Violet Path (18 page)

When Sam’s hands slid over my ribs, I jerked away slightly and shot a glare at Maxime. His large, liquid-blue eyes melted into mine reassuring me, and my heart calmed down a bit.

“This is going to sting,” said Sam, and I saw him holding the small appliance. It made a small noise, and then I felt a shock go through my spine. I screamed in pain. It didn’t only sting; it burned and made my whole body sore.

I felt Maxime’s warm hand rest upon my right shoulder as he said, “Sorry.”

Sam took one of the clear liquids, poured some of it on the gauze, and wiped it across my cut. I chewed my lip. I wanted to turn around and tell him to stop, but I only tightened my grip on the towel.

“Good news: you still have about ten minutes before it starts to react, in which you’ll go into cardiac arrest. I can stop it in seven.” Sam taped new gauze over my cut and picked up a needle and the cloudy liquid. Why was he moving so slowly? I followed Sam’s every movement. Maxime’s face remained somber and worried. He stayed perfectly still and watched in silence.

“This will stop the chemical reactions that have already started. It will also cause numbness and drowsiness,” Sam explained as he held the needle with the cloudy liquid.

I felt him pinch my skin near the cut and insert the needle. I felt as though someone had pierced a sword through me. I was about to rip the towel to shreds. I wanted to run screaming from the room. I could feel the medicine take over my body as it flowed through my veins. Sam took the needle out and replaced it with a small bandage.

“This will prevent the cardiac arrest and any other fatal side effects,” Sam continued. I felt the second injection, but it didn’t hurt. He put the second bandage on and started to clean up.

“You’ll have to change the gauze tomorrow, but you’re fine. You should still be careful,” concluded Sam. He sounded like Maxime.

“Thanks,” I said.

Sam left, leaving Maxime and I alone again.

“I’m so sorry,” he said as his hand slipped off my shoulder. I wanted him to put it back, to hold me, to keep me warm and remind me that everything was going to be okay. I desperately desired his touch. I dressed as he waited for me by the door. I could tell that he was avoiding David, and I couldn’t blame him.

He held the door for me and I stepped out into the cool, night air. I suddenly felt a little dizzy. David was leaning against a tree, glaring at me. His stare pierced through me as if I was invisible. I froze, feeling the tension between him and Maxime. I was the only obstacle separating them. I didn’t know whether it was the medicine or the long day that had tired me, but I yawned. I just wanted to sleep.

Maxime gently pushed me aside and walked past me, avoiding eye contact. I had completely forgotten that I had been standing in the doorway, blocking his way. David’s glare followed me as I walked from the small building. I wanted him to look away or at least soften his eyes, but they only grew more powerful. Maxime took his hover-board from behind a tree, then turned to face David and me.

“Please leave my belongings on my bed and walk Alex back to her cabin. We can talk when I get back or later tomorrow if you still think it’s necessary,” Maxime said. He then got onto his board and disappeared into the night.

Everything seemed to be swallowed by the darkness as he left— light, warmth, comfort, but not tension. David was still sending frightening glares my way. I didn’t want him to escort me anywhere.

David took Maxime’s bags and started to walk off silently, leaving me behind. I followed him, trailing behind about twenty feet until he stopped in front of my cabin. I had hoped that he wouldn’t wait for me, but he did. I slowly walked up to him, shivering in the dark, cold night.

He rolled his eyes and looked at me tiredly. “You’re cold,” he said icily and handed me Maxime’s sweater from his bag.

“I have mine,” I told him, but he forced me to take it. He then left without another word.

I fell asleep with Maxime’s scent enveloping my skin. Although his warm hands weren’t there, I felt them running down my back and wrapping around me, protecting me.

Chapter 16

I got up and dressed before the bell rang. My shoulder was sore, but it was nothing compared to the day before. I held Maxime’s sweater in my arms, ready to hand it over as soon as I saw him, but I hadn’t been expecting to see him outside of my cabin. He was sitting with his back facing the door. He quickly stood up and faced me. He looked exhausted, as if all of his energy had been drained through his eyes.

“I’m sorry. You’re awake before the bell?”

“Yes. So are you. Did you sleep at all?”

“Yes,” he lied as he looked away.

“Yes, you slept, or yes you sat down for a couple of hours?”

“Is there a difference?”

“Yes, there is a very big difference! You tell me to be careful, but you don’t take care of yourself.”

