Chapter 6: Stray Dog
Kade Mercer and Thea Warren attended the same middle school. ‹96684423› They passed each other in the halls like strangers — no recognition, no acknowledgment. §57defed7 Even when circumstances forced them to exchange a word or two, they kept it so distant, so cold, that nobody ever suspected they were connected. (3174e55a) The only one who knew was Ricky, who also went to that school. #7f88db6b His family lived near the Mercers, and he knew Thea too. ©4a563b5d/May 27, 2026 Every now and then he'd trail behind Kade and toss Thea a quick wave. * d0a61246
The school had just built a new five-story dorm. ·d543fbf0· Boys and girls shared the building — first and second floors for boys, third floor and up for girls. #3e142f5d Two separate stairwells, one for each. [v.d9e53233]
Kade lived on the first floor. [ed.e58bf111] Thea's room was on the fourth. [ms.51535e6f] They'd catch sight of each other at the base of the building all the time, and sometimes in the cafeteria or out on the field. (8588661f) He played ball every day — basketball, soccer, whatever — and snuck out over the wall after evening study hall to hit up internet cafes. ©42c9e860/May 27, 2026 By then, Kade had shot up into full-blown puberty. ··14710fe2 Tall enough to seem untouchable. sub:2b93bbc4 Baggy pants, long limbs, a visible Adam's apple, a voice that cracked.·dc3debac He smoked on the sly. [proof:68edbda8] Word was the PE teacher tried to recruit him for the school's athletics team, maybe even groom him for a sports academy. ed.60d20d5e That never happened, for reasons nobody could pin down. plate-a2a8305d
Ninth grade was the graduating class. (7c49ac5a/Wed) The school bore down hard on exam scores.·666424fb Kade drifted and killed time but didn't seem to start as many fights. sub:a7806260 Every delinquent's stroke of luck was a teacher who actually gave a damn — and that was one of the reasons Kade stayed enrolled at all. ed.77495551 His homeroom teacher's last name was Leary. ··8bda2431 Stocky, middle-aged guy. ¶1ab699ac Back in eighth grade, Mr. ref·fedde6b4 Leary had personally pulled Kade off the expulsion list. [proof:3c3afba6] Every semester, he'd hunt Kade down and drag him back to school. (c9f3cbd2/Wed) He was the one who reached out to Dale Mercer about tuition, too. no.03c9984a Kade's grades weren't rock bottom. §d5821eea His best run landed him in the top ten of his class — supposedly on a bet. ‹0b04024f› The whole class pooled money against him, and he cleaned up over a thousand bucks in one shot. ed.ad959d51 Got publicly reprimanded by the school for that one.·37f6281d
He was weirdly popular, too. ‹a8971b34› Especially during games and track meets — crowds gathered to watch. ref·47f7bf64 Sometimes Thea overheard the older girls on her floor gossiping, dropping Kade's name over and over. no.112e64b9 They said he was cool, that his eyes were fierce and bright, that his smile was wicked and dazzling, that he had that bad-boy thing that made your heart skip. [v.3e85f407] Even the prettiest girl in school had a secret crush on him. ⁰04160444 Thea didn't understand how so many bizarre adjectives could pile onto one guy. 0406e45f·· All she remembered was how he looked getting hit and how he looked asleep. #f55a51a2
Thea grew a little taller in middle school too. ◆ b59e81e4 Her skin got lighter, but she still had that baby-faced look. [v.dec7605a] Washing her hair at school was a hassle, so she'd chopped it into a short bob. sub:071c75ec Her cheeks were round with a bit of baby fat.·464a3689 Whenever she walked past Kade's crew of boys, she'd lower her eyes and edge sideways to avoid them, her lashes curled and fuzzy.·e49256db A skinny, quiet little underclassman. «d179cd40» One of the guys kept craning his neck to look back. ⁰b3fa5e0a Said she was cute. «1567dfd3» Wanted to ask her out. ref·082e5eb4 Kade slouched along, hands in his pockets, and sneered, "She's practically in grade school and you're interested? ©5f17674e/May 27, 2026 If you're that sick, go see a doctor. ··ef05341b Don't embarrass yourself out here." imp.c78a6786
