Chapter 27
The four of us stumbled out of the unassuming doors of the Enclave a few hours later, still swaying with remnants of the elixir. My mind had begun to return to the reality around us, and I noticed how empty the streets were.
“Osta, we should head home,” I hummed.
“Yeah… we should go,” Osta said with a quiet smile, her eyes still dancing.
“Are you sure? You could bunk with me at the Compound tonight.” Raine’s eyes shifted between us.
“That’s alright. We wouldn’t want to impose,” I said softly, still distracted by the lights shimmering around me.
“I insist. Really, I don’t want the two of you walking home alone this late. In this condition.” Her voice was stern, but her gaze was following something sparkly in the distance.
“I agree with Raine. You two should stay at the Compound tonight. It’s no problem,” Briar said calmly, lacing his arm through Osta’s.
My best friend dared a glance at me, but her eyes didn’t fully focus on mine. I shrugged. Perhaps we weren’t in the right state of mind to make the trek.
“Okay… yeah, if it’s really not a big deal. I think we’ll take you up on the offer,” I replied.
“Anytime,” Raine said as we filtered through the darkened streets of Luminaria, still locked in a haze.
Nerves returned, tickling my back as we approached the gates. It was ghostly quiet, but guards still loomed, securing the entrance.
I avoided eye contact as Raine provided her identification. The guard grunted but opened the gates. I could feel the annoyance radiating from him as we passed into the lobby.
We were all holding back giggles as we stepped into the mess hall. Everything was excruciatingly funny right then. My cheeks were aching from smiling so much. I assumed it was a lingering effect of the elixir.
Noticing the silence of the complex made us even more hyper-aware, causing us to dramatically tiptoe and exchange heightened glances that nearly always resulted in tipsy grins.
Just as we reached the stairs leading to the recruitment quarters, Osta’s bag tumbled out of her arms with a loud thud. Her eyes went wide with concern before we all doubled over in silent, hissing laughter.
She gasped as she collected the contents from the floor, and her posture egged on more giggles. Briar let out a screech of a cackle and Raine threw her hand over his mouth.
My body was still heaving from trying to control the onslaught of humor when we heard the creaking of a large metal door in the distance.
My heart stopped as footsteps thundered through the corridor above.
I heard someone clear their throat, and I immediately recognized the sound.
Our eyes shot up to the balcony, but we saw nothing. The voice seemed to echo throughout the room .
“Are you all that inebriated?” he chided. My eyes shifted to the staircase to see a figure emerging. A shiver ran up my spine.
His copper hair sprawled out onto the shoulders of his black shirt. The scar on his face seemed to pulse with anger. All of us gasped in unison.
He stopped a few feet in front of us, crossing his arms and raising an eyebrow.
We stayed quiet, shifting our weight. For some reason, even this situation made me want to burst out in frantic waves of laughter, but I held back.
I didn’t dare make eye contact with any of my friends.
I knew a single glance would have us doubling over.
And now was, perhaps, the most inappropriate time to do so.
“Have you all gone mute?” Laryk demanded, stress creasing his brow. I could have sworn he stomped his foot.
“No, sir,” Briar attempted. A collective jolt surged through the group. I dared a glance at Raine, who desperately held her lips in a tight line.
Ashford looked us all over before rolling his eyes. “Off to bed.” His voice was slick and sharp as a knife.
Relief rushed through us as we started towards the flight of stairs.
“Fia. A word,” he said flatly. I shook my head rigidly at my friends, urging them to keep calm. I turned around and slowly paced towards Laryk. Cries of laughter echoed behind us.
He studied me for a second, clenching his jaw before sauntering off towards one of the windowed gyms.
A spark of anger ran through me as I clumsily followed him. In my peripherals, lights still danced and weaved themselves throughout the space.
He yanked open the door and motioned for me to enter. I didn’t even shoot a glance his way before trudging into the room. It was dark, only lit by the light that filtered in from the mess hall.
“What were you thinking , recruit?” His voice was like ice reverberating through the room .
I made my way to the stone wall in an attempt to balance myself. The proper annoyance made its way into my mind, fighting past the elixir.
“Building comradery,” I said flatly. My back hit the stone less gracefully than I intended.
“Is that what you call this?” His words were sharp as he paced towards me. The sound echoed in my ears.
“It’s what you called it,” I slurred, noticing the light that glimmered around him. I swallowed hard as my eyes found his. A shock ran through me when I noticed their intensity. Something inside me burned.
He roared towards me, stopping only a foot away.
“Fia. You’re high,” he insisted, running his hand through his hair. The heat coming off him was sobering, but not quite enough to kill all of the elixir’s effects.
“I’m fine,” I whispered. My back flattened against the wall; my breath heavy. I could feel the static emanating between our bodies… So close…What would it feel like if he touched me?
“You’re not fine. Do you even understand how irresponsible this is? Coming back here in this state?” His voice took on a desperate tone, and I could smell the whiskey on his breath. I stayed silent.
“It’s different for you. And you know that.” He shook his head, stepping a breath closer.
“I don’t see why. This Compound is no different from the streets I walk every day,” I shot back, my mind twirling from the audacity of his words and the heat of his closeness.
“People on the streets don’t have the same privileges that the members of the Guard do, and you should know that,” he growled. His hand grazed my arm, sending a shiver down my spine.
I stepped forward, our lips nearly touching. The air vibrated around us, and his jaw tensed.
“Don’t act like you actually care,” I whispered, locking my eyes with his .
Suddenly, his hands were at my waist, pushing me against the wall. The movement was quick and desperate. And full of need…
I was full of need.
My body rushed with electricity at the feeling of his grip. The temptation to force him closer was immense, but I fought back with every fiber of my being.
It had to be the liquid euphoria… there was no way I actually wanted this man to…
And suddenly, his body slammed into mine, and I could feel his breath on my cheek. I bit back a whimper.
A delicious feeling seared through me. Yes …
I did want this… I didn’t care if it was real or not. It felt good.
Right.
Explosive.
Ecstasy danced along the surface of my skin. I wanted a release. I needed a release.
Just as I was about to reach up and run my fingers through his hair, I felt his body relax. He leaned his forehead against mine, exhaling slowly.
“You’re impossible, Fia,” he whispered. The touch of his head against my own was going to drive me to madness. My hands were still twitching with the need to grab him…
Please don’t stop.
But then he loosened his grip and backed away. My gaze fell to the ground, as embarrassment overwhelmed me.
Why did I want more?
He clenched his jaw, pacing in the opposite direction.
“I’m just trying to keep you alive.” He sighed, nearing the door.
His body seemed rigid. As he gripped the handle, he paused.
I thought he might say something more, but eventually, he pulled it open and sauntered out, leaving me alone in the dimly lit room.
I could have sworn there were two sets of footsteps echoing through the mess hall.
“Drink some fucking water.” I heard from down the corridor.
With my back still pressed against the wall, I sank to the ground. What was wrong with me? I should hate him. Everything about him. My feelings made no sense… I didn’t even recognize myself anymore. Shame crept into my mind, only mildly competing with the need that still clung to my bones.
He was a general in the Guard… I was nothing more than a weapon to him. That had been made crystal clear. He was wildly unavailable and my… desires were inappropriate and completely misguided.
I repeated the sentiments over and over again in my mind, waiting for them to take effect. I hugged my knees and rocked back and forth, trying to quell the ache that had started building in my core. The one I couldn’t allow to permeate me any further.
Sadness soon replaced it.
It was just the liquid Euphoria.
It had to be.
And now I was coming down hard.