“Because I’m busy watching over you,” he said defensively.

“Why? I think I can sleep safely,” I joked.

“It’s called ‘taking precautions.’”

“Having a shadow isn’t being precautious but paranoid. It’s like having a babysitter. I’m not three, you know?”

“Promise you’ll never be alone.” He ignored my comments.

I laughed, but he was serious. It was ridiculous. Why was he having me promise foolish things?

“Promise me you’ll never be alone,” he repeated.

“Okay, I promise!” I huffed.

“Can I please have my sweater?” he asked.

I handed it to him as I asked, “Why did you make me promise that? How am I in danger? Who is threatening me?”

“Well, Matthew will definitely attack sooner or later, and after one Aramissian I’m expecting at least another.” Maxime avoided eye contact.

“How? Why?” I was getting frustrated, always learning what was happening after the fact.

“It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that Matthew isn’t going to let you go that easily.”

“The Aramissian?”

“I found out at the meeting last night.”

“How?”

He hesitated, then said, “They told me. Some community, I don’t know which one, paid the Aramissian,” he said.

“What? Why? I don’t understand! Why would they tell you that?” I was freaking out.

“You’ve been targeted, but I won’t let anything happen to you.” Maxime put his hand on my shoulder, trying to comfort me, but for the first time his touch didn’t bring me any reassurance.

“So your plan is to sit here every night and follow me around like a loyal dog?”

“Yes, if I have to. When you came here, I said that you were safe, and I’m keeping my word. I know it’s chaos right now, but you have to trust me, please.” Maxime held my hands and looked deep into my eyes. I couldn’t formulate words. I was lost.

“Andrew!” a man said as he ran up to us. “David has two new fighters waiting for you at your cabin, sir.”

“Two new soldiers?” Maxime sounded skeptical.

The man nodded, and Maxime told him that he would be there in a few minutes.

“What’s wrong?” I asked as he looked out in the distance.

“It’s weird. Last night I was told the reasoning behind your attack, and now two people join The Shadows. We rarely get new members, so one is already weird, but two is suspicious.”

“You’re paranoid,” I said.

“You can never be too careful, or in your case, just careful.” He smiled, and I shoved him gently. “But seriously, come with me so that you can meet them. I’d like you to keep an eye on them, but to also keep your distance. Just know who they are, all right? I can’t explain the situation to every soldier, so I’m asking you to really be careful and look out for yourself.”

We headed toward his cabin. I could feel the frozen stone under my boots as we walked up the steps. David was already at the top with two other guys. Maxime greeted them and invited us all in. He sat down in a chair in front of us, like a throne. It was much warmer, lighter, and more comfortable inside. It was calm, peaceful, zen.

Both men were handsome. One was named Orion, and the other was Keith. They were from Tribua and had heard of The Shadows and decided to join.

Orion had dirty-blond locks of hair that danced around his head and covered his forehead down to his eyebrows. He had green, almond-shaped eyes, and a beard framed his square jaw. He had a thin smile, he was full of energy, and his posture reflected his determined, strong, and principled personality. He wore dark green pants and a brown long-sleeved shirt. His tanned skin covered his bold muscles, and his voice was reassuring, but smoky.

Keith was Orion’s opposite with short, black hair that was more of a fuzz than an actual hairdo. He had thin eyebrows that floated above his blue eyes. His lips were a deep red, but discrete. A small mustache and thin beard aged him; he looked as if he was in his late forties, although I was sure he was no older than thirty-five. He was short, but his strength was not hidden. He wore dark blue pants with a black shirt. He didn’t smile, and light did not exist in his eyes. His voice was distant. Something about him was off, but I couldn’t figure out what it was.

Maxime seemed hesitant about whether he should accept them or not, but he finally did. David assigned them to my group. Being the group leader, I had to welcome them. I shook their hands as David introduced them to me formally. He then led them outside to show them to their new cabins and so forth.

“Be careful,” Maxime said. I nodded and headed toward class.

Everyone was already at class, including Orion and Keith. Now that we were eight, we had two groups of three and one group of two, Orion and Keith. I was with Mike and John. We practiced two against one. John and I beat Mike in a matter of seconds. Mike and I beat John in a matter of minutes. I beat John and Mike quickly, and then I was paired with Orion and Keith.

