The Revenge (XXXVII 3)

I

Tori

can’t remember the last time was really able to get more than five hours of sleep in a night, but the feeling of wishing could fight off waking up just so can sleep a little longer is all too familiar. Especially considering how awful feel right now.

There’s a woodpecker trying to take up residence in my head—or at least, that’s how it feels. f there’s a part of my body that doesn’t hurt, ’ve yet to find it. And my throat…

Just thinking about the burning sensation in my throat sends me into a coughing fit. Each cough, like it’s shredding the lining.

My vision is still too blurry to be able to see who’s helping me sit upright, but a hand forces a glass into mine.

“Try to take a sip. Carefully.”

That’s easy for them to say. can barely take a breath of air, never mind a sip of whatever they’ve handed me.

Eventually, ’m granted a reprieve long enough to take a sip from the glass. The water is tepid and flavored with something sweet. Whatever it is feels like it’s putting out a fire as it falls down my throat.

“You want some more?” Gemini asks once ’ve finished the glass.

Before can lean back, Royal’s arm shoots out towards me. nstinctively, duck away from his hand, raising my own to cover my face. “Don’t touch me!”

“ was just going to move your pillows so you can sit up,” Royal tells me, his voice a mixture of defensiveness and horror.

He steps back as lower my hands, leaving a large gap between him and the bed.

Since waking, the only thing ’ve really thought about is the pain ’m feeling, but Royal’s innocent intention has triggered memories so hazy that ’m surprised reacted as quickly as did. t’s not until catch a glimpse of my reflection in the vanity mirror across the room that those fuzzy, scattered memories become real and not the tail end of a bad dream.

My blue hair has been the most striking thing about my appearance for weeks. Even if it was the result of a cruel prank, ’ve gotten used to it, but the now damp strands sticking out at all angles are somehow not the first things notice. nstead, it’s the giant, red blob on the left side of my face.

have fair skin, but right now, it’s scarily pale and making the mark stand out like there’s a spotlight on it. The angry red is already starting to turn purple in places, particularly under my left eye, as it stretches towards my ear. There’s enough swelling around my eye to make me squint, but can still see clearly—even down to the whites of my eyes, which are now bloodshot.

More red on my chin draws my attention down, and in doing so, see my neck. Syn’s collar is gone, replaced with a deep red replica that can even see the markings of the chain in places. Surrounding it are scratches made from my own fingernails.

Before can look more, Syn steps between me and my reflection. “Who did this to you?” he growls. There’s a murderous look in his eyes.

“Wasn’t it you?” My voice is barely recognizable. What comes out is hoarse and scratchy. Worse, trying to talk normally feels like ’m drinking shards of broken glass.

And then, burst into tears.

Not because he’s scared me, or even because of the pain. But because ’m still getting my muddled brain to process everything, and it’s just caught up to the fact that nearly died.

Relief pours from me in liquid form.

“Stop scaring her, Syn.” Royal hisses at him.

Syn’s eyes widen as he looks at Royal. “Her? You know wasn’t behind this. f anyone should be scared, it’s the one who did this.”

The tears fall faster, and can’t stop sobbing, even though it’s making my throat hurt worse than any sore throat ’ve ever experienced.

Gemini takes a step towards the bed, then hesitates just long enough to ask, “Do you want a hug? You look like you need one. A fucking big one.”

want one more than anything, but can’t stop crying to tell him that. nstead, manage to nod. Without any further hesitation, Gemini climbs onto the bed beside me. Before he’s fully settled, lean into him. My right cheek doesn’t have a giant bruise on it, and even though it feels tender as rest it against Gemini, don’t stop.

Gemini wraps his arms around me and then silently, starts rubbing my back. “The water should still be warm. Go get her another one.”

’m not sure what he’s talking about, but Royal leaves the room.

t takes almost until the time he returns for me to stop crying. Gemini’s hand hasn’t stopped rubbing my back. Syn also hasn’t moved. Neither has his curled lip as he stares at the two of us.

“Here.” Royal holds a cup, which matches the last one, in front of me. “t’s warm water with honey. t will help your throat.”

My right and dominant wrist has been throbbing like other parts of my body since woke up, so sit back and accept the cup from Royal with my left. The water isn’t steaming, but there’s a soothing warmth to it as it passes down my throat again.

“Who—?”

“Syn!” Royal snaps.

Syn presses his lips together as he folds his arms. A moment passes before he speaks, and this time, the anger has been dialed back. “Who did this?”

want to repeat my previous answer to that same question. Even though my memory is hazy, and ’m sure it wasn’t Syn himself, he’d been angry enough to want to kill me the last time ’d seen him. Of course, he wouldn’t get his hands dirty, but fully believe him capable of getting someone else to do it.

