(huge thanks to winterinheaven for making the new trilogy covers! they're absolutely gorgeous. make sure to go check out her profile. enjoy the chapter xx

p.s. I actually edited this one! :O there's probably still mistakes oops) 

CHAPTER ELEVEN

MICAH GLARES AT DAVON, intentionally making him squirm. He doesn't let up when Davon averts his gaze, trying to stare anywhere but at him. Killian nudges him with his elbow, grumbling at him to knock it off. Why should he? This guy comes out of nowhere and Harry just instantly allows him to tag along. He doesn't trust it. Everyone always has an ulterior motive.

"So," he starts, leaning forward to rest his arms on his knees, "you said you had a good status at the camp. Could you mean 'Wolf's spy' status?"

Killian rolls his eyes. "I don't think a spy would have wasted three days walking in circles."

"Maybe he lied about that."

"Maybe you're being melodramatic."

Micah glares at Killian, who smiles nonchalantly back. He growls to himself when he finds his aggravation towards Killian instantly slip away, only to be replaced by irritation towards himself for not being able to be angry. He isn't sure that makes any sense, but Killian has muddled his brain somehow.

He still feels warmth on his lips sometimes, even though Killian hasn't kissed him again. That's what Killian had called it--a kiss. Micah is strangely fascinated by the idea of pressing your lips against someone else's for comfort. Who had come up with that?

He doesn't know why he wants Killian to kiss him again but he does.

The entire point of Killian being here, though, is because he'd been looking for Troy, his boyfriend. Another term Killian had informed Micah about, which made about as much sense as kissing to him. Killian had kissed Micah to prove he wasn't a monster. That he wouldn't hurt him. Micah wonders, sometimes, if Killian wants to kiss him again too. If he wasn't looking for Troy. He doesn't let his hopes rise.

"I just want to make sure we don't have a professional actor on our hands," Micah replies after pulling himself from his thoughts, careful to avoid Killian's eye this time. His cheeks get hot when he does after thinking in such a way, and he hates the way Killian grins teasingly at him.

"He's not lying," Harry cuts in, leaning against a tree with his arms folded across his chest, Gavriel next to him. Just like old times. "His heart rate nearly busted my eardrums."

"It wasn't that fast," Davon remarks defensively. "You just caught me off guard."

Harry smirks.

Eve stamps out the fire from where they had cooked the rest of their venison for breakfast. "Right, well, if you all are done being drama queens, I'd like to get started before we lose another day."

Micah notices Maxie stumbling away from Robbie and Caroline, clutching her head. "Is she all right?" he asks, nodding in her direction.

Eve frowns, immediately walking over and placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Maxie, what's wrong?"

"It hurts," Maxie whispers, tears running down her cheeks. "I don't want to see this. Oh God, it hurts."

Harry straightens and Micah does so as well, rising to his feet.

"What do you see?" Eve asks kindly, quietly.

Instead of replying with words, Maxie lets out a bloodcurdling scream, snatching out of Eve's grip and rapidly shuffling backwards, tripping in the process. Eve tries to catch her, but she absentmindedly slaps Eve's hands away, her eyes pinched shut as she screams again. She tears at her hair, yelling at it to stop. Simultaneously, Harry and Micah rush forward to hold the girl down so they can settle her. Eve attempts to speak calmly while Harry and Micah struggle to keep Maxie down.

They struggle to keep a fifteen year old girl restrained.

"What the hell is happening?" Micah snaps in annoyance, grunting with the effort to keep Maxie's hand from lashing out on his face.

"I don't know," Eve snaps back, anger creeping into her own voice. She grabs Maxie's face with both her hands, trying to force the girl to open her eyes and look at her.

"Robbie," Maxie whimpers, gradually slouching now as opposed to thrashing. She crumbles into herself, sobbing. "Robbie," she repeats. "Oh, Robbie."

Eve's eyes widen. "What about Robbie?" She instinctively turns back to check on the boy, who sits frightened next to Caroline. "Maxie, what did you see?"

Micah has never heard Eve sound so desperate except for when she nearly lost Harry to insanity.

Maxie opens her eyes and locks stares with Eve, breathlessly speaking through her tears, "He's going to die. He's going to die."

***

Locke grabs Sasha's chin to force her to face him. "Sasha, are you listening to me?"