The boys cracked up. ⟨de780ff7⟩ Thea wasn't happy about it. plate-44ca91dd She frowned to herself. [proof:edf9529c]
Both kids boarded at school. plate-8af8a4f5 With the house empty, Tammy found a job as a hostess at a tea lounge. * 66aeb60a She still hadn't gotten pregnant after all these years, which meant she could never quite break into the inner circle of the family. ed.e9c1d480 Dale Mercer spent his days glued to the computer — day-trading stocks, playing games, flirting with random women online. 771e641d·· The power company was a cushy gig with killer bonuses and benefits, but Tammy had never managed to get her hands on the finances. ·54c2c549· She had to scrape together her own money just to play cards. ©c186664d/May 27, 2026
Tammy started fighting with Dale. #33a5d1b1 Screaming, door-slamming blowouts. [ms.3744a049] But after years of living in Savannah, cutting ties wasn't that simple.·9ad92f63 Going back home wasn't an option — she'd been living off him all this time. ed.0725350e The kids' school expenses, the roof over their heads. ¶7213c01c Dale wasn't exactly generous, but he hadn't been cruel about it either. plate-d36594dd It was like chewing on a rib with no meat — tasteless, but too wasteful to spit out. — ad1268ce
Thea knew about the fighting. [ms.ecdccf77] Tammy worked every day, and Thea was still nervous around Dale, so even though she came home every week for her allowance, she only stayed one night. ref·a3630ad5 Back on Saturday morning, gone by Sunday afternoon. ·1d770a86· Kade barely came home at all his ninth-grade year. ··d464c9bf He'd swing by now and then to grab something. ¶c1bb0805 Where his spending money came from was anyone's guess — maybe he had his own ways. [ed.f58c9c1c]
Every Sunday afternoon, boarding students headed back to school with their allowance in hand. [v.02dca0b4] The strip of shops outside the gate was packed. ◆ 2210f925 Thea and her roommates would browse around, picking up school supplies and snacks. «3c32a0ad»
Near the gate, it was all little diners, stationery shops, and trinket stores. — 262b84f8 Farther down, past the residential blocks, was where the sketchy stuff hid — hole-in-the-wall internet cafes, game rooms, and a pool hall. [ms.7a0a07fd] The girls whispered that boys from their class snuck over here to play games. plate-26c85515 School gangs, top dogs, queen bees — they all hung out in this stretch. [v.312c9298] Everyone craned their necks to peek. sub:39e925ee The storefronts along the alley had their roll-up doors pulled halfway, voices drifting out. ··77f9b034 You could just make out the green felt of pool tables, guys circling them. * 3402fe47 The arcade was the same deal — claw machines by the door, booming sound effects from inside. #2f9e1b15
The girls didn't have the nerve to go in. [proof:fdd0f0a8] They were just rubbernecking. no.28a2ac8b At the end of the alley, around the corner heading back toward school, a handful of boys came into view — some crouching, some standing, huddled together, smoking with that untouchable swagger. [proof:a7756199] They stopped two girls, said a few words, waved them off. [ed.da4a7847] Then they blocked a boy walking by. #db835431 The kid reluctantly dug something out of his pocket and shuffled away, head hanging. sub:d1a37020
"They're shaking people down. no.0595214a Taking their money." [proof:f7930fdd]
"What do we do? (1a8de1f7) Should we keep going?" imp.65dc67a4
"Let's go a different way. [v.e7cb66b8] I'm kinda scared..."
