by Ruby Vincent
Michael pulled the boys out of the hall. Only when the door shut on Cole’s pissed off expression did I turn and approach For All’s room. I knocked once. Then twice.
“One second!” he shouted.
The door flew open. He beamed at the sight of me.
“Hey, Zela. What’s up?”
“Not much, Hunter. Just wondered if we could talk about you being For All.”
Hunter’s smile melted away. He took a step closer and I tensed. Hunter looked up and down the empty hall. The Elites were all moved in. My boys were outside. It was just us.
“Please don’t insult me by denying it,” I said.
Hunter’s sweep of the space ended on me. The boyish grin and teasing glint in his eyes was gone. I wasn’t looking at Hunter. This was For All.
“I wasn’t going to,” he said in a surprisingly calm voice. “Come in. Let’s talk.”
“After you.”
Hunter stepped back inside with a fight. Slowly, I followed him in, closed the door, and leaned on it. I tracked him as he pulled out his desk chair and took a seat.
“So how did you know?” he asked.
“The picture you drew of me and Derek. I was stupid not to see it before. I’m putting it down to the fact that it’s been a hard year.”
The tiniest wrinkled appeared in his serene mask. “What about the drawing?”
“The socks, Hunter. You drew me in knee-high socks that have a stripe around the ankle. I’ve worn knee-high socks around you before but the one time I wore socks like that was at the beginning when I had to borrow a pair from Melody.
“That was fine until I finally asked myself when. When did you see me in those socks? I left campus to meet Derek at the exact moment the automatic doors unlocked. If you came outside at the same time, I would have seen you. Unless you were already outside and you saw me pass.” I gave him a hard look. “That was the night the gyms were trashed. If you were out all night, there could only be one reason why.”
Hunter pursed his lips, nodding. “I drew a stripe on your socks.” He clicked his tongue. “That was stupid of me. I poked my head out of the natatorium and saw you walk past. You looked so cute, I couldn’t help but draw you. How was I supposed to know that was the first time you wore them?”
“Why did you do this, Hunter? I was with you when it was just stink bombs and tablets, but the bloody message, destroyed gym, greased floors, and cyber attacks? Why?”
“Come on, Zela.” The corner of his mouth tugged up into a grin. “You’re a smart girl and you’ve gotten this far. You tell me why I did it.”
I swallowed around the needles in my throat. Who is this guy? He wasn’t the sweet, kind boy I knew. I had the feeling he was never that guy at all.
I gave in. “This is about Becca Taylor, but I don’t know why. I’ve looked for a connection between you two. There’s nothing.”
“Oh, there’s something,” he said conversationally. “I think you’d agree it’s one of the strongest connections of all. Rebecca was my sister.”
“Your sister?”
“That’s right,” he sang. “I used to be Kevin Taylor. My adoptive parents changed my name. Should I get into the whole story? I bet you’re dying to know.” He swept out his hand. “Sit. Get comfortable.”
I didn’t move.
Hunter laughed. “I’m not going to hurt you, Zela. Violence isn’t my thing, remember? We have that in common.”
“I’m fine here.”
He shrugged. “Suit yourself.”
“What happened to you?” I asked. “What drove you to this?”
“My sister was killed.” The grin was gone. “Make no mistake, the boys who hounded her and hounded her until she broke were murderers. Mom was pregnant with me when she died and Rebecca’s death ripped my parents to shreds. They blamed themselves every day for not doing more. If only they transferred her out or forced the administration to listen.
“If onlys were Mom’s daily mantra. The months passed and she sank further into depression. She didn’t want to talk to anybody and refused to take medication. Then I was born.”
“What happened?”
“Post-partum psychosis.”
I clapped my hand over my mouth. “Oh my gosh. Did she...?”
“Hurt me? No. It wasn’t me the voice said to hurt. It was everyone else. People were after her baby. They would kill me if she didn’t protect me. Which is why she charged Dad with a knife and put him in the hospital for a week.”
