Battle Wounds || Jasper Hale {2}

Chapter 27

The next morning arrived faster than she realized it would. The again it could have been the fact she had barely slept the night before. After she left Dawson in the courtroom, she promptly ran into Garrison, who insisted he walk her back to her lonely room. She allowed him to walk her back to her room, but had sent him away when it seemed he wanted to talk. She couldn't handle anymore conversation, especially from someone she had cried on earlier.

Ellie stretched before climbing out of her bed and changing into her black uniform. Today, she would face what Dawson had labeled as the final trial. She hated that her time here was coming to an end, but regardless, she was ready to go home. She missed Mike and Bella, and Evie was waiting for her to return. She wanted to meet the sweet boy her sister had tethered to. So, she had to get through this final test. She had to show them all that even if she was dying, she was deadly until the end.

Ellie slinked to the door, trying to ignore everything she had been feeling. Today would be over before she knew it, and then one more week of certification and graduation, and she could do as she wanted.

Opening the door, she was surprised to see Garrison with his fist poised in the air, ready to knock. However, she was even more surprised to see Felicity hidden behind him.

"I'm pretty sure if they find out she's here, we're all screwed," she deadpanned, observing the hallway around them.

"Then we'll just have to keep it a secret then," Garrison shrugged.

Ellie could have sworn she saw something akin to mischief in his eyes. He knew he was breaking the rules, but he didn't seem to care. She couldn't help but wonder what could be more important than following protocol to anyone inside this complex. Even Dawson was strategically adept at avoiding breaking protocol when it came to her private studies. Something was off.

"Well, are you coming or what, Sweetcheeks?" he grinned, gesturing down the hallway. Felicity now invisible to sight.

"What are you doing?" she whispered, monitoring their surroundings closely.

"Helping you out."

"Yeah," Felicity whispered, bumping an invisible arm to Ellie's. "It's okay to trust him, El. He's not going to hurt you."

Ellie raised a brow, but didn't dispute the claim. She was beginning to see she could trust him on her own. She had a strange feeling he held a bigger part in her life than she currently understood.

Shaking her head, she decided to ponder upon it later. For now, she was actually getting to be near her friend. "How are you?"

"I'm dealing."

Ellie wished she could help her, but they both knew there was nothing to be done when it came to one of Anastasia's decisions. Her word was final.

"Do you have his location?" she asked. Surely, they had given the girl that much. He was her tether for crying out loud.

"He's been sent to some small town in America. Apparently, they needed a little extra help with a vampire problem," Felicity said. "I plan on finding him as soon as we get out of here."

Ellie smiled. At least Felicity would get a happy ending.

"So, are you ready for today?" Felicity asked.

"As ready as someone who is dying can be," she jested, her smile wavering.

Garrison cast her a look, his eyebrows crinkled, "We're going to find a way to stop it, Ellie."

"We both know the only way to stop it is for me to see my tether, and he – he..."

She couldn't finish the sentence. Instead, she focused on swallowing the growing lump in her throat. He wouldn't get any more of her tears. She had bigger things to worry about.