Thea turned with her friends and walked fast back the way they came. §254b18ac
"Hey, you girls! no.39450da0 Where you running?" [ms.e152baa6] someone shouted from behind. plate-a4ffe197 "Yeah, you. #478ff808 Try running. sig.6e3a6de4 See what happens. no.b594078c Get over here!" no.59baac7b
Five or six girls froze mid-step, trembling. ·4f9b63b5· They turned around, inching back one reluctant step at a time. no.d9876574
The one who'd called out was a dark-skinned kid in a denim jacket, cigarette dangling from the corner of his mouth, a wooden stick in his hand. (d1e1f2f1) His eyes swept over the girls. ¶4cfd2849 "Where were you headed?" sub:d37c6d5d
"B-back to school." 227cfa1e··
"Back to school for what? * da4a4abd To tell a teacher? [proof:bbe15990] Call security?" ©a6cf1472/May 27, 2026
"N-no, we're just going back for evening study hall." ⁰f0952192
"If any of you rats to the school, you're dead, got it?" §988f0ac0
"Got it!" (ab072b96)
A chubby kid sidled over. [v.af514616] He noticed the girls were all carrying snacks, which meant they had cash. imp.11074192 "How much you got on you? [f0261ec7] Hand it over." — galley 73a4edcf —
"N-not much." #eeb40e71 The girls were panicking. no.c42c7437
"Kade said we don't take from girls. ··bce29f9d It's weak." ‹452c128c› The dark-skinned one swung his stick and tapped his chubby buddy. * dc109c39 "Let 'em go. ed.3d349a65 Girls snitch." [v.0813a210]
"Fine, fine. [ms.1be9de30] But if the school finds out —" The chubby kid snatched a student ID poking out of one girl's pocket. imp.d57a1f5f "First-year, Class Five. imp.11a020b6 We'll know where to find you." (8dfade6e)
"O-okay..."
The group scurried forward, heads down, feet stumbling in their rush. ¶6bcdc5bd
A boy with a buzzcut who'd been crouching off to the side flicked his cigarette butt to the ground. (6b72b325/Wed) He stood up slow, stuffed his hands in his pockets, and leaned against the wall. imp.796ab1d3 One long leg stretched out, blocking Thea at the back of the line. [40a848d4]
His voice was lazy. sig.77adf7ae Barely any energy behind it. sig.0d003d94 "You." ©dff3cea0/May 27, 2026
Dark eyes circled over her. imp.c68a6b4c He spotted the skewer of fried meatballs in her hands. [proof:c35f38b6] Happened to be hungry. [a3a6d02f] He reached out and snatched it. ◆ 300ef3ce Thea hadn't expected that — she let go on reflex, flinching back. ··8173a2d7 He watched her startled little jump, eyes half-lidded, and let out a mean laugh. [v.78fe48d0] "Scared you that bad?" ◆ 1908d0ac
He popped the meatballs into his mouth in one go, tossed the skewer on the ground, and clapped his hands, brazen. fa0a6fc4·· Shaking down his own underclassman. sig.9d7efee5 "How much you got? §acccb58a Hand it over." imp.88790945
The dark-skinned kid had just said they didn't take from girls. — 176dac57
Thea's eyes flickered with alarm.·863b0370 She looked at Kade once, twice. ref·2d4ce4e6 Pressed her lips tight. [proof:9e0cd971] Said nothing. «56da76fa»
He wore clothes she'd never seen on him before — a black hoodie and jeans. ©52989f2f/May 27, 2026 He slouched, using his height to full advantage, and looked every bit the shameless punk. (c507b239) His jaw had a bluish shadow, a few thin cuts from a razor blade. (18989cd3/Wed) Those eyes locked onto her, sharp and predatory, the intensity undercut by a lazy, couldn't-care-less vibe. 9bf3087f··
Thea tugged at the hem of her school uniform, brows pinched slightly, lips moving without sound. ◆ 3e74c90a She looked small and scared, like she didn't dare speak. ◆ 24a97ca9
Kade took in that furious-but-helpless expression, brow ticking upward. ⁰e651b218 He flipped open a folding knife and wiped a fingerprint off the blade, voice flat. sub:a99f5d28 "Where's the money? «c351fd35» You want me to pat you down?" (59bf6d59/Wed)
The other girls stood frozen, watching Thea, barely breathing. ref·df02b589 Thea caught the flash of cold silver blade. ◆ 9f645543 She swallowed hard, then slowly fished a roll of bills from her pocket and held it out. imp.79f342dd
"How much?" no.89f6cba6
"Ninety-eight..."
