Walk Through Thorns

Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Friday morning I woke up an hour early. This being a school day, and being that I went to bed 'early' at two in the morning, I was operating on just a few hours sleep. I should have slept right into my alarm, but my brain was wide awake. Even if I tried to stay in bed, I was trying to plan my next move.

As I got up, I lifted my mattress. The silver sewing needle was still there, where Auntie wouldn't find it by accident. There was no knowing when I would need it, but it would be waiting for me.

They were still flying the flag at half mast for Greta. It fluttered in the wind. I tried not too look at it for too long, I was getting mad. Greta was murdered, but everyone was treating it like a tragedy. It wasn't tragic, it was unjust. What was the point in mourning her if they were going to do nothing about it?

Avery met me at the bike stand and we walked in together. On a normal day, we'd make half-awake small talk. Neither of us broke the silence today. I still wasn't sure were we stood as friends.

Victoria was in the hallway, grimacing like she'd bit into something bitter. Her make up, uncharacteristically dark. Maybe she knew we were onto her now. She went into the school bathroom, Brandon followed her.

I stopped in the hall. Avery bumped into my back. Before she could complain I grabbed her by the wrist and dragged her with me.

"What?" she asked.

"Brandon is here."

"At school?"

We burst into the bathroom. Victoria was on the ground, blood dripping down her chin from a split lip. Brandon's hands were balled into fists, one of his knuckles already bloody.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"She killed Greta," he said. His voice was so devoid of emotion it was scary.

I said, "I think she was involved. You can't just attack her without evidence."

Brandon turned to me, a cold rage was gripping him. The kind that erased all empathy. Avery was watching Victoria bleed, not stepping in.

Brandon said, "She splashed you both with blood. If there's some cult, I'm going to make her tell me everything about it."

He kicked her in the side. I jumped in the middle and shoved him back.

"Stop," I said, "There are better ways."

Brandon scowled. I recoiled, his gaze was hellfire.

Then Victoria whispered, "You have no idea how bad it is."

We all turned back to her. She was weeping, her mascara running down her cheeks. There was a bandage around her wrist, almost concealed by her shirt. I kneeled down, pulled it back. The bandage went all the way to her elbow. Red weeped through, stitches visible at the edges.

"What did you do to Greta?" I held her wrist so tight she winced.

"My mom made me," she said, "And Greta's mom. I didn't know what the goblet was. There's something wrong with them. They told me it was for the Archtree but it wasn't! They marked her for something. I think it took her."

I said, "You splashed us both. Was I a target too?"

Victoria nodded. The cut severed a line across her runic tattoos.

"It's the Briarheart," I said to Brandon and Avery. "Somehow the Children of the Briarheart are helping it take control of people."

Brandon said, "No, I made the Briarheart up for our game. It's not real."