Shadow Embraced (Haven Academy Book 1) [Completed]

Chapter 26

"Earth to Scar," a voice says behind me, snapping me out of my deep brooding.

Not able to stay in my room for another second, I decided to wander the grounds. I know the rules about not walking alone, but I don't really have anyone to walk with, and I don't want to call Daemon to babysit me. Besides, why should I be scared? All the evidence seems to point to me, so if I'm the attacker, then I don't have to worry about anything while I'm out here alone.

I turn to face Paul.

"You shouldn't be walking around these dark, spooky grounds alone." He smiles.

"What about you?" I look around the area. He's out here by himself as well.

He shrugs. "Just needed to take a walk."

"Should we be seen talking?" I ask. "Aren't you even afraid of me?"

"I can go if you want." He turns around and begins to walk away, his rattail swinging behind him.

"Okay, I guess it's fine if we talk," I call after him.

He stops walking and places his hands on his hips. "Okay, follow me."

I stand there as I watch him disappear into the trees just ahead of us. I now have two choices: I can follow him into the dark woods, or I can stay behind and surround myself with my own misery. What else do I have to lose? I follow him, moving at a quick pace to catch up.

"So, where are we going?" I ask as I fall in step beside him.

"You'll see." He doesn't stop or even face me, he only continues moving forward.

The scent of flowers is the first thing that hits me. I dart my gaze around. I know this place. As we keep walking, the broken gate comes into view. This is Apollina's garden. How does he even know about this place?

"Why am I here?"

"It's hard to see things clearly when everyone keeps telling you something different," he says, as he stops walking. He doesn't turn to face me, instead he looks around the garden.

"What?"

"I've heard the rumours." He shakes his head. "I know what everyone thinks, and I know what you think."

"What do I think?"

He turns and meets my gaze. Not blinking, he says, "You think you're guilty. You're not."

I can't believe he stated it so bluntly. "Why don't you think so?"

"I know someone who can prove it," he says. "Just relax, and do me one thing."

Who can he know that could possible help? I have no choice but trust him. I don't really have that many people left wanting to help me to deny any help.

"What do you want me to do?"

He smiles, his usual playful puppy expression returning. "Don't do anything stupid like get yourself killed."

* * *

'5... 4... 3... 2... 1...'

As each second counts down, I push my legs even harder. I know I shouldn't be participating in any more fights, but I need to release some tension. The bare dirt walls of the tunnels blaze by as I run. No way am I going to get another time-out. The time clicks to zero right when I reach the spot. Made it, but my opponent is nowhere to be seen. The only info they've given me on this fight is CQR in large gold letters at the top of my HUD. What am I supposed to do now?

The flickering arrows direct me up. I scale the wall and pull myself through the trapdoor.

Closing the hatch behind me, I take a look at the room I've entered. A set of miniature floodlights illuminate it. A little black witch camera hangs at an awkward angle from the ceiling. Cracked and rotten floorboards stick up at random intervals across the room and the walls have a crooked slant to them. It's the same as any other decrepit death-trap I've seen in this town. I'm hoping it doesn't fall down while I'm still here.