Hunter turned in his chair, shifting slightly away from me. “They put me in a temporary home while he recovered, but when Dad got out, he said I should stay. Both of them had serious issues they needed to work through and they couldn’t be the parents they wanted to be.
“It wasn’t supposed to be forever. He wanted me back. Mom wanted me back. But every time I returned home, I triggered Mom’s demons. I was a constant reminder of her failure as a mother and what she’d done to Dad. My third return to my foster parents was my last. They made the open adoption official.”
“I’m sure it was hard for all of you,” I said. “I’m sorry.”
His smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Every villain has a tragic backstory.”
“I don’t think you’re a villain. I understand why you hate Breakbattle. What I don’t get is why you enrolled?”
Hunter looked around. “This place was the first domino to fall. The destruction of my family began here. And yet, it was open. People sent their kids here. They called it one of the best schools. They swore up and down that Breakbattle has changed. I wanted to see if it was true for myself.”
“It wasn’t true,” I said.
“Of course it wasn’t. Everyone knew the name Becca Taylor, but the changes made in her memory were laughable. They split the genders and that was supposed to solve everything? The year before I came, you were targeted, bullied, and framed, and the battle system helped the Elites do it.
“I became For All because people needed to wake up. This system is bullshit and they wanted to force it on every public school in the state. I had to make people see.” He leaned forward. His eyes pierced me with an intensity I’d seen before—in my reflection. “I’m going to enact real change in Rebecca’s name by making sure Whittaker does what should have been done after they killed her.”
“End the battle system,” I finished.
“Yes.”
“Okay, Hunter.” I went to him. Hunter stood to accept my hug. “I understand. Honestly, I do.”
“If anyone could, I knew it would be you.”
“Thank you for telling me about your family.” I let him go. Moving back to the door, my mind spun with the truth of this boy’s life. “I’m sorry for everything that happened. Breakbattle failed Rebecca in every way.”
“Now I’ll make it right.”
“I don’t approve of the things you’ve done but at least it’s over.”
“Over?” Hunter cocked his head. “What are you talking about? It’s not over.”
“I know, but students are protesting. They’re awake. They’re fighting back. Whittaker will give in eventually.”
His brows drew together. “Eventually isn’t good enough. I’ve waited and Whittaker let the protesting go on last semester and didn’t do anything. I bet he’s planning to do the same this semester.”
“You’ve done all you can do.”
Hunter laughed—a sharp, harsh sound that grated on me. “Are you sure about that? Because I’ve barely started.” He yanked open his drawer and pulled out a notebook. “I’ve been working on these the entire break, and trust me, they’re inspired. I thought I’d start with hacking into the system and deleting all the grades, and then I’ll finish by burning these uniforms and their disgusting labels.”
“Burning?” I croaked. I took a step back, and then another. I groped blindly for the knob. “Why?”
“A fire in the laundry room should do it.”
“A fire? Are you insane?!”
“I
thought we understood each other, Zela.”
“Well, you were wrong! You said you weren’t violent!”
“I’m not,” Hunter replied evenly. “I’ll make sure no one is around.”
“The fuck you will. I’m giving you up to Whittaker. I could have let everything else slide, but starting a fire in a school full of kids is the stupidest, most dangerous thing I’ve ever heard and you’re supposed to be a genius.”
Hunter’s expression remained neutral. “You won’t tell Whittaker.”
“Watch me.” I gave him my back.
“You won’t say anything because I’m going to make you a deal. You keep my secret and I’ll tell you who killed Cameron Dupre.”
My muscles went rigid. What did he say?
“You’re thinking how could I possibly know you’re looking for his killer?” Hunter went on. “Your boyfriends aren’t as sly as you think. I thought it was strange when Derek started asking the recruits about the fundraiser and if Cameron was fighting with anyone. Then I overheard them questioning Santiago.
