Supernova

Chapter Eighty Six - In Loving Memory

Without words or acknowledgement of any kind, that became my new routine.

I'd wake up, head to academic lectures until lunchtime, and then I'd climb into a car to meet Elias somewhere or other to be fed for my first time that day and enthusiastically participate in whatever publicity activity they had planned for the day.

We'd then go back to my dad's house, do couples yoga, for what reason or why Elias had a sudden hyperfixation on it I had no idea, because I once suggested we could try something different, if he was getting bored, and he told me oh no, my love, yoga is good for both of us to stay flexible and balanced. Whatever, boring Elias. I'll play ball. What other choice did I have?

After dinner and just before curfew, another car would take me back to the dorm building and I'd trek in and accept the glares and the whispers. Momo did not attempt to reach out to me anymore. Not that I expect it to surprise you, but neither did anyone else. That too, I failed to see the point of. Once, after yoga on a night when I was feeling particularly emotionally exhausted, I suggested Elias and I rest a little on the couch. He obliged me. I lay with my head on his chest and pretended to fall asleep. When he woke me, informing me it was time to get back, I asked him if I couldn't just spend the night with him, just this once, I missed him, and he told me that we'd have plenty of time for that after we returned to the SHA.

So fucking weird, but whatever. Once again, I didn't have any other choice but to comply.

I didn't know how long Heir Stronghold or Insanity thought burning bridges took, but everyone already hated me. There's no way they wouldn't have known that if they were listening to the bracelet. If this too was simply a plan to break me into submission even further, it too was working.

Then came one Saturday when I was supposed to meet Elias at the gates to go to some themed brunch or something and because there were no classes to fill my time with, I was holed up in my prison cell dorm room, pretending to do homework. I was really just doodling and writing, so the bracelet would hear the writing sounds. I was drawing stars and apples and jungle cats and sentiments I'd never dare speak out loud, even when nobody was listening. When I became overly ashamed of myself, I'd laugh and sigh to myself, and erase them, like they were simple mistakes and not broken pieces of my soul personified in lead on paper.

My phone buzzed. I sighed. I knew who it was without checking. Only one person ever texted me anymore.

Elias: I'm nearly at your building, my love. Would you come meet me downstairs, please?

What.

The.

Fuck?

I stood with such forceful shock, my desk chair fell over and landed on the floor with a clang and a thud. Over my heartbeat, which was suddenly deafening me, I barely heard it. He wasn't actually planning on showing up here, was he? Was he fucking insane?

Yes, Cassie, he is. We've covered this. Could we please move on?

I didn't bother cleaning up my fake study materials or my chair before flying out of my door and leaping down the stairs. I didn't even bother locking the door.

I managed to compose myself by the time I'd reached the ground floor, but just barely. I tried reaching for any calm memories I had so my horror wouldn't show on my face. He couldn't show up here. They'd crucify him worse than they had me. More than that, it wouldn't just be me who would be able to tell something fucking weird was going on with Elias. If they suspected anything was amiss, their plan to play hero was going to be fully launched all over again.

I had to meet him before he got to the door.

I was not so lucky.

"What in the world are you doing here?" I heard Iida yell as I shot out of the stairwell. Fuck, fuck, fuck!