Alamort

38. Priya

M y mind is active before my body stirs. The firm mattress is oddly unfamiliar, a stark contrast to the soft, plush ones I’ve grown used to during my time at Cox Academy. Lying on clouds has become a part of my routine, their softness sucking me into drowsiness. The air has that new store smell, unused, but there is a musky scent on the pillow I’m using. Every swallow is like sandpaper, and to top it off, my tongue is dry as fuck. Did I fall asleep with my mouth open? I groggily contemplate opening my eyes, but the lingering sensation of grittiness deters me.

I need to face whatever is going on, but procrastinating doesn’t seem like a bad idea. What the hell happened?

My mind tries to sort through the last thing that I remember. The woods outside of the school were like an omen of my bad day to come.

Addi. Knots twist in my stomach as my heart settles in the pit. Despite my eyes being shut, the sharp stinging in my nose as tears well up in my lashes, threatening to push their way to the surface.

Murderer.

The Pyro killed her sister.

Jealousy.

Lies float around me, battering my mind. I loved my sister. I would trade places with her in a heartbeat. A part of what they’re saying isn’t wrong. I shouldn’t have let her tutor that boy that day. I should’ve sucked it up and went. Maybe things would have been different. Maybe she’d still be alive.

My sniffles are loud in the room’s silence. Suddenly, a floorboard creaks beside the bed. Mid-sniffle, the sudden sound of someone’s presence shatters my illusion of solitude.

A voice breaks the stillness, attempting to sound gentle. “I know you’re awake, Priya.”

The effort feels forced. I might as well face whatever comes next. There’s no use in hiding. No matter if I thought keeping my eyes shut would take away the reality.

Peeling my eyes open, Coach Mason Riley sits at the foot of the bed. Without thinking, my eyes sweep the area, seeking possible ways to escape. The door between him is definitely not an option. There’s no way I would make it there before he grabs me. He’s the gym teacher, a fit one, not the ones that get the job because they’re the coach of the school’s unsuccessful team.

Propping himself up on the bed, he leans back, his muscles bulging with rigidity. My eyes dart towards him momentarily before darting to return to the nearest window. It’s stands out from the majority of the windows at this school, which are expansive and reach from floor to ceiling. It’s what I would consider a normal size window. Small enough that I can push each window panel to the center to open each side. What are the odds they open?

I refocus my gaze on his face, desperately seeking any indication that he hasn’t trapped an innocent 18-year-old girl in a room with ill intentions. A faint smile appears on Mason’s lips, but his eyes betray a hint of sadness. Forced, like his voice was.

“Where am I?” I start with the simple questions, hoping to hide the nervousness that’s tightening its grip on me. It’ll buy me time if he thinks I’m compliant. If I start off aggressive, he might get defensive and do something rash. At least with Baldwin, I thought I could take him. Mason is much smaller than he is. Quicker. The situation makes me less confident, not knowing why the hell I’m here in the first place.

“In the teacher’s dormitory, I figured a safe place to gather yourself would be better.” He looks at the ceiling, avoiding my gaze, but that doesn’t seem to stop his cheeks from getting red. Is he blushing?

“Why?”

He angles his body towards me, giving me a better look at his face. His cheeks have a noticeable pink hue. Filled with curiosity and anticipation, his dark eyes bore into mine. His face is smooth and clean shaven, his jawline free of any stubble. He wears sweats and a fitted T-shirt that stresses his muscular physique. His Adam’s apple bobs a few times before responding.

“I was worried about you.” He averts his gaze as he says ‘you’. Am I in the Twilight Zone? What the hell is happening right now? The way he’s behaving is making me on edge and uncomfortable. Coach Mason’s body constantly shifts and unable to remain still. I draw my knees up close to my chest, bringing the white blanket with. I scoot higher to the wall to put some distance between us. This room is smaller than mine, and I can feel it as the walls close in from all four sides, making him too close for comfort.

A weapon. I need a weapon. The way he’s acting and sitting has me backed into a corner with no escape. Scanning the room, I notice the worn-out furniture and scattered belongings, confirming that it’s definitely lived in. Books lay on every surface available, even the floor. Haphazardly strewn in corners, the clothes create a cluttered and untidy appearance. The closet door is wide open, revealing the dark recesses of its interior. The back of it reveals it’s noticeably smaller than mine. I’d think the teachers would have nicer, if not the same luxuries we have. Life isn’t fair, though.

