Unfamiliar Territory [Book One]

Chapter Twenty-Six | Nothing Left to Lose

Dr. Quincy let Mr. Mallard and I have the living room to ourselves. The way he showed us in--avoiding eye contact, telling us to take our time--it was more like he was the guest than we were. Some of the kids--mostly Gust, Maple, and the twins--attempted to argue to stay, but their father was more firm with them and shooed them all out. He shot Mr. Mallard and I one final glance before closing the two large, wooden doors behind him.

Like most of the rooms in the cabin, the living room was large and it had tall and wide windows that opened up to the scenic mountainside. There were several cushiony chairs and couches strewn around to make the room feel cozier with a fireplace that remained unlit.

When Mr. Mallard situated himself into one of the chairs, I was reminded of his 'office'. I grimaced.

"Would you care to sit down?" he asked, gesturing to one of the chairs beside him, watching me.

"Why don't you try making me?"

His wrinkled face formed a deep frown. "I do not think that will be necessary. It was merely an offer."

I folded my arms, looked down on him. He stared back up at me, frown still firmly planted. "How about we begin where we left off during our last conversation-?"

"Oh, right, you mean when I was throwing up blood?"

"I was not aware of the injuries on your back. I had a discussion with Mr. Copper, who you would remember was the one who brought you in to me, and he said it did not look as bad as it was. Regardless, that was not what I was referring to."

Mr. Mallard reached over to a small table beside the chair and picked up a cup of tea that I swore wasn't there before. "I was referring to this."

"You son of a-"

"Drink it."

I stared into the brown liquid. It was lighter than last time. Maybe hazelnut. I could smell it--sweet yet bitter. Terrible.

He held the cup out to me. I reached out towards it.

When my hand was inches away from the cup, the growl escaped from behind my lips. Before Mr. Mallard could react, I smacked the cup out of his grasp and then gripped his throat with one hand.

His eyes bulged from behind the glasses and I stared into the glowering face reflected in them as the cup smashed against the hard wood floor. "You're running out of cups, Mallard," I hissed.

"Foxy-"

"That's not my name!" I shouted over him.

He gripped my arm with both of his hands. He was strong, but I was stronger.

"I'm done being told what to do. Do you understand? I'm done!"

The doors to the living room burst open. I heard Dr. Quincy gasp before his heavy footsteps began to echo in the room.

"Stay back, Quinn!" I shouted at him, eyes still locked with Mallard's. "This doesn't involve you."

Mallard was gasping for breath as his grip on my arm weakened. The footsteps stopped coming.

"Alex, please don't do this-!"

"I'M DONE BEING TOLD WHAT TO DO!"

I screamed it as I shot my head to Dr. Quincy.

Whatever I had to say next caught in my throat.

Dr. Quincy stood only a few feet away. Maple, Gust, and all their siblings stood in the doorway behind him, eyes wide and faces pale. My grip on Mr. Mallard's throat loosened and his deep intakes of air brought me back to him.