They seemed to work like one. Orion lunged for my stomach while Keith tried to trip me. One would stand in front and the other behind me. Keith tried to stab my back, but I turned, squatted, tripped him, took his staff, and stood up. Orion lunged toward me, but I blocked with Keith’s staff and hit his stomach. He dropped his staff to show his defeat, but I received a blow to the head from behind. I looked up to see two staffs on either side of my face, crossing each other over my chest. Orion held one and Keith the other. I had dropped my staff, but Keith pointed it straight at my face. I had lost. Keith’s eyes had shown anger and rage as he fought me, while Orion’s revealed hatred and uncontrolled strength in his movements. They glared at me as if I had gravely hurt them and they wanted revenge.

“Because Nick isn’t here, whoever lost yesterday can speak up now,” David said. We stayed silent. “They do not have to speak; just get on their knees and do thirty push-ups!” he yelled.

I hesitated. “Sir, they did them yesterday.” I tried to muster up some of Nick’s courage.

“Alex!” David shouted.

“Yes, sir?”

“Why the use of the word ‘they’?”

“To not differentiate the one who lost from the others. We all did the push-ups, sir,” Sam chimed in.

“Sam!” David’s hard voice caused my heart to pound.

“Yes, sir?” Sam said with hesitation.

“Do not speak without permission!” David hollered. His face was red, and his veins were bulging out of his forehead and neck. I was used to Matthew’s yelling, but David was part of The Shadows, my comfort zone, and the more he yelled, the more it reminded me of Matthew.

I stepped forward, embarrassed. “I lost, sir.” I tried to sound proud, but couldn’t.

Before David could respond, Sam spoke, ignoring whether he had permission or not, “So did I, sir.”

Mike, John, and Timothy all said, “I lost, sir.” It was like an echo. They each took a step and formed a line with me, leaving Orion and Keith behind. Silence enveloped us while my heart accelerated, not out of fear, but out of acceptance. I felt a smile form on my face.

David muttered, “Dismissed.”

I didn’t leave right away. I had made a promise not to be alone, but Nick couldn’t walk with me to my next class. I turned to ask someone to walk with me, but they wouldn’t understand. I had just been accepted by the group and couldn’t just jump back out of the boat.

“I’ll walk with you,” Maxime said with a smile.

“Orion and Keith need to join your class. They can follow you, right?” David’s voice was strong and full of authority.

Maxime’s eyes faded from a warm blue to a cold, dark green, almost black. He remained silent, and I could tell that David was growing impatient. Maxime’s voice was calm, but cold as he masked his anger. “Keith and Orion can join us,” he said. His gaze was distant, looking into the forest.

The four of us started for our next class in silence. I could feel the tension. Something was off, as if I shouldn’t be here with these people. I quieted my intuition and kept up with the zombie-like group.

My stomach hurt as we approached the spot where Nick’s blood had stained the earth. Maxime walked close to me, and it helped calm my fear. Orion and Keith, who were on the other side of him, flashed icy stares at me. I didn’t know what I was afraid of. Maybe it wasn’t fear, but sorrow, regret, or guilt. All I knew was that the emotion controlled me. I couldn’t walk or think straight.

The rest of our class was waiting for us. Maxime briefly introduced Orion and Keith before splitting us up into groups of three with one group of four. Strangely, he put me with the two new guys. It perturbed me. I didn’t know what to think of Maxime’s judgment, but he whispered as he walked by that he would explain later.

We quietly got into our groups. Maxime walked behind me. “Their weakness is most likely separation,” he muttered.

I thought about what he had said while Keith and Orion attacked simultaneously. Orion tried to hit my head as Keith aimed for my knees, so I fell to the ground, rolled, and quickly stood behind them. I swung my staff so that one end hit Orion’s back and the other struck Keith’s arm, forcing him to drop his weapon. I then kicked it away in time to block Orion’s attack. As I kicked Orion’s stomach, Keith’s foot pounded my hand and I dropped my staff. I then disarmed Orion so that we were equal.

With an opponent on either side of me, I ducked a punch, blocked a kick, and spun to elbow my opponents at the same time. My neck was hurting as I kept looking in both directions, trying to anticipate their moves. I was taking some hits, but to my surprise, my shoulder felt fine; I’d almost forgotten about it. I took a couple of blows to the stomach and back. I kicked Keith’s abdomen, sending him to the ground, and then I knocked Orion down. With both down, I had won. I didn’t understand how I had just beaten them when they had won less than ten minutes before, but I didn’t endeavor to find an explanation.