Page 103 of The Monster I Am
The usual suspects scoff at the suggestion, but to my surprise, some students actually seem to be considering the idea. Mutual glances and whispers emerge, and I actually spot pieces of paper being swapped between Cedar Heights and Willowbrook peers.
Well, shit. Mr. Martin may have just used the fear of failure to trick rivals into agreeing to world peace. Without the use of tampons.
I think he might have some Willowbrook blood in him after all.
Arch and I hang back to chat to Mr. Martin for a few minutes after the bell while the rest of the school starts to head off for the day.
There’s still some lingering bodies as we walk down the hallway, deep in conversation when I automatically come to a stand still before I can realize why.
I narrow my eyes at the man in our pathway, already feeling the air turn icy from his presence.
As if sensing the apocalyptic vibes, the last few remaining people suddenly clear out, leaving Arch and I alone with him.
Mayor Astor slowly stalks toward us, a slimy smirk on his face. “Ms. Spencer,” he drawls out coldly. “Always a pleasure.”
“I wish I could say the same,” I reply, biting back a growl when Arch shoves a warning elbow into my side.
The Mayor just chuckles, unfazed. “You appear to be missing some people.”
It’s a slap to reality. The second the words leave his mouth I pick up on who he’s referring to.
I haven’t seen Ry, Tai, or Hunter all day. Just a casual exchange of brief texts with Tai. But I’m so exhausted that between the contact, and being surrounded and distracted by myCedar friends constantly, I didn’t even clue in on the fact they weren’t physically around.
I try not to let it alarm me. But it does.
We’re days out from the beginning of the exams and it’s not like them to be absent from the academy. Or at least, present in some way, shape, or form.
Coupled with the fact they bailed on me last night, it’s a full lights and sirens situation in my mind, especially given this asshole’s sudden appearance.
It’s bad, isn’t it?
Maybe if I was aglass half-fullkind of person I would find some reasonable explanation to cling to. Tell myself he’s just trying to get in my head and mess with me. But history and my delightful trauma have taught me to always assume the worst, to be guarded and prepared.
And this is that situation.
God. I really want to just tell myself to be optimistic, to be stronger and not let this get under my skin.
But I just know.
I know something is seriously wrong.
And it’s written all over Mayor Astor’s smug face.
“You put up a decent fight, Ms. Spencer,” he says. “But your mistake was thinking you are anything useful outside of these walls.” Glancing at Archer, a smirk crosses his face. “All of you make the grave error of believing you hold any real power. You will never be prepared to accept the truth. I can take them from you just as easily as I can make you comply.”
I shake my head, taking a step forward. “I can take you, Mayor Astor. You’re the one making the mistakes.”
He took them. Or… Did they leave?
See… They used you. This was their plan all along. That’s why they abandoned you last night.
Just like Dad.
“Delusion is fatal, Ms. Spencer. You should have listened when I gave you the courtesy.”
I stare at him expressionlessly until he turns, ready to leave. Panic floods through me and I rush forward again, anger taking a hold of my control.
“Don’t you dare hurt him!”
