Splintered

Chapter Thirty-Five: Fool Me Twice

So much for rest.

The sun had set hours ago. Sleep's allure tempted Hazel as she focused on the encompassing darkness.

It has to be close to midnight.

She lounged as comfortably as she could manage outside Snow's office. Her nerves, however, wouldn't let her find any peace. Not while Bellona was on the other side, most likely being grilled about Hazel roping her into extracurricular activities.

Leo and Sable were settled on the benches across from her in the blue-drenched compartment. She eyed the familiar-looking roses around the room. They were comprised of tightly layered petals that were velvety, caught somewhere between midnight blue and indigo. Their outermost edges were lighter, like the sky at twilight, while the inner parts were the darkest, bordering on black. The very same kind that was left, along with the tape.

There were what looked to be hundreds of them.

How subtle.

Sable swayed slightly even while sitting. Undoubtedly, the aftereffects of the drinks with Festus.

Leo appeared utterly sober yet lost deep within his thoughts. His focus was distant, and he hadn't met her eyes since he had collected all of them and brought them here. Even Sable sent him a worried glance intermittently.

If she weren't so terrified, she would have laughed at how much the three of them resembled school kids preparing to be reprimanded by the principal.

When the silence started irritating her skin, she finally cleared her throat. "So...uh...either of you ever been to Six? You know, since we're skipping it?"

Sable nodded while Leo didn't even acknowledge that she had spoken.

"Sure have." Sable sucked in a theatric breath, "Largest district by far. Cold as Satan's balls this time of year. But after Ten? It's a damn resort. I'll take gasoline and engine grease over cow shit any day."

Hazel bit back a small laugh at Sable's candidness, "Didn't take you for a gas huffer old man."

One of the two barely visible Avoxes chuckled. Leo looked up, inspected them, grimaced, and let his stare fall away again.

Sable scowled in her direction. "If it gets me through this assignment and babysitting a particularly aggravating Victor, I'm willing to try anything."

Before she could volley back, Snow's office doors swung open. Bellona slinked out like a scolded puppy.

Hazel rose to her feet as Sable and Leo merely watched her trade places with the guard.

"Your turn, Marlowe," Bellona said, ushering Hazel toward the office.

"You all right?" Hazel whispered, but Bellona kept her eyes lowered and lips sealed as she shut the doors behind her.

And just like that, she was alone with Snow.

The man was all but basking in his leather chair, glass twirling between his fingers. A golden-hued fluid swirled within the quartz cup.

Before him on the desk was the player. Its mouth agape. The tapeless interior having been thoroughly inspected. "Tell me, where might have you found this?"

"I told you." Hazel crossed her arms, trying to appear confident, though the move was more to give her hands something to do.

"I thought we were going to be honest with each other." Snow inspected the alcohol, the last word came out slightly muffled, and she wondered how many he had downed before she arrived.