“Syn didn’t do this,” Royal tells me when don’t answer. “ know what you’re thinking, but he— we —were with the Elite when you were attacked.”

Gemini shrugs, making me move. “Plus, if Syn did it, you wouldn’t be sitting here alive. And if we’d helped him, you sure as hell wouldn’t have been found.”

From experience, know Gemini’s brain is wired a little differently than everyone else’s, and while his nonchalance is certainly creepy, believe him.

’m not sure if my fear level is accurately matching the situation, because despite this, don’t feel uneasy around him like probably should.

“Victoria.” The use of my actual name from Syn is more alarming than Gemini’s admission, considering he usually does everything in his power to address me by anything else. “Who did this to you?”

“ don’t… don’t remember.”

“How can you not remember who tried to kill you?” Syn asks in disbelief.

“Because her brain has been starved of oxygen,” Gemini tells him.

“Since when are you an expert in memory loss, Dr . Remington?”

“Since was seven and realized could ask Google questions to get answers to anything wanted to know, like what side effects there are to someone surviving a strangulation.”

Now don’t know if should be flattered by Gemini’s answer, but pointing out what happened sends a shiver down my spine.

Gemini looks down at me, his head at an angle. “Here’s the thing, Vixen. Whoever did this is still out there, and considering there’s still a blizzard raging around us, there’s a good chance he’s still on campus, so we could find him.”

“Unless you don’t know because you didn’t recognize them?” Royal asks.

Did recognize them?”

look around the room, hoping there’s something to give me a clue. Only, the room ’m in isn’t mine—or at least, it’s not the room Royal and Gemini allowed me to stay in. That one is cream and gold. This is Royal’s bedroom.

From the little of my reflection can see, combined with how my body protests to every move make, maybe shouldn’t want to remember.

But since Cole’s arrest, there have been far too many unanswered questions, and ’ll be damned if let another person get away with a crime. Even if it is Synclair Keyingham.

Especially if it’s Synclair Keyingham.

Pulling back the covers, turn and ignore the way my muscles contract in waves of pain before dangle my legs over the side of the bed.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Gemini asks.

nstead of answering, mainly because my throat is burning enough already, set my feet on the floor. Before can stand, Royal is in front of me. glare up at him, but he offers me a hand instead of trying to stop me. Much as want to reject it, ’m not sure my body feels strong enough to manage by myself just yet.

’m barely upright before ’m questioning this decision. My legs feel so stiff, ’m not sure can even walk. As look down at myself, realize ’m wearing clothes that aren’t mine.

To be fair, since moving into Denali House, Syn has provided all my clothes, so really, there weren’t many clothes here that were mine anyway. These are probably Royal’s. Of the three of them, and as a member of the basketball team, know he owns sweats. Gemini might have a pair, but he’s a skinny jeans guy, and there’s probably more chance of finding a Santa outfit in Syn’s closet than a pair of navy sweats.

On my top, hadn’t processed that was wearing an oversized sweater with James Keyingham University in silver embroidered on the chest when stare at myself in the mirror.

One of them has redressed me. And my hair is damp.

But why?

take a step towards the door, but this time, Syn steps in front of me. Unlike Royal, he’s not here to help. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“Why do you care?” start to roll my eyes, but that makes me dizzy. can feel my body start to sway, but Royal gently grabs my elbow and places a hand on my back. The simple action has me hissing in pain.

“Tori?” Royal’s eyes are wide.

turn, lifting the sweater by my hip. My side and what can see of my back is red, like forgot to put sunscreen on before fell asleep sunbathing. Only when touch the skin, it’s ice cold.

“That didn’t look that bad before,” Royal mutters, his face paling as he stares.

Gemini lets out a low whistle. “ have drugs. Really good drugs which will help with not feeling that.”

“Get them.” Syn snaps.

“’m fine,” say as Gemini bounds off the bed.

“Bull. Shit,” he tells me.

He’s right. ’m not fine. And the longer stand, the more feel different parts of my body start to hurt in places that weren’t hurting before. That’s on top of the overall ache of every muscle, and my pounding head. But whether Gemini’s drugs are of the legal variety or something else, pain means ’m alive. t also stops anything from inhibiting me further. need everything have to be able to concentrate right now.

“ said, get them,” Syn says through gritted teeth.

Folding my arms makes me want to squeak in pain, but do it anyway, as glare at Syn. “Unless you’re going to hold me down and force me to take them, don’t bother.”