Reckless Souls (Saints Academy, #1)(38)

It takes every ounce of strength that I have to ignore every single person here and focus on

Harmonia as I step to her side and talk quietly. “You go to lunch, I’ll be right behind you,” I state, her

brows rising in confusion at dismissing her.

“Hell no, I’ll come—”

I wave my hand, interrupting her as I offer a tight smile. “Honestly, it’s all good. I need a minute

anyway,” I say, and with a reluctant nod, she links her arm through mine and we head for the portal.

Everyone's eyes are still on me, including the Elites, but I look at no one as they chuckle, point

fingers and gossip like we’re back in fucking high school. We quickly step through the portal, and

appear in the main academic building, before we part ways.

I keep my shoulders back and head held high as I cut across to the portal that leads to my dorm. A

sigh is ready to fall from my lips in relief as it comes into view, my sanctuary is within reach, but just

as I’m about to step through, a large hand lands on my shoulder. When my foot hits the ground on the

other side of the portal, I instantly see that I’m not in the Agion hall.

Squinting at the blue walls and garish red carpet, I stall for a moment, trying to get my bearings.

The hand on my shoulder tightens, and the next second I’m being slammed into the wall to my right.

My chest bursts with pain as I heave in a breath, and my hands attempt to brace for impact.

I jolt at the sudden movement, the shock and confusion leaving me defenseless and allowing

whoever this is to get the upper hand. Pushing off the wall, I throw my elbow back, hoping to collide

with any body part, but there’s nothing there.

Whirling around, I come face to face with four motherfuckers wearing white masks covering their

faces. The design of black and red markings, the intricate detailing, is almost jarring as I scramble to

figure out who is beneath them. I look for clues in their eyes since that’s the only part of their face that

is visible.

I take a step back, hitting the wall behind me with a thud as I clench and unclench my hands at my

side. What the fuck is going on?

My body wants to take another step back and magically retreat through the wall, but as a blessing

and a curse, that’s just not who I am. I force myself to take a step toward them, watching as they close

in on me, effectively blocking me from going anywhere. I tilt my chin higher in outright defiance,

refusing to back down to these fuckers who have somehow managed to corner me alone.

Cowards.

I can hear their heavy breaths, see their hands fist as they stare at me, but I can’t piece together

who the fuck it is, although my gut already has a clue.

I can feel the tension thickening around us. Four against one doesn’t seem like good odds for me. I

don’t need to be able to take them all down, what I need is to fight my way through the ones blocking

the portal, then I can get the fuck out of here without taking any damage.

Trying to keep my body as relaxed as possible, I crack my neck as my brain tries to predict how

this is going to go down, but there are too many people to cover all angles.

I’m ready for a brawl, my fists ready to go to town on these assholes, but that’s my first mistake;

these fuckers don’t fight like they do down in Phoenix Valley.

The one in the center of the group edges forward, my pulse pounding in my ears as they reach into

their pocket and pull out a black silk bag.

Fuck this shit.

I’m not waiting to find out what’s in there because obviously whatever the pouch contains, it will

only harm me.

Moving to shoulder past the person standing farthest to the left, I manage to make them stumble on

their feet by my sudden movement, giving me the leverage I need to move past them. But just as my

fingers tangle with the thick black fog of the portal something sharp prods the back of my neck,

locking my body in place from head to toe, paralyzing my muscles.

My body screams at me to move, the loss of control wreaking havoc on me as I use every ounce of

strength to do something, anything to get me out of this situation, but nothing happens. The chuckles

that surround me only anger me more as I realize I’m unable to move my mouth too.

“Let’s get you back where I want you, shall we?” The husky voice of the man who spoke sounds

familiar, but I can’t quite place a name. Moments later, hands grab at my arms, moving me back to the

wall in my frozen state.

I struggle to focus, my vision doubling, possibly tripling and I feel close to passing out. A sob

begs to fall from my closed lips, the movement making my chest heave as my eyes search frantically

around the four masked people before me.

I want to tell them they’re going to regret this.

I want to tell them I’ll make them pay tenfold for whatever they do to me.

I want to tell them to sleep with one eye open.

But I can’t say a single fucking word.

The person to my right twirls a golden staff in their hand, weighing the object before pointing it in

my direction.

“Do you like my gift from Pandora’s Box?” a girl's voice asks, far too pleased and proud of the