"Yes," she replies honestly, averting her gaze. "I am. I promise."

"Look at me."

Sasha clenches her jaw, but does so and he releases her with a sigh. "I'm not going to let you do this."

"I didn't ask for you to let me," she says, holding his stare. "I know you wouldn't."

"I'm kind of supposed to be in charge of you, so if you could take my advice for once, that'd be great."

"I thought Erik was in charge."

"No one can ever let me dream, can they?"

Sasha smiles, wrapping her arms around his waist. He sighs again as he crouches to hug her back. She pulls away. "I'll be okay, Locke. I don't want Archie to show up with more friends. What if Erik hadn't come the first time?"

"I know," he murmurs, pushing her now long hair over her shoulder. It's grown fast the past couple of months. "I know you don't want to do this, though."

"I don't, but if it keeps him away from me, I might as well get it over with. Do you think I'll lose?"

"You could beat me in a fight, so that's definitely not my concern."

She giggles. "Yeah, but it's not hard to beat you."

"Watch your mouth, missy." He taps her nose, making her laugh again.

Sasha's smile falls the same time Locke's does, the reality of the situation settling in for both of them. Locke hugs her tightly again, then frowns as he stands and looks down at her. "You know," he says quietly, "you're such a strong girl, Sasha. You'll be as scary as Eve someday."

Sasha grins at this, though her chest aches at the name of her lost friend.

"Be careful, yeah?" he whispers, like the words are difficult for him to come to terms with.

"Always," she promises, then turns before she changes her mind and pushes through the doors of the training room.

As she intended, everyone is already gathered. She hates being the center of attention, but she figures to get through to Archie, this will need to be a public display. Something that will humiliate him so deeply he'll never glance her way again. She doesn't like to think that way--it makes her feel terribly mean. But she doesn't know what else to do to get him to leave her alone.

If she doesn't do this of her own accord, he'll only challenge her when she can't refuse. When fights will be mandatory.

Her entrance causes everyone to pause to look her way, right in the middle of choosing their weapons for the day. She won't be choosing one. She knows Archie will, but she can't bring herself to stoop to that level. She doesn't want to hurt him at all. She only wants to be left alone without having to look over her shoulder constantly in fear of being attacked. She wouldn't put it past Archie to do something so devious when she least expects it.

Gregory nods to her. "Sasha. I almost thought you weren't going to show up."

Sasha steadies her nerves, standing straight as she clenches her fists at her sides. "I didn't want to," she admits. "But I need to do something."

Gregory quirks a brow. "Oh? And what would that be?"

"I challenge Archie to a tap-out combat."

That's the only way she could fight him with no weapons. She's not sure if she's strong enough to pin him to the ground long enough to force him to tap-out, but she can't stomach the thought of using her precise knife skills on him. Even if he may deserve it.

The room is silent for a minute before Archie snorts, ever the confident one. "A tap-out? Too scared to fight like a real soldier?"

"I don't want to hurt you."

She meant it sincerely, but Archie took it as a threat, as well as the rest of the children. A drawn out "ooohh" chorused throughout the room, making Sasha's and Archie's cheeks tint red, but for entirely different reasons.

"You need to worry about yourself," he grinds out, narrowing his eyes at her. "I've never lost a challenge before."

Gregory steps in wearing a troubled expression. He casts a wary glance to Sasha. "Sasha, the tap-out combats were only for the first week. The challenges now are more... mature."

Sasha swallows, knowing he would say this.

"You know there is no killing," he adds, tossing a pointed look to Archie. "But you are allowed to draw blood until your opponent kneels in defeat."

Archie crosses his arms proudly across his chest. He smirks at Sasha. "Want to back out now that you can't fight me weaponless?"

Maybe she really didn't think this through.

But it's too late now to take it back.

"No," she says firmly, taking a step forward.

Archie's smirk widens. "Aw, did I hurt your feelings yesterday?"

Sasha glares at him as she goes to the weapon's wall, snatching her favorite dagger off the shelf. She unsheathes it, tossing the leather pouch aside before going to stand back in front of Archie. Gregory is staring at her, but she can't bring herself to look at him. She knows he doesn't agree with this. He doesn't want her fighting when he knows how deeply she hates it.

But she has to do this for her own safety. She doesn't trust Archie as far as she could throw him.

She shakes out her hands, though she clutches the dagger tightly.

