I didn't react. Makayla nudged my leg and handed me a second note while Alec was preoccupied with the first one. I tried to hide my smirk. Alec glanced at me as he finished reading what the first note said. All the girls were staring at the exchange, though no one was saying a word. I clenched my jaw.
Alec didn't mention anything about it and that made me tense even more. Dinner was brought out, and though I hadn't eaten in a whole day, I didn't really want to be drugged. Alec noticed my hesitancy to eat and he ordered me to eat the food. When I still didn't react, he made a spectacle of it.
"Darling, I believe I told you to eat." Alec's voice raised and the already quiet room went to complete silence. Makayla turned away from me. Trisha glared at me, her stare burning me just as hard as Alec's was. "I don't appreciate this rebellious stage you're going through."
"I'm not going through a rebellious stage." I say firmly. Alec chuckles coldly and my hair stands up on the back of my neck. My eyes meet his grey ones and I clench my jaw.
"I gave you an order and you didn't do it. Perhaps you'd like to know what the punishments are for such an action." Alec's voice, though it's lowering, pierces me like a knife and I'm having trouble breathing as fear is taking over me. "I believe you've seen enough today, so I'd suggest you listen."
"What's the point of listening when you'll just do what you want to me anyways?" I feel my fear turning into anger. He could choose the girls he wanted to kill, and nothing would change his mind about that. So what stops him now?
"I have to play by the rules." He says lowly.
"What rules?" I demand. Alec frowns.
"We've had this conversation before." He sounds both surprised by my question and agitated that I'm bringing it up again.
"Refresh my memory." I continue. He gets a sly grin on his face.
"As soon as you eat your plate, I'd be happy to refresh your memory." Alec's voice was layered with malice and I knew he wouldn't just remind me of his false rules, but also what happens if you're caught outside after dinner.
"I think I'd rather try to remember on my own." I say finally, still holding his gaze. Trisha glares at me from the other side of him. She's telling me I'm not doing a good job of keeping my favorite spot.
"I'm not surprised, but I am sort of disappointed in you, Darling." I turn away from Alec's words. His eyes remain set on me and the girls remain silent. "But, while I have everyone's attention, would you like to explain to me what this note is?"
Alec lays the note in front of me and Makayla shrinks into her seat. She's a very good actor. I looked at the scrawled writing and saw Trisha peering around Alec from the corner of my eye.
"Maybe you can't read it." Alec begins and anger bubbles in me. "It says, and I quote, 'I followed your directions and got the girls involved in it as well. We can go ahead with it tonight.' Now, Darling," Alec pauses and the girls are looking at each other, confused. "I don't know what you're planning, but I do believe the conversation I had with you this morning prohibited you from mentioning anything about your little incident." Alec's eyes stare at me.
"So, not only did you fail to listen to me once by not going to your room when you were told to, but you also told someone something that I told you was to remain hidden, and thirdly you planned something without my knowledge and then expect me to think that you're not going through a rebellious stage." Alec waits for me to defend myself but I don't.
"Why are you having private conversations with her?" Trisha suddenly asks. My gut sinks. She's already doubting me and now her fears seem to be coming true. "You wouldn't have as many as you do unless she's a pawn in your game that knows how to play this. Is she working with you and you're going to kill all of us and give us the false hope that someone has a chance?" Trisha is suddenly standing. Alec doesn't seem surprised.
"Now, Babe," he begins but never gets to finish.
"No. You're working with him aren't you? That's why you're his favorite, and why you seem to be able to figure all of this out." Trisha is putting all the blame on me and I see the looks from other girls. "You don't have someone here that you're related to and every single one of us do or did." She is getting more angry with every word. "I bet your panic attack was fake, just so that you and the psychopath could talk more in private. You probably pretended to pass out to stay out last night... And your knowledge of how to deal with all of this is because you know you'll survive. I mean, you were the last girl to come, and you were the fastest, most efficient." Trisha steps towards me and Alec's eyes turn to me.
"You're working with him?" Makayla asks next to me. I turn to look at her and feel my heart deflate. Alec remains silent and I watch the girls faces slowly turn to horrible twists of anger.
