Gray bit his tongue to keep himself from yelling out, and he lashed out at his attacker, but stopped when a harsh light shone right on his face.
Via.
Her eyes were tear-stained and she tossed a flashlight to Gray.
"Here."
Gray caught it, and then it hit him.
"You turned the power out?" he guessed.
Via nodded grimly, sitting on the empty chair across him.
"When The Choosing was over, I went outside to find you. But Andrew told me that some guards had taken you away, which is not protocol. Then... we all heard President Lilly's announcement."
Via's eyes sparked with worry.
"I knew something was wrong. I cut the power cord, but I'm pretty sure Bazic knew it was me, so I ran."
Gray nodded gratefully at her, but he still sighed when her eyes narrowed cautiously at him.
"Why-"
"Via," Gray said quietly. "I have some... news."
In a tired voice, he began to explain everything to her, every detail Lilly had told him... and how he was being marked for death.
Via's face was stony when she finished speaking, from fear or anger, Gray couldn't tell.
"They-They're going to kill you?" She hissed in a revolted whisper. "That's sick! And how do they even know that this... this Celestial is you?"
Gray felt wary, all his adrenaline leaving him and exhaustion settling in.
"I-I don't know."
He broke off as Via wrapped him in a hug.
"Come on. We have to get out of here."
Gray nodded, but then he heard pounding footsteps and voices, and Via pulled him down, signaling him to turn off his flashlight.
Gray crouched nervously, tensed and ready to run as he listened.
The voices were clear, echoing off the deserted halls.
"Is he here?"
That was a girl's voice.
"How should I know?"
The dusky, low voice that followed irritably was a boy.
"Just shut up before he hears us," the girls shot back, "President Lilly promised us a thousand dollars if we found Sohren, so that's what we're going to do."
There was pride in the girl's voice, and Gray growled, clenching his fists.
His own classmate was going to trade his life in for money?
But then the boy's voice came, more doubtful than the girl's, and then Gray could see the beam of their flashlights under the door as they got closer.
"I don't know, Sedna. Gray was a good guy... and I don't understand why the President wants him, anyway."
The girl's voice came out as a snap:
"Don't be weak, Finnick. Once we catch him, you can get all the answers you want."
Gray felt a burst of anger, and before he could control himself, his flashlight skittered out of his hands.
Sedna and Finnick's eyes snapped up to his hiding place, and Gray ducked, but his gaze had already locked with Sedna's.
She grinned.
"Are you spastic?" Via hissed, rolling her eyes. Run!"
Gray flung open the door, trying to shoot past the pair, but Sedna was too quick for him.
She darted forwards, and her icy hands closed around his wrist, cutting him off and throwing him off his feet.
Gray yelled as he was flung to the ground, and he tried to get up, but Sedna pressed her elbow into his shoulder blade.
Pain flashed up his spine, and the shock jolted him into action.
He leapt up and ignored all manners, punching her in the collarbone, but she barely reacted and pinned him up against the wall.
"Via!" Gray shouted, searching for his sister in the barely lit darkness.
She was locked in a tussle with Finnick, who Gray could tell was being hesitant.
She punched him in the jaw, and he stumbled back, avoiding more blows, and tackled her waist, throwing her to the floor.
Via groaned softly, and Finnick hauled her up, walking her over to Sedna, who smiled.
She closed a fist over Gray's collar, jerking him forwards, making him stumble.
He winced as pain flared up his side.
"To be honest, I thought it would be more interesting when we caught you guys," Sedna mused, smiling broadly, and Gray gritted his teeth.
He wrenched out of her grip, spinning and ready to deck her, but she saw it coming and slammed up against the wall.
He was too winded to move.
"Should've paid more attention in gym, Sohren," Sedna sneered, and behind her, Finnick made a noise.
Sedna just snorted.
"Let's get you to President Lilly," She sighed, and when she turned, a huge fist punched her in the face.
Sedna crumpled, blood trickling from her nose, and Gray stared in shock.
Before he could react, he heard a yelp, and spun around to see Finnick being tossed to the ground, groaning.
Via jerked free just as Finnick fell, eyes wide as she scrambled for a flashlight and pointed it at their newest attacker.
"Shit," She said, and Gray echoed her.
Coach Harding.