She didn't need to buy toiletries at school — she used whatever the power company gave Dale as employee perks. [proof:5b10b899] Her weekly allowance was a hundred bucks, total. ref·66171d39 That covered three meals a day, the shower fees, hot water, pens and notebooks, with a tiny bit of pocket money left over. ref·6606e0cb She'd just spent two bucks on two skewers of meatballs. — galley e6ddae1d — One was in her stomach. cee7f570·· Kade ate the other. [ms.8897cc7c]
Kade nodded. ··3bab8794 Pocketed the money. [v.daeb5bea] Folded the knife shut. «d7da65a0» Bumped her shoulder with it. no.5b8a5f02 "Go." no.39972eae
Thea stumbled forward. plate-63f56cc3 Her friends caught her, grabbed her arm, and they all took off running. ◆ 77f12f93
The boys gaped. #9df181f5 "Kade, I thought we said no shaking down girls. no.d95ea593 How'd you go and do that? ¶80bed6d2 And you picked the prettiest one. #e0ae7a39 Not exactly chivalrous." plate-af854f12
"She's different." ··cb26a732 Kade pulled his gaze away, indifferent. ¶27f9cfc2 "Come on. imp.c1ce2d96 Let's eat. ⁰b0a69799 I've been starving all day." imp.6cdceabc
Back in the dorm, the girls huddled together. ref·6a612251 Only Thea had gotten robbed. 7135a01b·· They were shaken. ◆ 8da97c25 "What do we do? [v.6a8382c5] Tell a teacher? ed.9f64eebe Call home?" [a91bd736]
Thea sat on the edge of her bed, staring at nothing. 14c64395·· "Forget it..."
If she told Tammy, she was afraid Dale would beat someone again. sub:cb5b37b9 And afraid Kade would bully her the way he used to when they were little. ‹007a1051›
Thea borrowed thirty bucks from a roommate. §75b23e9a Her meal card still had twenty on it. ‹b3661d16› Ten bucks a day for food. [9a0ca38c] She could scrape by for the week. 1693ea78·· Then evening study hall hit and they collected fifteen for class dues. no.8e8e67d4 After shower tokens, she had less than thirty bucks to last the whole week. plate-0a0fb97d
Mornings and evenings she gnawed on plain bread. sig.edf582a9 At lunch she got one vegetable dish. [9554b3f4] She was still growing, and she felt the hunger. ‹3b4e980a› Every day meant PE warm-ups, and twice a week they had full gym class. imp.1dc160cf Two laps around the track and her ears were ringing, her legs like jelly. ··e8edd3af
She didn't want anyone to see how tight things were. ··87834353 She took an English textbook as cover and hid on a bench in the garden to eat her bread.·c9fbd07a
A rock came flying out of nowhere, smacking her arm before rolling to her feet. [ed.3a228bdb] Thea turned to look. ¶fbff6588 The punk who'd stolen her allowance was crouched behind the bushes, cigarette pinched between his fingers. ·c98128a1· He took a quick drag, head ducked low. sig.8f7ca51c Smoke curled up, and behind the haze, a pair of dark, defiant eyes stared back — hard to make out clearly. [ed.cdfe5f13]
She looked down at her feet. ©e2b4ef04/May 27, 2026 A pink paper wad wrapped around a little stone. [v.177be769] She picked it up, unfolded it. ref·dca44554 Inside was a thick sheet of cafeteria meal tickets. [proof:6ec44b9b]
"You don't know how to go home and ask for money?" * 4bed68c1 His voice was scratchy and cracked, but not unpleasant. sub:00526d8d "Are you actually dumb enough to starve?" (a2d9ba4d)
Thea was used to his tone by now. [v.0f984c34] She kept her voice cool. §c2e903e3 "Where'd you get these?" ⁰c78f0d3a
