Wicked Games Academy

CHAPTER 24

I remember two things I woke up to—one was Wyatt's screaming, and the other was Clive's gentle coaxing. He must've thought I was still asleep as he spoke.

"Nathan, I'll get a teacher first, I can't carry you there fast enough. Here, have my coat, and now we can put on gloves again. Stay here, it'll be fast..."

The next thing that supposedly happened from Clive's recounting was the teachers came and had me put on a stretcher. I was sent to the infirmary and the doctor said I had signs of a concussion, multiple slashes and cuts, a broken arm, but also might've fainted due to overworking myself and a lack of sleep. Or the concussion.

It was nothing serious but one should've been prepared enough to not fall on the battlefield. The other students didn't—real knights would be slaughtered for such weakness.

It was the most famous incident of the hunt. By the time I was resting with Clive bringing my food to our room for two days I already heard about it. Boys were loud in the hallway and they would laugh at Wyatt and immediately mimic how "Rottings fainted" after the fight.

When I went to the cafeteria with Clive but their was a blatant switch in those few days. Boys had found camaraderie with new boys, and partners either grew closer or further depending on if they won or lost.

I walked in feeling awkward with my cast around my arm, as did other boys with bandages limbs. The hunt really showed us what people would do for knighthood.

It felt like a whole different academy, but our old table was there.

Will and Wyatt were both short haired as half of the cafeteria boys were, buzzed to the scalp, but Will was dignified and calm as he sat at our table, asking me how I was. I lied I was fine.

Wyatt started his own group, and indeed, Wyatt snickered as I got my food. He had waited for me to get on and followed. He gestured to whatever boys he took in and they also made gestures of putting their hands delicately to their brow as they "fainted". Hilariously despicable.

I could've kill you. The thought repeated itself and my fist tightened.

"Oh, poor Rottings, did you finally manage to get up after the tousle?" Wyatt asked. I walked away from the line and sat down with my tray.

"How are you, Nathan?" Cory asked, coming with Hale in tow. Both were victorious and ate breakfast with vigor. The few days we starved really changed us.

"Clive took great care of me, he even wanted to feed me," I laughed.

"I heard you had a lot of major injuries?" Hale asked.

"Multiple knife wounds caused by Wyatt, a broken arm, and he tore a ligament or nerve around his neck," Clive listed. I hadn't even memorized them. "And a concussion also caused by Wyatt."

"Holy, are those on your hands also caused by him?" Cory pointed to my hands.

The time Wyatt clawed my hands away from his hair were deeper than I thought, which was a lot due to the pain. When I saw it I realized he had not only scratched skin off but flesh, too. Six or five lines were still red and raw and looked—unsightly.

"Yes, I had began to grow used to the pain. The head hit was a painful one so I would focus on the pain on my hands to stay awake enough to get his hair," I recounted. "How did it not get blown away?"

"You were clutching it," Will said, smiling.

"How was your fight?" I asked slowly. "Clive never told me."

Will snickered. "Clive was so scary I thought I saw real bloodlust. I thought luring him away from you would cause him to forget about you but I felt like if I hadn't ceased faster he would've just cut my head off."