“One of you wants to know who killed Cameron, and if it’s important to one of your guys, it’s important to you. Or it could just be about you. Either way, I can tell you who I saw covered in blood the night he was killed.”
I ripped open the door. The guys were coming down the hall.
“Ten more minutes,” I shouted at them.
“Zela—”
“I said ten minutes.”
I closed the door in their bewildered faces and locked it for good measure. I faced Hunter, breathing hard.
“Who was it?”
He stood. Hunter wasn’t smiling or smirking now. “First, I want you to know I haven’t been sitting on this the whole time and protecting a killer. I didn’t realize what I saw was important until I heard Landon and Santiago talking about fights, blood, and the fundraiser.”
“Tell me.”
“I don’t have proof,” he said. “All I know is the night Cameron was killed, I was out prepping another strike against the system. The administration building is usually empty around that time. I overheard someone in the bathroom and cracked it open. He was standing over the sink, cleaning a cut on his chest.”
I advanced on him. “Who?”
“I really didn’t think anything of it, Zela,” Hunter plowed on like I hadn’t spoken. “They said there must have been a fight. That Cameron was beaten and hit on the head. He didn’t look like he just came from beating a guy to death. His cut wasn’t even deep. But when he spoke about the fundraiser, I remembered. I saw who hit Cameron that night.”
“Hunter! Tell me his name!”
“I will. I just need you to agree you won’t tell anyone the truth about me.” He held out his hand. “Deal?”
I slapped it away. “No, we’re not agreed. You want a deal? Here’s one. You’re going to give me the fucking name of a killer, Hunter. A killer! This isn’t a game. An actual life has been taken and he had friends and a family who loved him.
“You’re going to tell me who did it because it’s the right thing to do. And then we’ll make another deal. You won’t sabotage or set fire to anything. Melody and I made a list of safe, peaceful protests against the system and you won’t do anything but what’s on it. As long as you do, I won’t tell Whittaker you’re For All. That’s it, Hunter. Tell me the name.”
Hunter’s skin flushed deathly pale. “But, Ze—”
“Tell me his name!” I screamed.
Violent pounding sounded on the wood. The boys went mad shouting for me to let them in.
“It’s— It’s Zach,” he stuttered. “Zachary Fields.”
I blew out of the room. Hunter was a fleeting niggle in my mind the second my eyes were off him. There was only one thing I cared about.
“Zela, are you okay? What did he do?”
I ducked their reaching hands. “He told me who killed Cameron. I have to go.”
“Wait. What?” Derek said.
“He’s downstairs. I’m getting the truth right now.”
“Zela, slow down and tell us what’s going on.”
An emotion I’d never felt and therefore couldn’t name squeezed me too tight to breathe. If I stopped, it would drag me under. “Zach killed my brother. I’m going to find out why.”
Landon shot in front of the door.
“Let me go,” I shouted.
“You’re not going anywhere,” said Derek.
He took hold of my wrist. I violently jerked away, but he came after me. He grabbed both of my hands and pushed me against the wall. I fought and the guys huddled in, blocking my escape.
“You told me that you’d come to us when it got too much. You promised, baby, that you’d let us take care of you.”
I sobbed wretchedly.
“We’ll do whatever you need us to do,” Landon said. “Just talk to us.”
I stopped fighting. Derek caught me as the strength leeched out of my body. They carried me to his room and put me on the bed. The four of them laid with me, crushing me in the middle and pouring their love and attention on me. Eventually, I calmed.
“What did Hunter say?” Michael asked. “Why does he think it’s Zach?”
I took a shuddering breath and released it. “The night Cameron died...”
THE FIVE OF US WERE a silent troop marching through the hall. We talked for almost an hour going over how I would approach Zach. I suggested talking to him alone and that was rejected immediately, but I stuck to my point that he wasn’t going to talk to all of us. Eventually, we agreed to a plan that we all liked.