"She has to be." Trisha snarls. Marisa is staring hard at me. She had a more ferocious face on than even Trisha. I felt my hands begin to shake and I tried to form words but couldn't. "What? You can't even lie to save your skin?" Trisha comes another step closer to me and Alec tenses at the movement.
"I'm not working with him." I say, though my voice cracks. Trisha looks pissed and Alec is trying to decide if he should step in. I swallow the lump in my throat. "Why would I work with him in the first place?"
"Because that's the only way you'll live." She snaps. I stand and step away from her as she comes closer to me. The girls in the room look from one another to Trisha and I. My heart is racing as Trisha comes towards me. "I'm going to enjoy adding some more bruises to your face."
I dodge her first punch and Marisa stands. My hands push Trisha away, refusing to hit her unless necessary. My hair is yanked back by Marisa and yet no one does anything as Trisha kicks my ribs. Marisa twists my hair so tightly that she manages to make me kneel and Trisha sends some more blows to my stomach. "Go ahead, tell me I'm wrong." Trisha dares.
"You're wrong." I say softly. She slaps me and Makayla stands. At first I hope she'll stand up for me, but as she comes towards me I notice the set look on her face. "Makayla-" I start. Marisa yanks on my head and I try to get her off but with Trisha on my front and her with her vice grip behind me, I'm useless.
"If you just admit to it, I'll stop." Trisha taunts. Makayla puts her hand on Trisha's shoulder and Trisha looks at her thoughtfully. Trisha steps back and Marisa lets my hair go, both of them stay close by in case I should do something, but they know I won't hurt Makayla.
Alec is standing, watching the spectacle. The other girls at the table look torn. They don't like that I'm being beat up in front of them, but they're determined that Trisha's right. I lower my gaze and Makayla clenches her fist in front of me. "Look at me." She demands. Her voice was shaking but I felt it was from anger.
"Makayla, I promise I-" her punch lands on my cheekbone and is strong enough to put me to the ground. My body is shaking in exertion. I feel tears streaming down my face and I cough, feeling the burn in my throat as the blood comes up.
"I can't believe I ever-" Makayla's voice shakes now and I hear the betrayal in her tone. I close my eyes and shake my head as I feel the effects of my long day sink in.
"Move out of the way." Trisha orders and I hear her step towards me but now Alec intervenes.
"Leave her alone. You've all done quite enough." I don't know whether to be relieved or not. "You're all dismissed."
"Why do you care if she dies or not? I feel as though you're proving my point." Trisha shouts. I feel so utterly useless that I don't move even as she kicks my side again.
"I said that's enough! Get out!" Alec roars and Trisha wheels away from me. I put my head into the ugly red carpet and don't bother to move as all the girls leave.
Makayla was the last to leave.
"Darling, are you able to walk?" Alec seems genuinely concerned as he crouches next to me, putting his hand between my shoulder blades. I don't respond. "Darling, I know you don't want to be out here for another night. It won't play out like the last one did and we both know it." Alec's words haunt me and I feel my wet, salty tears still falling.
"I don't work for you." I mumble, barely comprehending that I was saying it. Alec chuckles.
"I know." His voice is soothing now, and it confuses me. How can he have such care in his voice? "Come on, I'll get you to your room."
I move slowly, so agonizingly slow. There's blood down my nose and on the edges of my mouth. I know I have cracked ribs and my face feels swollen. My feet are barely managing to work as I lean on Alec for support. He doesn't say anything about it but we're still moving at an extremely slow pace. He swears and picks me up swiftly.
Immediately, my stomach is on fire and I scream and clutch to his shirt, needing to grip something. I feel my body shutting down and yet when I pass Trisha and Marisa in the hallway I feel an intense anger and fear. It goes away once they're out of sight and I start shaking in pain.
Alec puts me down once I'm in my room and I start towards the bathroom. I know he rolled his eyes but he helps me to the bathroom door and then looks around. His eyes land on a clock and he tenses. I go to thank him when my bedroom door shuts. Alec swears and he looks around once more.
"You don't shut the doors?" I ask. Alec shakes his head and I realize he has to stay here with me the whole night unless I wanted to invite my guard in. Pursing my lips, I start towards the shower without another word. "I'll be out in a minute." I mumble. He leaves the bathroom and I don't look at my reflection as I slip into the shower.
This is going to be a long night.