Page 78 of Havenfall Harbor
I take a few fortifying breaths before heading over to my door, only to see the brand-spanking-new doorknob winking at me. “Shit!” I doubt the key I have will work, that would defeat the whole purpose of a new knob.
I try it anyway. “Great.” I look around. I have a few options. I could bang on Griffin’s door like a crazy person until I woke them up, if I was even able to, or I could go down and see if someone at the security desk has a key. I dismiss that thought faster than psycho neighbor. I don’t want to deal with Bill if he’s still at the desk. Finally, I could head down to the cafeteria and hang out there for a while until other people start waking up, or until the shift switch at the front desk.
I pull my loose t-shirt away from my body and give it a sniff. I don’t have BO or anything, so I settle on the last option.
Eventually, I’ll get a key to my room. At least I know the door is locked, maybe the new lock was all I needed.
I feel silly toting the overnight bag with me, so I tuck it into the alcove of my door. It’s only filled with dirty clothes and toiletries at this point anyway.
Of course on the way downstairs I would run into Noah. His eyes go a little wide when he sees me. I tug at the hem of my shirt and plaster a smile on my face. “Hey,” I call out breathily.
“Um, hey?” he responds, looking behind me like I’m hiding someone. I turn and glance over my shoulder. Weird.
“I’m just heading to breakfast,” I tell him lamely, wishing I wouldn’t have spoken to him at all.
Noah’s eyes dip over me again and I feel super self-conscious. Maybe I should have just sat in the hall or tried my luck at the security desk. He’s staring at me like I’m really doing a walk of shame.
Noah glances behind me again and skirts closer to the wall, avoiding me. My face must flush bright red, I didn’t even think about enhanced senses. To him I probably smell like a pig farm.
I open my mouth to tell him I got locked out of my room, but he’s sliding against the wall to get away from me. “Bye,” I blurt, and rush down the last flight of stairs. There is no way I’m going to the cafeteria now. I know there are a few common rooms down here, so I head in the opposite direction I was and look for an empty lounge.
There’s an exit sign posted at the end of the hall with an arrow pointed to the left. I haven’t been down this way before, so I head in that direction. Some fresh air will probably do me good. I reach for the lanyard around my neck to make sure I have a way to get back into the school. The corners of my keycard poke into my palm.
A heavy wooden door looms at the end of the hall, and ‘Exit’ is posted above it with glowing green letters. Perfect.
The early morning air is chilly as I step outside. The heat of the sun hasn’t yet warmed the stones of the building as I slide my hand over the wall next to me. I take a moment to glance around, leaning over the railing that runs along the pathway. I see the road we traveled on to get to the hangar behind the school.
Following the pathway, I turn a corner and spot a huge balcony jutting out from the back of the building. I must be approaching the middle section where classes are held. I bring my palm up to my forehead. Why didn’t I think about going to my office? At least there I can wait in comfort and make a few calls to see about getting my key.
Destination in mind, I start to walk a little faster. A door slamming nearby has me halting in my tracks. I pivot, thinking I missed an entrance, but don’t see anything. After a few seconds, I start walking again, but a noise from behind me has me turning once more, just in time to see something coming at my head. I lift my hands to block it, but I’m much too slow. The blow to my temple takes me down with one strike. My eyes close in slow motion as nausea wells up in my stomach. The stupid thought that I’m glad I hadn’t eaten sloshes through my mind.
Then the pain hits, not just my head, but my hip and elbow, too, from hitting the concrete. I curl my legs up and cover my head with both arms. I still have no idea what hit me, but my body reacts to protect me.
“Oh, shit!” A voice I don’t recognize vibrates around in my head, sounding slow and dull. “We have to go.” Those words are spoken even slower. My eyes are too heavy to keep open. I feel something warm trickle down the side of my face—is it raining? The warmth pools around me and the sounds of feet running away grow muffled as if someone is covering my ear.
I have the cognizance to know I should get up, but it just seems way too hard right now. If I just close my eyes for a little while longer, I’ll be able to get up soon.
Evan
My first inhalebrings a grin to my lips. Quinn’s scent is strong. I reach over and I’m met with the cool sheet where I know she was. I lift my head, the slits of my eyes only wide enough to see the big lump of Griffin’s body a few feet away from me.
“Quinn?” Her name is more of a moan, I’m barely awake. I scrub my hand over my face and try again. “Quinn.” The bathroom door is open, and no light is coming from inside, so I slide out of bed mumbling about her needing to learn to sleep in. “I had to get up early yesterday.”
I hit the pisser first. With one hand against the wall to prop myself up, I pee with my eyes still barely open.
Griffin is glaring at me when I exit the bathroom. “Did you really need the light on for that? You could have closed the door.” His voice is lazy.
“Quinn’s awake,” I tell him instead of answering, and walk out into the living room. The place is empty, quiet as a tomb.
I pop my head back into Griff’s bedroom. “She’s gone.”
That gets him moving. “Where the hell did she go?” He stomps over to the bathroom, not bothering with the door or the light and I hear him piss.
“Don’t know.” I see the new key to her door sitting on the entrance table.
“Her bags aren’t here, she must have gone back to her room.” Griff’s face is wrinkled up with aggravation.
“Not without this.” I hold up the key.
