The noise of the cafeteria was loud and spilled into the drab hallway before we’d even pushed open the old wooden doors. Thankfully, the room behind was a bit cleaner than the hall leading to it. A gleaming metal buffet line was on one wall, the kitchen behind it. The room itself was lined in rectangular tables and wooden chairs. I heard the words ‘new girl’ thrown out several times, but I focused on Roman who still hadn’t stopped touching me as he led me toward the trays.
I felt like I was back in high school again. This whole thing felt oddly juvenile, but I couldn’t complain when my stomach rumbled loudly.
Roman released me as he handed over a tray, and I hated to admit that I missed his touch. Now I felt exposed and vulnerable. But with Layne behind me and him in front, it kept the panic and vulnerability at a manageable level. I shouldn’t trust them, I didn’t even know them, but sticking with them felt like the smartest plan.
Somehow, I forced myself to follow behind him, his stern look enough to get me to pile my tray high before we hit the drink line.
With nothing left to do, he started to lead me through the crowd. I felt hands and gazes brushing against me as I walked and kept my eyes on my shoes. Until someone grabbed my arm, nearly spilling my food.
“Hey, nice ass. Want a new seat?” he asked as he pushed himself away from the table and grabbed at his already bulging jeans. Bile rose in my throat, but before I could say anything, someone was pulling me forward. Roman was pissed, but it was Layne who lost it. She launched herself around me and literally jumped on the table, kicked his tray to the floor, then crouched down and gave him a look that could freeze a volcano.
“No. She doesn’t want to get anything that you have crawling in those dirty jeans of yours, Steven. You’d think you’d give up after your last public humiliation but it seems you’re a masochist,” she said. When she stood, I thought she’d jump down, instead she cocked her foot back and kicked him square in the face. A sickly crunch had my stomach turning. Crew pulled her off the table and back to ours where Roman forced me to sit down. Laughter and yelling filled the cafeteria, and I glanced back once to see a pool of blood falling on the table and an orderly rushing over to deal with it.
They quickly got him up and out of the room, but other than a knowing glare from Nurse Drew, no one approached us.What the hell?
“We’re practically untouchable, don’t worry,” Layne said proudly as she picked up her fork and shoved a heaping bite into her mouth. She danced happily in her chair as she ate like she didn’t have a care in the world. “Dr. Vane’s prized freaks.” The ominous words had a chill running down my spine. What was special about our group, and why was I chosen to join them? What did he do to us?
I’d stared long enough, not eating, that Roman was nudging me. I took a bite and realized how hungry I was, digging in.
“Oh god, what did I miss?” Hiro’s voice was now softer again and one look at him confirmed my suspicions. He was no longer sitting tall but looked on in confusion, startling at the whispers. His gaze landed on the pool of blood, and he went pale as he turned back to us. “Did Roman do that?”
Holy shit, what have I gotten myself into?
ChapterFive
Harlow
Saturday Early Morning
The Third Floor
The sound of my name being called jolted me from a dead sleep. I sat up, eyes bleary still from being woken abruptly and sleeping like shit. Even after I finally did fall asleep, my dreams were filled with Vane’s awful face and his hands on me.
My room was empty and silent, the door closed tight just like Layne had warned me to keep it. The lights in the hall spilled through the tiny window on my door, but there was no one on the other side. At least from what I could see.
“Hello?” I called out lightly, despite my better judgment. For once, no one answered. But I had that creepy feeling of being watched. The hair on the back of my neck prickled, and I pulled my cover tighter over me before laying back down.
“Cozy place, isn’t it?” Monty’s voice taunted just as I was falling back asleep. The sound of his voice alone was enough for indignation to take over. We still hadn’t talked about him abandoning me and now felt like a perfect time. Rage boiled in me as I sat up, glaring at him.
“So much for meeting me inside, huh?” I growled, shoving my cover off and standing, turning when I didn’t see him.
“I did meet you inside,” he drawled. I spun around, fighting a shiver as I glared at him perched on my desk. His skeletal face was pulled into a look of amusement that didn’t help my anger. This was not funny in the least.
“I called out for you,” I bit out. Angry tears burned my eyes, and I had to fight them back with everything I had. I felt betrayed. I’d let this hallucination of mine get a bit too close.
“Well, I didn’t hear it.” He shrugged, completely unaffected by my obvious hurt over this. Rage burned brightly in my chest, and I picked up my alarm clock, yanking it from the wall, and threw it at him. He blinked out of the way just as it passed him, shattering into several pieces as it hit the wall, raining down on my desk.
“Fuck you, Monty! You’re always leaving when I need you, so you can just go now. I’m good. I don’t need anyone!”
His low chuckle echoed in the room, like nails on a chalkboard. A smarter person would have backed down when facing off with a large monster. But in my anger and pain, I didn’t give a damn about who this hallucination thought he was because right now, he was just like everyone else in my life, a fucking disappointment.
My breath caught as he materialized in front of me. He towered over my five-seven height and bent forward until his fiery blue eyes were boring into me.
“What part of the horns made you think I was a guardian angel, Harlow?” he asked in a deadly calm voice.
“He raped me,” I said harshly, my voice shaking with rage and disgust. It wasn’t the first time I was used for my body or the choice was taken altogether, but I’d promised myself never again. Yet here I was, facing it.
“And?” Monty asked. My mouth opened to spew more hate at him, rage blinding me at the easy dismissal.