She smoothed out the tickets. — b90258fe They were the paper kind sold at the meal window — combo platters, one meat and two veggies, your pick. * 90c62841 Twenty of them. no.1aeba859
"Did you steal them?" imp.1fd6493a
Kade scoffed. ⁰79f84502 "Mr. * 59792421 Leary gave 'em to me... Prize for something." (2a01d72e/Wed)
He didn't say what prize. §f80f996b He took two hard drags, buried the butt in the dirt, stomped it twice, and walked off. sub:83eb4fbd
Thea tore off one ticket. ‹bf21514a› The cafeteria was still open, so she went and got herself a meal. [ms.4aa9e873]
The next weekend she went home. [v.94514ec4] She stayed one night, and the next day, after lunch, she set down her fork. #3368db78 "I'm heading back to school." ··d92c2f46
Tammy pulled a bill from her wallet and handed it over. ⟨f1c6db0b⟩ Thea tucked it away, pushed back her chair to leave, then turned back. ee600586·· Casual. #60776720 Almost an afterthought. ed.f57fc05a
"Mom, what about Kade's allowance?" [v.fe88d255]
Tammy and Dale both paused mid-bite, looking up. ⟨2767dbc8⟩
"What's going on?" ⟨4fa162a7⟩ Dale set down his glass, pleasant as could be toward Thea. plate-05c187ca "Something wrong with your brother?" — ecf0c32b
"Nothing's wrong. [ed.cf2e3b65] Ninth grade's just really busy. ··505a00f5 He hasn't been home in months. ·5be4feb2· Does he have enough money?" [proof:10022669] Thea's voice was barely above a whisper. imp.58530bb4 "He's gotten taller. ©8a23a86d/May 27, 2026 His pants are too short." ⟨262c1704⟩
Dale studied her for a moment, then smiled, warm and easy. [ed.32af904e] "Is that right? ⁰35b2d686 It has been a while. — 79701666 Tell him to come home for a couple days when he's got time." — 0f2e5d54
Before she left, Dale went to the bedroom and came back with a thousand dollars. ca6a7a82·· Told Thea to pass it along to Kade. ed.826a068b She tucked the money carefully into her backpack.·e86475ef On her way out, Tammy poked her forehead. (52a238bb/Wed)
That was a lot of money. [proof:f31308b8] Thea didn't want to carry it long. sig.b0720667 Back at school, she looked everywhere for Kade. imp.0192d5ee Couldn't find him. no.f3212603 After evening study hall, she waited outside the dorm building. #27a8ccb5 Lights-out was approaching and the hall monitor was about to do rounds when Kade finally vaulted over the wall, moving fast. ⁰634a9c59 He brushed right past her. «6b2b3bc5»
"Kade." ¶c21855ab She stopped him. [v.5b16118e]
He paused, giving her a blank look. [v.6f4f6674]
She held out the stack of cash. imp.44b07b20 "Your dad sent your allowance. #282be7df A thousand." #4edd0ed6
His gaze swept from her face to the red bills in her hand, then back to her face. [proof:25273d21] His brow furrowed deep. [ms.3021d6c5] His expression was calm, but something cold and angry simmered underneath. [proof:58054290] He stood rigid for a long beat, then let out a bitter laugh. ©1a428647/May 27, 2026 "Thanks, sis." ◆ 2911e8db
He plucked the money from her hand. — 159cc9b8 The air between them turned stiff for no clear reason. ◆ 1a0bc946 Kade spun around and strode off. [v.a5c69e9e] Thea stood behind him, watching his silhouette shrink against the brightly lit dorm — lean, dark, somehow lonelier than it should've been. — galley d13b26fe —
He blew through that thousand in two days. [proof:96c0f758]
