Stranger Series Box Set

by Heather C. Myers

  “Okay,” Jane agreed. “Manfriend it is.”

  19

  “All staff and students remaining at AckPec, please report to the Dining Hall for breakfast and a special assembly.”

  Ethan’s voice cut through Sophie’s slumber, and she groaned as she rolled over.

  “Come on, kid,” Will said, his voice just as sleepy as she felt. “We gotta get up. I think Ethan’s going to make an important announcement.”

  Sophie nodded, but it took another few moments before she was finally able to get up. She knew there wasn’t time for a shower, but she hopped in it anyway, hoping the cold water would wake her up and sharpen her alertness. She wasn’t in the water longer than five minutes, and once she finished, she quickly dried herself off and threw on her clothes, tossing her hair into a messy bun.

  Will was in his usual attire, a flat look on his face when she emerged from the bathroom. “Was that necessary?” he asked her.

  “If I wanted to stay awake during this special announcement,” Sophie said, “then yes, it was very necessary.”

  The two practically jogged to the Ack Building. By the time they got to the Dining Hall, everyone that remained on campus was there. Luckily, Ethan had yet to begin the assembly, and Sophie wondered if the dean had specifically waited for them.

  Sophie didn’t hesitate. She grabbed a tray and started piling food onto a plate. To say she was hungry would be an understatement. She was ready for food, and lots of it. It was probably because she hadn’t eaten a lot of dinner last night, plus with all the stress from everything that had happened, she was ready to gorge on some food. Not the healthiest decision in the world, but it would be a nice distraction.

  Once she finished, she took a seat next to Jane, who, unlike Sophie, had minimal breakfast food on her plate. She looked much better than she had the previous night—Jane definitely had a shower and wore one of her school uniforms, though it wasn’t necessary because class wasn’t technically in session—but she wasn’t eating much. Sophie could still see some cuts and bruises on her face and neck, and guilt churned inside her stomach, thicker than molasses.

  Jane’s ordeal was all Sophie’s fault. Michael wanted her, not Jane. Yet he took Jane to get Sophie, knowing Jane held value to someone. As Sophie stuffed her face with food, she wondered for a moment just how his plan would have played out. Would he have sent Brielle with a ransom letter? And what did Marvin have to do with this, if anything? She heard Brielle say that Marvin kept Jane unconscious, a power Sophie had never even thought possible. Why would that be necessary? Did it cause any negative affect on Jane?

  There was no way to know.

  At that moment, Brielle walked in. She did not look tired, something Sophie was glad for. She still wasn’t sure how she felt about Brielle. A part of her was upset, angry even, on behalf of Jane. She knew Brielle didn’t mean for anything to happen, but she could have said something. She could have. On the other hand, she wanted to forgive Brielle. In the end, Brielle had saved Jane from Dianna’s attack. Brielle was brilliant with medical and healing knowledge, and she was sweet. Brielle was one of the first friend’s Sophie met when she arrived here, and she didn’t want to lose her so easily.

  Her sapphire eyes shifted over to Jane in order to see if her friend noticed Brielle’s entrance as well. Jane looked up from not eating, watching Brielle with her tired, green eyes. Her eyes followed the Aqua resident to the buffet line, watching as she filled her plate, and continuing to do so even after she finished. When Brielle looked out at the tables, wondering where to sit, Sophie’s mouth nearly dropped when Jane raised her hand and beckoned her over.

  Perhaps Jane was a better person than Sophie thought, which was certainly saying something because Jane was the best person Sophie knew.

  Brielle’s face lit up when she saw Jane wave her over, and she practically skipped to where the two were sitting. Brielle took a seat next to Sophie, who offered her a smile, and across from Jane. Sophie watched as Jane gave her a small smile, and the three silently began to shift their focus back to eating.

  Ethan cleared his throat from where he stood on the stage. He was at a podium, which helped amplify his voice. Will, Daryl, and Kessler sat at the professor’s table—over the secret door that led to base. There weren’t any other faculty present, and, Sophie realized, besides the three of them, there weren’t any other students. It was only the members of their little group they had formed that remained.

