Wetness coats my fingers. My bottom lip is split and bleeding profusely.

Jackson stands over me, a long branch in his hand. He slaps it against his other palm. “Oh, man. That looks like it hurts.” He points to his puffy eye. I guess I did that. “This doesn’t feel too hot, either, bitch.”

I lower my hand from my mouth, mumbling, “Now we’re even.”

“Oh, this isn’t about what’s fair. It’s about fun. My fun.” He cocks his head. “At your expense. Sorry.”

Of course, he’s not sorry. I see that in his gaze, in the hard, brittle eyes. My pain, my fear, thrills him.

He crouches in front of me. I draw back, watching him survey me consideringly, his gaze lingering on my bare legs. He’s still slapping that branch in his open palm. By now the other two guys have arrived, breathless, behind him.

When he brings the branch down on my thighs I’m almost expecting it. I flinch. A hiss of pain escapes through my teeth.

He lifts his arm and lets the branch fly again. Pain rips across my flesh. My leg shoots out reflexively. I kick him in the jaw, sending him flying backward.

I scramble to my feet and run.

“Get her!”

I ignore the hot agony in my legs. My feet work, legs eating up ground.

Heavy feet pound behind me. A hand grazes my shoulder, slowing me. I stumble and then he’s on me. We tumble and keep rolling. Screaming, I claw, I hit. Jackson’s curses burn my ears. He punches me in the stomach. I moan. Grabbing a fistful of his hair, I yank until I feel the roots tear loose.

Shouting, he loses his grip. I scurry frantically to my feet, using my hands for leverage.

I’m not running as fast as I need to be, but that punch in the gut still has me winded. My breathing is loud and harsh, crashing over the humid air. I swipe at low-hanging branches.

I hear him behind me.

I don’t look back, too frightened at what the split second glance will cost me. I push harder.

He grabs my shirt, seizing a fistful. I screech and whirl around, swinging even as hot sobs scald my throat. My knotted hand catches him against the side of the head even as I brace for the returning blow, the pain to come.

Dimly, it occurs to me that I’ve known more pain in the last month than ever before. In my entire life. Is this all I will know now? Will pain become everyday? As natural as drawing air?

“Davy! Stop! It’s me!” I register his voice at the same time I realize I’m not being attacked. He’s carefully holding me by the arms. Familiar blue-gray eyes drill into me, searching, touching that part of my heart I’d tried and failed to lock away.

“Sean?” I sag against him, relief pouring through me.

“What happened? You’re bleeding.” He brushes my mouth with his hand. Scowling, his gaze drops over me, examining me.

Remembering we’re not alone out here, I look around us, still panting. “There are three of them—”

His face hardens. “What did they do?”

“Nothing.” I cover his hand with my own and squeeze reassuringly. Nothing the instructors will look twice at when they see me anyway. I don’t need them pondering how I got slapped. They’ll probably think my split lip was from yesterday’s drill. “Which way to the trail?”

“This way.” He starts to guide me through the dense woods. “Who did this?”

“Some guys. Jackson.”

He looks over his shoulder like he wants to go back for them. Rage brightens his eyes.

“It doesn’t matter,” I choke out, and then swallow, clearing my throat. I force my chin up and stuff away the part of me that wants to crumple, break, and fall into tears. Weakness can’t exist in me anymore. When I try again, my voice rings stronger. “I’m starting to think there’s a reason for locking up carriers. We really are animals.”

We step out onto the dirt-packed trail and I exhale, looking left and right, almost expecting the other three to be waiting, but it’s just us.

Sean stops us from going any farther. Color burns beneath his tan. “Is that what you are? An animal? Is that what I am?”

“I didn’t mean us,” I say, but I’m not sure. I know what’s inside me now. I tell myself that I had to take that man’s life. For Sean, I had to. But it doesn’t change what I did. Or what I am. The fact that it stays with me, haunts my every thought and sickens me, changes nothing.

“Don’t lump us with them.” His eyes glitter brightly. He grinds his hand against his chest for emphasis. “I know I’m different from them. So are you. That’s why I won’t stay here for another day.” His lip curls up over his teeth with disgust. “I’m not playing their games anymore. Whatever they have in store for us, I’m not going to be a part of it.” His lips flatten tightly, clearly waiting for me to say something.