It’s possible Zach was innocent. I couldn’t think of a motive he had for killing Cameron. Despite that, Hunter witnessed their fight, so there must be a reason they were once on the outs.
We reached the ground floor. The noise of unpacking, goodbyes, and last day off excitement floated out of the F dorm.
“Don’t let him get between you and the door,” Cole said. “Don’t let him lock it and keep your phone off.”
“I know the plan.”
“We’ll be right outside.”
“Thank you.”
I stepped into the madness and walked a familiar path to my old dorm. Zach opened on the third knock. His face crumpled into a scowl.
“What do you want?”
“I need to talk to you, Zach.”
“Fuck off.”
I jammed my foot in the way, stopping him from slamming the door in my face.
“You talk to me or you talk to the police,” I hissed through the doorjamb. “Your choice.”
He stilled. “The police?”
“Are you going to let me in or not?”
“Whatever. Come in.”
Zach threw himself on Adam’s old bed. He watched me close and lean against the door with eyes dripping with dislike.
He scoffed. “What the hell are you going about? Why would you call the police?”
“Simple. A witness just told me you murdered Cameron Dupre. Don’t you think the police would be interested in that information?”
I studied him for a reaction. His expression didn’t change.
“I have no clue what you’re talking about,” he replied. “Get out.”
“They saw you fight with Cameron at the fundraiser. And you were seen cleaning up blood in the administration bathroom the night he was killed.”
He shrugged. “So? Cam and I got into an argument, but we made up later with no hard feelings. As for the blood, I got banged up at soccer practice and went to the administration bathroom for privacy. The only place I can get any since you stole my dorm.”
I didn’t rise to the bait. “Is that your story? Soccer practice and no hard feelings.”
“It’s not a story. It’s the truth.”
A smile stretched across my lips. “Great. I’m relieved we cleared that up.”
“Great,” he mocked in a high-pitched voice. “Now get your ass out.”
“In a minute. Before I go, I’m going to call Det
ective Langman and tell him it was all a misunderstanding. He’ll be relieved too.”
Zach leaned up off the pillow. “Call who?”
“You don’t mind, do you?”
“Why would I mind?” he snapped. “Call whoever you want.”
“Good.”
His eyes bore into me as I scrolled through my phone. I found the number and hit call. The room was silent except for the ring.
“What are you trying to prove?” Zach asked.
I put my finger over my lips. “Shh.”
“Hello. This is Detective Langman. What can I do for you?”
“Hi, Detective,” I greeted. “This is Zela Manning.”
“Okay, you can hang up,” Zach cut in.
“Miss Manning,” said Langman. “Have you called to ask more questions about the case? Because I can’t discuss it with you.”
“I’ve called to give you some answers actually.”
“Hang up the phone, Manning,” Zach said, his voice getting louder.
“I found out who Cameron fought with at the fundraiser. And the night he was killed—”
“I get it. Hang up!” He jumped off the bed.
I threw up my hand and stopped him in his tracks. I pointed at the bed.
Zach got the hint and sat down.
“I have to call you back, Detective.”
“Call me back? But you just—”
I hung up.
Zach’s gaze locked onto mine. Dislike stoked into naked hatred. I could only imagine what he saw in my eyes.
“Talk, Zach.”
“I didn’t kill Cameron.”
“Try again.”
He bared his teeth. “I did not kill him!”
“So why did you hit him at the fundraiser?”
“None of your business.”
“Wrong answer again.” I hit redial.
“Stop it!”
“If you don’t want to tell your story to the police, then you’d better tell me now. I won’t ask again.”
“Why do you even care?” he spat. “Cameron hated you.”
The comment struck me but I didn’t let on.
“Cameron may have hated me, but he didn’t hate you. You were his friend. Why would you hurt him?”
Zach said nothing.
“What happened to you, Zach? Adam told me you used to be a great guy. Funny. Kind. Self-deprecating, but in a good way. You were one of his best friends and now look at you.”