  Why would Ethan call a meeting here when he just as easily could call one in his office?

  “Good morning, everyone,” Ethan said. “I wanted to call this assembly here because construction has already begun on the second story of this building, and I wanted to ensure everyone ate a hearty breakfast. You’re going to need to keep your strength up, so please, I insisted the cooks make enough for seconds and thirds.”

  Well, that answered that.

  “As you know, I’ve shut down the academy for the first time since I opened it until this issue with both Michael and General Arbuckle has been resolved. What we need to figure out is what to do with you three.” His eyes looked directly at Sophie and her friends, and she felt her heart leap in her throat.

  They couldn’t stay there?

  “I’ll call my mom today,” Jane said.

  “So will I,” Brielle said, but Sophie could clearly see the look on the brunette’s face. She did not want to go back to her home, either.

  “I,” Sophie began, feeling her cheeks pinch.

  “Sophie can come with me until this whole thing blows over,” Jane offered, shooting Sophie a small smile.

  Ethan nodded. “Perfect,” he began, but before he could continue, he was cut off.

  “I don’t understand why we need to be separated,” Will said after swallowing some food. “Both Michael and Arbuckle are targeting Sophie and Jane respectively. If they leave together, they’ll be in the same spot in the panpi world without any sort of protection.”

  “For once, I actually agree with Will,” Daryl said. He took a sip of his tea. “I do not think we should be separated. I think we should stay right here.”

  Ethan’s brows perked, surprised. “You do?” he asked. “See, I believe Arbuckle and Michael would both be expecting that. If we get the girls out in the world, it will be harder for them to find.”

  “I disagree,” Depogare said. “Unless you have a safe house, it wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to determine they’ve returned home if they are not here. If Arbuckle has access to databases with his military position, it won’t take him that long to find Jane. Her father owns businesses, which means he needs to file business taxes.”

  Ethan paused, letting Depogare’s words sink in.

  “And it wouldn’t be hard for Michael to find her, either,” Will added. “He has the money to buy anything, including information and the resources to get what he needs.”

  “Okay,” Ethan said, “let’s say they remain here. We don’t have the protection we used to. The AckBuilding is ruined.”

  “We have base,” Kessler pointed out. “A sanator, in case we need healing.” He looked at Brielle. “A physical, if we need strength.” He looked at Sophie. “Two mentals, if we need to do a sweep. Shifters, if we need awareness and protection. It won’t be safest, but it will work.”

  “We just need to strategize,” Daryl said. “We need to figure out the next step for both Michael and Arbuckle so we can plan on how to counterattack, if need be.”

  Ethan nodded. “Any suggestions?” he posed to the room.

  “Michael wants Sophie,” Brielle said. Sophie watched as her cheeks turned pink, but her voice came out strong and confident. “As long as Sophie is here, we can assume Michael will probably try and take her from us. I’m not saying it’s not scary,” Brielle was quick to look at Sophie hurriedly, hoping she hadn’t offended her, “but it’s predictable. We can assume what he’ll do it based on where Sophie is.”

  Will nodded. “I agree,” he said. “It’s b
est she’s always with someone, just to make sure she isn’t taken.”

  Sophie clenched her jaw. They continued to talk about her and what she needed to do in order to avoid Michael, but she drowned them out. She heard Will. Someone would be required to be with Sophie always until this thing with Michael was resolved. In essence, she would be a prisoner in her own home, shackled to someone who might not even want to hang out with her. She knew Will would likely assign himself to her, and while she reveled in spending time with him, she wanted to hang out with her friends as well. She did appreciate her alone time.

  She hated being treated so … delicately. Like a newborn baby. She was strong. She could handle herself. Did no one trust her?

  Her eyes happened to flicker to Jane and found that her friend was looking over at her as well. The look on Jane’s face wasn’t sympathetic. Jane knew better than to feel sorry for Sophie. If anything, it was one of understanding, as though she knew exactly how Sophie felt, and thought the notion of being babysat was not only offensive but ridiculous. The corner of Sophie’s lips turned up. She was glad someone was on her side.

