Protected Slaves

11. Reconciliation

I was aware of the door creaking open but I didn't move. I didn't even flinch when I heard their voices. I was too numb to care. I was aware of someone shaking me and a familiar voice calling my name but I didn't move. I only opened my eyes when I felt a sharp sting on my cheek. Emily sat beside me with a concerned look on her face and she ran a hand through my hair.

"Rayla, what happened?" Emily asked. Even though my eyes were sore more tears managed to trickle down my cheeks. Emily flung her arms around me and pulled me closer to her. "Oh dear, what happened?"

"Kicked me out . . . cut me off," I gasped.

Emily continued to rub her hands through my hair in attempt to calm me down. "Who did?"

"Miles," I whispered.

"Oh no," Emily whispered.

"I don't understand," another voice said.

I looked past Emily to see that Kellin was standing in front of the door with his back pressed against the wall.

I slowly sat up and narrowed my eyes at him. "What's not to understand? He kicked me out and cut me off because of a conversation I had with Viktor!"

Emily rubbed my back in an attempt to comfort me but it didn't work. Kellin lowered his gaze but I didn't feel guilty for hurting him because I was too wound up to calm down.

"It's okay Rayla," Emily soothed. "Is there anything you want? I can get it for you."

I really wanted to know where Davidson was. I knew how much Viktor cared about him and how much he favoured him. I would have to do something to give a message to Viktor.

"I want to know where Tom goes on a Friday night," I whispered.

Kellin looked up and he gasped. He told Emily 'no' but she told me where Tom would be tonight.

"Why do you want to know?" Emily asked.

"I just want to avoid him," I replied. I then told her about how he attacked me today in Gym.

"Is there anything else you want?" Emily asked.

"When you are finished in the mess hall could you please bring me back a bread roll?" I asked.

"Of course. We'll head down now so we can come back later," Emily replied.

She got to her feet and grabbed Kellin's arm, dragging him from the room. Kellin eyed me with suspicion but I flashed him a weak smile before he disappeared from the room. I waited several minutes before getting up from my bed. I dumped my school books in a neat pile on my old dresser then reached under my bed to pull out the two guns and ammo. I stuffed them into my bag then dragged two knives out then slipped them into my combat boots. I slipped my bag onto my back and climbed out of the window onto the fire escape.

I power walked through the Protected Zone to a set of buildings where I stayed hidden. Watching out for Tom. I was so angry at everyone. At Winchester. At Davidson. At Viktor. And there was only one way I could get the anger out. I needed to get into a fight and I knew that Davidson would fight back.

After several minutes of waiting I noticed Davidson walking into the building across the street from me. I pushed away from the wall and sprinted across the street and into the building. I hid myself behind a wall and waited until Davidson opened a door before coming out of my hiding place and following him. I continued to follow him until we both reached a small room filled with hundreds of screens.

I watched as Davidson sat down in the chair and I watched as he began to type away on one of the screens. I stayed in the shadows as I moved closer to Davidson. I glanced up at the screens to see that he had zoomed in on . . . Miles.