The Phoenix Society

Chapter 9

The wind was cool as it brushed across my skin. It was a cold night which was a weird contrast to the somewhat muggy day. I stuffed my hands deeper into the pockets of my denim jacket. As I breathed out a small cloud formed in front of me. My eyes wandered out into the night where the sun has just begun to set behind the mountains casting a dark blue haze around the Institute. I couldn't believe I was here. Two days ago, I was living on my own doing everything I could to find Lake. I couldn't help but wonder what he was doing in the moment. Was Monroe torturing him like he often did with those who didn't comply? Was Monroe forcing him to complete his bidding? Or has Monroe found an ounce of compassion and allowed Laken to be safely curled in bed sleeping soundlessly? Small chatter sounded from below where I stood on my balcony. My gaze turned downward to where a group of assassins walked down the cobblestone path. I recognized one of them to be Lillian. She cast me a short look, before turning back to her friends. One by one I watched as their eyes glanced up at me.

There goes my peaceful night. I pulled my left hand out of my pocket and gave them a little wave of my fingers. My eyebrows raised and I silently laughed as the group quickly looked away, embarrassed that I saw them looking at me.

"I love watching the sunsets this time of year." Banks voice sounded behind me.

I turned facing him.

"May I?" He motioned his head as if asking if he could join me on the balcony. I hesitated for a moment. Banks looked hopeful, excited almost to join me on the balcony. His eyes glanced over me. The way he looked at me, like he was taking in every detail, made me nervous.

"Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere." I say turning back to face the now nearly invisible sun. I heard Banks chuckle as he came up beside me.

"You wouldn't get far even if you tried."

I cast him a sideways glance. "I like how modest you are."

"There's a reason Tyler assigned me to you." Banks shrugged proudly. I shook my head as the side of my lip twitched into a small smile. I hated to admit it, but I didn't mind Banks' company as much as I thought I would. I found it nice to be able to talk to someone without any restrictions. I don't know how he was doing it, but he was slowly breaking down the walls I had spent so much time building and reinforcing. It made me scared to thin how he would react if he found out the truth about everything Monroe made me do.

"You don't have to do that." Banks said quietly. I looked at him confused. Banks nodded his head to where my fingers were subconsciously pulling down my shirt to cover my brand. "You don't have to hide who you are."

Quickly I pulled my hands off the hem of my shirt. "Who says I'm hiding?"

Banks held up his hands, as if to tell me to stand down. "I'm just saying you don't have to cover it. We all have scars."

"It's not just a scar." I told him as I looked off into the night. "It's a memory of him and what he made me do. A memory I don't want."

"Did it hurt?"

I looked at Banks a moment, caught off guard by the question. No one had ever asked me about my brand before. Probably because it was an experience Monroe had put us all through. My fingers began picking at the skin around my nails as the memory of the branding played in my mind. I wished it had all turned out differently. Then maybe I wouldn't be in the position I'm in right now. I looked at Banks, his eyes glimmered with curiosity.

I gave him a small smile. "It's not something I like to talk about."

Banks nodded and turned his gaze back out into the night. I let out a breath, relieved to not have to share the details of possibly the worst night of my life. We stood in silence for what felt like eternity looking out into the vast darkness. I didn't mind the quiet. It was peaceful. When I was with the Phoenix Society, there was always so much going on around me, that I could never get away and find quiet. When I finally left, I found solace in the quiet. There was no yelling, no screaming, no fighting, it was just quiet. I cast a glance at Banks. He stood leaning against the cold, metal railing. He was bouncing his leg as he stood, that told me he didn't think the quiet was as peaceful as I did.