I could always bash his head in with a book …If they weren’t all paperbacks. Multiple books, maybe?

“How are you feeling?” he asks, inching closer.

Amazing, I loved everyone discovering my sister’s death via presentation from Bennett.

Bennett.

I scowl as boiling anger shoots through me. I thought my revenge would be on his twin, but he will be my sole focus. Right after I get out of this room.

“Sorry, it’s a little messy. I figured you’d need some space to hide out after that fiasco.” He grimaces, looking around the room. Fuck the room. I got a dose of revenge to administer to the Demons’. I shrug, because I don’t mind. It’s not my living space, it’s his.

“Where’s River?” I clear my throat, past the uncomfortable knot forming.

“Your little gothic warrior princess?” He chuckles at his joke. “She’s sitting outside the door at her ‘post’. Refuses to move until she can see you.” Relief washes over me, loosening some of the tension I was holding. I’m not alone with Coach Riley, technically.

“Could you let her in? Please.” I tack on please, to make it seem like I’m asking permission. He purses his lips with a disappointed look but moves toward the door, stepping out and shutting it behind him.

The sound of hushed, raised voices reaches my ears. Each sentence causing one of them to get louder.

“She’s not yours! If I find out you touched her, I’ll kill you myself. You won’t have to worry about my brothers.” River’s voice hisses.

Brothers? I thought she had one younger sibling. Mason murmurs something too quietly for me to hear before River is bursting through the room, like a Bat Out of Hell, causing me to jump at her obnoxious entry.

“Thank God!” She jumps on the bed, landing next to me and pulling me into a hug, her comforting lavender scent soothing in this unfamiliar space.

“Are you okay? No, don’t answer that. I know you’re not. Did he touch you? At all? Anywhere?” The bombarding of questions has me quiet. I don’t know what she wants me to answer first. No, I’m not okay. But I won’t admit it out loud. If he touched me. Someone carried me here. It’s safe to assume it was him.

“What happened?” I ask.

She breaks eye contact with me, avoiding the question. Her jaw locks shut as she picks at her chipped nail polish. Suddenly, the chatterbox wants to remain quiet. I pull out of her embrace to look away from her. She doesn’t get to come in here asking questions and not want to answer any in return. I can feel her react to my shifting demeanor as she presses closer to me.

“Honestly?” I throw a glare her way and press my lips together. I’ve never asked her to sugar coat shit before. She sighs, “You were crying, then it turned to screaming and next thing you know, you fainted. Shortly after that, Coach Riley came in like Captain Save-a-Hoe and picked you up off the floor, whisking you away. I insisted he take you to my room, or even yours. He was set on taking you here.” She looks around just as I did. Her nose wrinkles at the mess. “Not sure why.”

Her eyes soften when they look back at me. “I’m sorry.”

“Why are you sorry? You didn’t do it.”

“No, but still. Even if they knew the truth, I don’t think they’d believe it. They seem to have some narrative about who you are and what you’ve done. The truth wouldn’t matter.” Her soft hands run through the strands of my hair, untangling knots on the way down.

My throat clogs with emotion. “I want to do something. I want them to hurt as much as I do.” The admission is freeing. It is what I want. Even if it makes me as evil as they are. It is a longing so powerful that it trumps my need for oxygen. It’s bad enough to hurt me, but it’s even worse to bring my dead sister into it. Anything but her.

A Cheshire Cat smile slowly creeps across her face, mischief glinting in her coca-colored eyes, making her look a tad bit impish. I’m still getting used to this devious side of River.

“I think I have the perfect plan for Bennett.”

“I’m listening.”

“One thing he always talks about is the ‘love of his life’.” She rolls her eyes. My first thought is Amber. “He is one of the very few students who are allowed a car here. He parks it in the teachers’ parking lot. Talks about it all the time. His classic Aston Martin he built from the ground up. Maybe…” Her melodic voice trails off, but her smile lingers, accompanied by a knowing look.

I know what she’s insinuating without her having to finish. I’m burning it. This will be the last time they fuck with me. Energy renewed, I jump from the bed, the blanket revealing my disheveled clothing. It’s going to be my best fire yet. My flames have a nice date with his car tonight. The sooner the better.

“I’ll take care of the parking lot cameras. He’s going to kill you.” She snickers behind her hand.

“I’m already dead.” Priya died the day my sister did.