  “So it’s decided then,” Ethan said, looking back out at Sophie. “What do you say, Sophie?”

  Sophie did her best to keep the bitterness from tainting her voice. “It doesn’t really matter, does it?” she asked. “You guys are going to do what you think is best, and I’m going to have to agree. So, sure. Whatever you say.” She forced a smile that did not hide the fact that it was forced, and Jane bit down on her bottom lip to keep from laughing.

  “And what about Jane?” Ethan asked to his colleagues.

  The smile on Jane’s face dropped.

  “I don’t trust Jane anywhere but here,” Daryl said before Jane could speak for herself. From the corner of her eye, Sophie noticed Jane getting annoyed with the statement. “Since we’re not clear whose side Marvin is on, I would rather have her here than anywhere else. Marvin would be able to track her, no problem. He was the one who kept her unconscious, as Ms. Rivera states, which means he knows that I can conduct a far-reaching sweep for her. Keeping her unconscious keeps her life force from being reachable through a sweep. I cannot trust that he will not do that again. I need her here.”

  Jane’s cheeks turned an odd shade of pale white and crimson red. Sophie wasn’t sure if it was because Daryl embarrassed her or if she thought the fact that he admitted he needed her with him. Maybe it was both. It was clear that Daryl had not said it to be romantic, but because it was a fact.

  “The fact that mentals possess talents we have not researched, we do not know about,” Daryl continued, “is another reason why she needs to be here. We do not know what Marvin can do. Or, I should say, we do not know all that Marvin can do.”

  Jane clenched her jaw. Ethan nodded his head.

  “I shall call her mother and discuss all that has transpired,” Ethan said. “That is, as long as that is all right with Jane.”

  Before Jane would respond, the doors to the Dining Hall crashed open and Jared ran in, his entire face pale.

  “Ethan, there’s,” he paused to catch his breath. “The gates.”

  “Yes?” Ethan looked perplexed. “They were fixed early this morning.”

  Jared shook his head, confusing everyone even further. They weren’t fixed.

  “No, Ethan.” Another pause. “It’s terrible. There’s a body.”

  “What?”

  “Come quick.” He glanced over at the trio of young women. “I don’t know if—”

  “Seeing how decisions are being made for us, we’re going to make this one,” Sophie said. “We’re going.”

  Once they were in full view of the gate, Brielle screamed and fainted. Kessler managed to catch her just before she hit the floor. Jane nearly tripped over herself. Will and Daryl immediately started talking. Ethan went pale.

  There was a body hanging from the inside of the academy. He looked Sophie’s age, maybe a couple of years older. Blood was everywhere. His intestines spilled out from his stomach, falling into a heap on the grass.

  Sophie turned and threw up her breakfast.

  Judging from Brielle’s reaction, this was her brother, Cillian—what was left of him, anyway.

  20

  Jane, Sophie, and Brielle were in Sophie’s dorm room under a mandatory lockdown. Ethan, Daryl, and Will were discussing what needed to be done, and even though the women wanted to be part of the discussion, the general consensus was that they needed a gentle reprieve in order to stomach what was seen, process what had happened, and from there, they would discuss the logical next steps. Brielle was still in a state of unconsciousness, sprawled across Sophie’s bed. Jane had removed her glasses and put them on the nightstand so they wouldn’t break. Meanwhile, Jane and Sophie sat between their two beds, catching up.

  “I can’t believe … ,” Jane said, shaking her head. She could still admit she was in a state of shock at seeing Cillian so brutally murdered, and then hung up like some kind of disfigured ornament. “I hated the guy, but I didn’t want him to suffer like that. No one deserves that.”

  “I just don’t understand who would do it,” Sophie said, her face pale, her blue eyes wide. “Obviously someone who knows his connection to Brielle, to the academy.”

  “Someone who wanted him to suffer,” Jane pointed out. “You don’t cut out the innards of someone like that without wanting him to suffer.”

  “Is Kessler with the body?” Sophie asked.

