Prodigal Thorn

Chapter 5

"You're Alex, right?" A random girl asks me. I nod, stretching my arms and my body protests the movement. "Oh good. I'm Sophie Davenport. I think I'm supposed to be your shrub or something." I stop stretching and really look at this girl. She's tall, long, wavy blonde hair. Her blue eyes are stunning and her face has slight freckles. Her athletic frame makes her potential to be a Thorn that much better.

"Nice to meet you, Sophie. I wasn't told I'd be getting a Shrub so I'm a little shocked." I turn my attention to where Killian and Luca are standing with a group of students I'm assuming they're either Thorns, Shrubs or prospects. Usually upper Thorns know the Shrub that's assigned to them. We typically pick them ourselves, so I'm completely shocked.

"I just found out today." She shows me the text she received from Nate, confirming her bid into the Thorns. "My sister and brother both joined years ago. I heard the trials are intense" I grab her hand and gently squeeze to ease her nerves. "Yeah it's a bit like The Hunger Games and Divergent combined. Don't worry, I'll do my best to guide you through it and I'm sure your siblings told you a bit about the process, right?" She nods her blue eyes sparkling.

Coach gathers everyone together to start, I'm glad Sophie's on my team. Luca and Killian are on the opposite team and judging from the glares and whispers, I know it won't be easy to beat them. "You guys ready?" Our captain, Charlie asks first pumping. We all get pumped as the whistle blows. Bodies race to the center to grab a ball and I duck out of the way as multiple balls are sent flying in my direction. I managed to block a hit Luca throws just as Killian's comes sailing right at my injured shoulder, causing me to hit the floor with the force of it. The next thing I know, I'm being pelted with balls from the whole gym.

My head is ringing from the hits to the head and I feebly cover my head. The hits go on for what seems like hours, before I realize the gym is suddenly a lot quieter. I feel a body covering me, a girl by the softness of their voice. "Alex, it's okay I've got you." She's nice, that voice. "Um, thanks I think but you need to stay awake. You could be concussed"

I groan, my head exploding in pain. In fact my whole body is, but I can't open my eyes. I don't want to. Feet approach in the distance and the girl above me stiffens. "Please just leave her alone!" I groan trying to will my battered body to just open my eyes, but it doesn't. The voices above me are harsh, but masculine. "Get the fuck out of here, Shrub. Or else your spot on the swim team goes buh bye!"

It takes everything in me to force my eyes open or at least the one that's not swelling. I can't get them to focus but I grind out, "Leave. Her. Alone. Asshole." Hands grab me and pull me to my feet. My hair is pulled from behind and I grunt in pain. "I guess someone didn't learn their lesson, Luca," his breath hot on my skin. I force my body to push back, only to be grabbed by the throat. "Tsk tsk tsk bad girl, Lexie Lex. There was a time you liked our hands on you, didn't you?" Luca's voice fills my ears.

"Luca... I'm sorry... Please.... Stop..." I rasp against Killian's hand that tightens on my neck. Tears fill my eyes and I curse myself for being so weak. "Ready for more dodgeball, Luc?" Killian laughs, tossing me on the cold, hard gym floor. "You see Luca here has a lot of anger to work through and you are going to take whatever he does to you, Runt" I barely had time to protect myself before he unloads. Luca is the starting pitcher for the baseball team. The power of his pitches is uncontested. I feel it. His pain. His rage. I especially feel it when he's in close range and his aim is leveled at my head. His brown eyes filled with hatred and pain are the last thing I see.

I wake up to the sound of beeping. Where the hell am I? Hushed voices and cold hands are the only indication that I'm not alone. I groan and slowly peel my eyes open. I notice my dad's red hair, similar shade to my own as he holds his head down, hands gripping the foot of my bed...my hospital bed. I slightly turn my head and my mom's brown eyes are filled with tears and she holds my hand tightly.