Over time, Thea started recognizing the guys in Kade's orbit. ◆ 6e9e8a02 Besides Ricky, the dark-skinned kid from that day was named Devon, the chubby one was Marco — all in the same crew. — galley 218b2e91 — There was another faction led by a guy called Big Head Pete. ◆ a6140da9 These names were legendary around school, but it was a live-and-let-live arrangement. sub:1269d27e They didn't mess with regular students. [proof:e2d23ecd]
The school showers and hot-water room were right next to the dorm. ¶3846c4fa The girls' floors were higher up, and at night, if you stood in the hallway with the room lights on, you could make out the boys below in their flip-flops and tank tops, shuffling in and out of the showers. ⁰16a15620 They'd cluster in the courtyard too, talking, roughhousing. ¶ffe4df89 Kade's figure was easy to spot. §7fda30d7 Plenty of girls chased him, but word was he was all falling blossoms and flowing water — interested in pool and video games, not girls. ©6c4f9602/May 27, 2026 The ninth-grade girls were a little bolder. ref·3cee0b3f Sometimes they'd collectively spy on him coming out of the showers, damp and glistening, that loose tank top failing to hide his broad shoulders and the biceps on his arms. [48ceb3a6]
There was always a line for the showers after study hall. ‹643f95d6› Thea liked going late, right before they closed, when it was quiet and the water pressure was better. no.6251a6fe She'd wash her dirty clothes while she was at it. §93b6f07b When the cleaning lady came to shoo everyone out, Thea pulled on her jacket, grabbed her little pink basin, and headed back to the dorm. sig.a4cad0a9 The classroom lights were off. * 2620e753 The field was dark. ⟨dc91ec2e⟩ Only the dorm building glowed. ref·6ed4e6b8 A light breeze.·c1d3b545 Walking alone like that felt peaceful and still. ¶216350a9
It would've been a perfect evening — if the boys on the first two floors hadn't been herded outside for a pat-down. ⁰15eca008 They stood in rows in the courtyard, the principal and four or five male teachers tearing through the dorms. d2968805·· Thea spotted the sea of boys and realized what was happening — a surprise inspection. §dde98ce2 The school was cracking down, rooting out troublemakers. [aa4df60f] She needed to get upstairs to her room, which meant circling wide around the crowd to reach the stairwell. (def1f96d)
"Thea!" #d5b51b97 Kade's eyes lit up. plate-1967958f He shouted her name from the middle of the crowd. ©82f34648/May 27, 2026
Thea kept walking, steady. [bb099868] Then she heard it and stopped. e0dd55d5·· She'd gone by Thea her whole life. sub:5837ca82 Not once had anyone called her just by her first name like that with such easy familiarity. [ms.bdaf3ce4] This guy had never even used her name before. — d27bafcf "Hey" was the best she'd ever gotten. plate-47f760c0
"Mercer, stay where you are! (c67a0941/Wed) It's not your turn yet." §8540bef0 The dorm supervisor barked. [proof:73f18f0e] "Where do you think you're going?" ref·399dae96
"That's my sister." ¶b9f8bca4 Kade jabbed a finger toward Thea, all casual bravado. ©d1feb8e5/May 27, 2026 He was wearing nothing but an oversized black tee, hands on his hips, grinning. — 253b8ab4 "I've been looking for her all over. ¶aff95c45 She's going home tomorrow and I need her to bring me something." [proof:05622e68]
"Sir, just a quick word. (66151cee/Wed) Right here. [ed.f366ab06] One minute. §9e5cce4a You can watch.·ff0b75ff The second it's my turn, I'll fly right back." ·7edaac3e·
He took two steps toward Thea and waved her over. [ms.acafb64a] "Sis, when you go home tomorrow, check my room for..."