  Jane nodded. “The guy specialized in diagnostics,” she said. “Not a medical examiner, but I think he’s going to use that expensive education and see what he can get out of the body.”

  Sophie nodded. “That’s good,” she murmured, more to herself. “Someone wanted us to find him. Why else would they hang his body on the inside of the gates? Whoever did this had balls.”

  The two were silent for a moment, just thinking, going over everything that had happened. Sophie wasn’t quite ready to reimagine his body. Her stomach still twinged in pain at the mention of it. She didn’t want to know what would happen if she saw the body once more.

  “What if it’s Michael,” Jane said suddenly, her green eyes flashing over at Sophie.

  “Michael?” she asked, her voice unsure.

  Jane nodded. “Michael,” she affirmed. “Think about it. Cillian raped me.” She stopped suddenly, blinked once. She just realized that this was the first time she admitted it to anyone. Admitted it out loud. Admitted it to herself. And the weight of that realization hit her like a blow to the stomach, causing her breath to flee from her. She was glad

  Sophie was patient enough to let her gather her bearings before speaking once more. “Michael may have this creepy obsession with you, but you heard Brielle; he was going to kill Cillian if she hadn’t stepped in and agreed to help him. Now that she refused, Cillian winds up dead.”

  “Wait,” Sophie said, furrowing her brow. “How do we know she decided to stop helping Michael? Just because she told us everything doesn’t necessarily mean she’s going to let her brother suffer the consequences. She confessed; she didn’t repent.”

  “She told me, Soph,” Jane said. “She apologized. I know she messed up. Trust me, I’m still angry and hurt and a lot of other things. But you saw the look on her face after she told us everything. I don’t think she would continue to lie to us after telling us the truth.” She stopped, looking at her friend. “Which is why I think Michael killed Cillian. Without Brielle there to protect him, he didn’t stand a chance. The guy was panpi, a loose end. Without Brielle, he was worthless.”

  Sophie let Jane’s words pan out in her head. As much as she hated to admit it, Jane was right. If Brielle was through helping Michael, it would make sense that Michael went through with his threat and killed Cillian.

  “But what I don’t understand,” Sophie said, “is why hang Cillian on the inside of the gate? I mean, how was he able to do that, anyway?”

  “I think he wanted you to see it,” Jane said, and s
he winced, waiting for Sophie to get defensive or even deny it. But Sophie was silent, and Jane continued. “I think he wants you to know what he would do for you. How far he’d go to get you.”

  “Okay,” Sophie agreed. “But how? With the security ramped up on campus after what happened yesterday, how the hell did he kill Cillian, cut out his guts, hang him up, or whatever order he did it in, on campus? It doesn’t matter that it happened in the middle of the night. Plus,” Sophie went on, as new ideas continued to spring up into her mind, “why would he risk it? He must know everyone’s looking for him. The guy isn’t stupid. Why would he risk his life, his freedom, just to kill some panpi”—the word still felt foreign on her tongue—“to show me?”

  Jane shrugged. “To show you,” she stated simply, as though the answer was obvious. “Creepy, right?”

  The two started laughing. The situation was serious, dire, and yes, creepy, but they couldn’t help it. Adrenaline had to get out in some way, and since the two were both feeling exhausted and a tad lazy, it bubbled up to the surface as inappropriate laughter.

  “Okay, okay, okay,” Sophie said, after the laughter died down. “But that still doesn’t answer how he was able to do it.”

  “I haven’t worked that out yet,” Jane admitted with a grin. “But it sounds pretty believable, right? Maybe we should go and tell our big, male protectors.”

  Sophie laughed at Jane’s deep voice. “Are you kidding me?” she asked. “They’ve probably already figured it out and are on the way to finding Michael right now.”

  Jane snorted, and then shook her head. “I know they think they’re doing what’s best for us,” she said, “but I’m really starting to get over the whole making decisions for us because they know what’s right and we don’t shtick. Just because they have penises does not mean they’re entitled to make decisions for us.”

  “Right!?” Sophie agreed. “Like, I appreciate we have people who want to protect us from bad things. But I’d like to make a choice about me and my life.”