The Numbers on Our Arms

Chapter 9

A/N: If you didn't  notice it, chapter 8 came out on Monday for Valentine's day. It's a regular chapter, so you shouldn't miss it.

"What do we have here?!"

Zeke punched her in the chest. She flew back through the air and slammed into the wall and board behind her.

"UGH!"

She fell to the floor and coughed up blood, dripping down her chin.

"Zeke!"

"Hey, Seraphina – You've got some nerve fighting against my guys. Not to mention, you defied the King too. I thought you two were friends, right?" He grabbed her collar and lifted her up. "Maybe it's time you two talked."

He smirked. He wants John to cut me off!

Her eyes went wide.

"Put me down then!" she yelled, scratching at his arm.

"If you ask nicely?" he teased. The disgusting smirk grew on his face.

"Put me down. Please?" she asked, clutching his hand but now not attempting to pull it away.

Her feet touched the ground and she gathered back her breath as Zeke turned away.

She followed him along the corridors and up the set of stairs until they were at the highest floor of the main building. Every step was a wince and the stairs were even worse – being slammed into the wall when you were at least three metres away from it was no joke.

Initially, she couldn't understand how Zeke knew where John was without at least a text (though she doubted John gave him his number), but as their climb up the stairs continued for longer, it became clear. The roof. They were heading to the roof and that's where they were attempting to find John first.

As the door to the roof swung open, John's head bobbed up. His eyebrows rose as she entered the fenced in area of the roof behind Zeke.

"You know that I said that someone kept replacing the posters we tore down – well, I found out who. Guess who I found by a display board, posters in hand."

A retort rose up in her throat, but she pushed it back. It would be better to reason with John when Zeke wasn't around to rile him up and contradict her.

John nodded before he took to his feet. She rushed at him with a wobble as her ribs jabbed and instead, stumbled into him and wrapped her arms around him with no response.

"So? You can continue it now?" John responded. Zeke must have stood there in hesitancy because there was no response from him verbally nor the sound of an opening or shutting door of the roof entrance. "What? Did you misunderstand me? Did I not make myself clear? Get out!"

The door clicked open and shut without another peep from him.

"John, why did you order Zeke to remove those posters? They weren't affecting you!"

"Don't act like I don't know what they're planning there!"

"Planning what? To have fun?" she questioned.

John rolled his eyes. "Don't touch me."

He pushed her away by the shoulders and she stumbled back a few steps before restoring balance.

"Is everything okay?" she asked, reaching her hand out but not taking the full leap.

"You're asking that now?"

"Okay, so everything's not okay. Would you mind explaining why then?"

"Can you not see it? Oh, right no. You're taking part in it, aren't you?"