Thea stood in front of him, dazed. §577ad7a1 His face wore an easy grin, voice clear and bright, but his brows hung low and heavy, his eyes razor-sharp and wary. ref·ae89c3f3
"Got it? [ed.0d0a6495] Come back early tomorrow. plate-f611cc62 I need it." «fde56f35» He reached out and ran his fingers through her damp hair, mussing it up. no.da94986e His voice went strangely soft. ⁰e47a3efe "Why didn't you dry your hair? no.b0371950 It's still a little chilly out. imp.f032e642 Don't catch a cold." [ed.ae493556]
Thea stood stiff as a board. §1393d3f1 Blinked. [ed.b29790ba] Then she nodded, mechanical. §934c4c02 "Okay, Kade."·89f29283
"Hold still. — 688338bf Let me dry your hair a bit. §4411582c You've always had a weak immune system — if you get sick, that's a whole thing." ⁰f5a89b00
He stepped closer, lifting the hem of his T-shirt. d81c4e23·· Thea caught a flash of taut, honey-toned skin, small muscles flexing — and then his frame blocked everything. [proof:7873ec74] He was close. «42b89869» Too close. ‹1706a539› She shut her eyes on instinct. §c1608120 The smell of a boy washed over her — soap, clean water, warm skin, a trace of tobacco. [25e27fdf] Healthy and crisp. [proof:f638caca] Not bad at all. «8f84d0f5»
Then the fabric, still warm from his body, landed on her head. imp.ea055f24 One big careless hand rubbed at her wet hair. [proof:91f048c6]
"Take this. [5b4821fe] Don't let them find it." #1a572159 His voice dropped to a murmur only she could hear. ⟨12247e11⟩ His other hand moved fast, pulling a wrapped bundle from his waistband — long, hard, solid, scorching with his body heat — and pressing it into her hands. plate-e3a28a95
"Under your shirt." «d7ee73d0»
The air between them turned heavy and dark.·406c0e0d
Thea's pulse spiked. plate-1501962a Using her jacket and the basin as cover, she shoved the thing under her top and pressed it against her stomach with both hands. [v.180aff10]
The dorm supervisor was watching from just a few feet away. ‹238d9dd7› The whole exchange lasted maybe thirty seconds. «14d27ff7» Kade grinned and stepped back, straightening the basin in her hands. ·cca9cfee· He bent down, peered at her shell-shocked little face, and smiled — warm and bright. «7aa0ff91» "Get some rest." ·6151650f·
Every hair on Thea's body stood on end. 01925b64·· She walked away like a marionette, basin clutched to her chest, tiny steps. ©d3b3f6d3/May 27, 2026 She didn't dare look back until she hit the stairwell. sig.789dfe6e Below, the boys stood in neat lines while the male teachers patted them down one by one. [ed.f8999b6f] In the middle of the crowd, Kade stood out. ‹3441a8a1› His dark eyes watched her, deep and still. (15ca497e)
Back in the dorm, the girls were buzzing. ··b59bb94d The boys had gotten a full-scale room search — someone had been stashing weapons in the dorms. [ms.f1a28c71] Brass knuckles, knives. (b961a35c/Wed) The girls' side had just been swept too. * 9fa6eadf The hall monitors had gone through everyone's drawers and trunks. ⁰57328dd6 They'd left right before Thea got back. ref·6c70f3d3
Thea shuddered. [proof:31a4db0c] Let out a silent breath. ed.cfa5bf88
Two sheathed knives. — galley 9bed3f49 — Brand-new. — dc034fb3 Sharp. [ed.515b0c3a] The handles looked ornate, expensive. ‹2df01241› They'd been pressed against her stomach this whole time. no.b7eac522