Archie grins. "I guess I can make this fair, then." He pulls out a dagger from his belt, one only slightly longer than hers. Then he unbuckles his sword and sets it aside. "Let's get this over with, girl."

She follows him to the mat where the challenges always take place, the horde of children instantly hovering around it, forming a tight circle with eager faces. Everyone knows Sasha has always denied challenges. Everyone knows Archie never turns one away. Everyone knows the two don't get along; they've all been anticipating this moment.

"If either of you get too violent, I won't hesitate to step in," Gregory warns, standing between them like a mediator. "Remember, no cuts to the neck, chest, or abdomen. Keep your cuts quick and clean. I'll stop the challenge immediately if one of you cuts too deeply. Understood?"

Both of them nod, never taking their eyes off the other. Sasha's fingers twitch, her entire body on edge.

Archie must notice because he smirks yet again.

She really wants to scare that smirk off his arrogant face.

Gregory holds his fist between them for a second or two, then yanks his arm up, signaling for them to start. Neither pursue, both waiting for the other to make the first move. Sasha knows Archie will give in eventually, too impatient to wait it out. She's planning on that. She's a little faster than him, but he's strong and quick to recover. She'll have to be intently focused to win this.

"What are you waiting for?" Archie taunts, grinning like a maniac. "You probably shouldn't have challenged me if you weren't ready."

"You shouldn't have provoked it," she replies, voice low.

Archie laughs. "Aw, so I did hurt your feelings."

Sasha's jaw tightens but she refuses to lunge first.

Archie notices, and as she planned, his patience runs thin. He snarls at her before darting forward, the tip of his blade aiming for her cheek. So he's not going to go easy on her. Not that she had expected him to, anyways, but it's unsettling to know how eager he is to spill her blood and stain his hands with it.

She sidesteps easily, spinning quick so she can manage to jab her elbow into the soft flesh on his side. He grunts, but whirls around angrier, spinning the hilt of the knife between his fingers as if he can do it in his sleep. She doesn't doubt that he can.

The eager eyes of about thirty children look on, some cheering when Archie strikes while others remain silent, uncertain. No one has seen Sasha fight. Instead of training with the other kids, she trains after sessions with Gregory. They've all seen her perform, though, and she's never failed a performance, so they expect something equally as impressive. She's not trying to impress anyone, though. She's only trying to keep herself safe.

She didn't sleep last night in the dormitory, knowing Archie was only a bunkbed away. After his charade that afternoon, she wouldn't have put it past him to try and make a mark on her while she slept. She listened to his breathing all night, his deep puffs of air through his mouth because his nose had been blocked up. She had stared at his bunk across from hers, waiting for him to rise from the mattress and stalk towards hers.

He never did. But she never slept just in case.

He swipes and she jumps back. He slices and she ducks. She's agile whereas he is precise, so she balances out her weaknesses with his strengths. She doesn't want to cut him, but she knows she'll have to. To make a point. To prove she is capable of standing up for herself, of protecting herself. She knows not many of the children like her, but that does not mean she will allow them to bully her into fear.

She can tell Archie is getting agitated, which will give her an advantage. Angry people always make a mistake.

She twirls away from him yet again, but this time she brings her dagger down across his forearm, leaving an instant streak of red. She can hear the crowd murmur to themselves, but she can mostly see the hatred burning in Archie's eyes as he glares at the cut, then at her.

Blood drips off her blade onto the mat. She can smell it. It makes her stomach churn.

When Archie lunges for her, she remembers what Eve would always do and grabs his wrist, twisting it as viciously as she can. He loses his balance, falling onto his stomach. She moves rapidly, pinning his arm down with her hand, but then putting her knee on it for extra strength. She places her blade on the back of his neck, right below his dirty blonde hair. She doesn't push hard enough to cut, only hard enough to let him know she's got him.

Archie tries to get out of her hold, but she keeps her knees positioned firmly so he's unable to budge. He screams in annoyance; in defeat.

"The winner is Sasha," Gregory announces, hardly sounding surprised.

Sasha leans down to Archie's ear. "I told you I didn't want to hurt you," she says, then pushes off him and to her feet.

She walks out of the training room without meeting the eyes of the bewildered onlookers. She walks straight to the dormitories and into the bathroom where she scrubs Archie's blood off her fingertips with tears brimming her eyes until the dinner bell rings.