OVERLOOKED ㅤkotlc

039. Prisoner

Dinner again.

Rosaleen came over after the walk, and we played a bunch of games. And then she had to go, for some Girl Thing. I think it was a movie night with Glimmer, Jaelynn, and Melia.

And so Alvar spontaneously invited me for a Boy Thing, which Ruy said was stupid (but I'm pretty sure he enjoyed it). We played Truth or Dare and watched Dear Evan Hansen.

And then, of course, we all went to the dinner room, sat in the same places, and ate elvin food.

The days are getting repetitive, yeah?

Melia tries throwing a candy into Ruy's mouth, laughing when it bounces off his lip. His face is bright red, but he's smiling.

"The guy's smitten," Alvar whispers to me and Rosaleen. I laugh.

I glance over the table; Vespera whispers something to Gisela. They look at each other for a moment, then glance towards me.

The three of us lock gazes for a moment, and then I look away, getting my familiar panicky feeling.

"You gave her the weapons today, right?" Rosaleen whispers to me, already analyzing.

"Um... yeah."

"Do you think there was anything..." She trails off, but we both know what she's suggesting.

"I hope not."

Gisela stands up, taking a spoon and clinging it against her glass. "Attention!"

The chatter dies down. Ruy sends me a curious look, probably noticing my fear.

"Everything alright?" he murmurs to us.

Rosaleen offers a tight smile. "I think so."

"Attention," Gisela repeats, and the room goes silent. I press a hand to my heart, feeling it thud against my fingers.

I look at Tam, who's near Glimmer and Jaelynn, and he frowns at me. His shadow stretches from underneath the table. Do you know what's going on? it says.

I shake my head.

Is everything okay with the mission?

I nod, because if things weren't okay, I'm screwed.

You sure?

I shrug.

Okay... well. Stay safe, his shadow tells me.

I nod at him, but I don't promise anything. My safety's not exactly my top priority.

"Thank you," Gisela says, putting the glass down. "So... we have a situation."

A pause, as if she's trying to formulate her next words.

"We might have a traitor in our midst," Vespera cuts in. She glances at me, too quick for anyone else to see, but it feels too long.

The room's dead silent. Rosaleen squeezes my hand.

"The keyword is might," Gisela says, nudging her friend. "But yes. It seems that..." She sighs and looks directly at me. "Dex, you wired a weapon to work against its user."

Whispers flit across the room, and blood pounds in my ears. I think I'm on the verge of crying.

Keefe and Sophie never cried when being put under pressure. What's different with me? Why... Why can't I handle a little stress?

Rosaleen moves a little closer to me. "You're okay," she says under her breath, for my ears only.

"It—" I start, but I'm too quiet.