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"Get her out of here!" Eli derabbed my arm but I shook him off

"No, we can’t leave him!" I protested

Hank turned and ran at me; he clearly didn’t want to miss his chance After this I would be under the school’s protection Tay ju Hank’s path I watched in fear and anticipation Suddenly so hard hit me from behind The pain in my head was sharp but it only lasted a second; blackness sed lanced around a large rooh, the walls were stone, and the carpet was bright red

"You’re awake!" called Mila

She ca over to the bed I was actually really happy to see her; it confir held captive by va the tender lump on the back of my head

"You’re in the teacher’s e; my uncle didn’t want the other students to find out what happened High School can be pretty brutal with gossip and things like that"

Moveht my attention

"Eli!" I called "You’re okay!"

His lips curved into a so and meet uncle for breakfast now, but I’ll come see you later," said Mila and off she skipped

"How are you feeling?" Eli asked

"I saw Hank last night and ’ood How are you feeling?" I asked, pointing out the cut that ran across his left cheek

Eli shrugged and sh worse"

There was a silence that followed as we sat in thought

"And Hank?"

Eli didn’t er crossed his features

"He got away There werebushes He ran at you and Tay blocked it A vampire came out of nowhere and hit you on the head He picked you off the ground and tried to run with you but Tay stopped him… Hank and a few others fled, and it was over," he explained

I sat absorbing all of Eli’s information, it wasn’t exactly what I wanted to hear, but I was glad ere all okay He sensed my unease and put his hand onbad happen to you"

We locked eyes; they were just as serious as his tone He opened his o of my hand as a tall elderly lady entered the roo, Miss Moore?" she asked

Infatuated

"I have a bit of a headache, but that’s all"

"Before you go, we have to do some tests to e splatter patterns the doctor showed ht have a headache for a little while longer, but that’s all You’re free to go" Her voice was kind and cheerful

"Are we going back to the cabin?" I asked Eli as we left theand stepped out onto a concrete path

"No It’s not safe I’ you to your dorm room"

I stopped in o there; I’m not ready for school"

"Sometimes life isn’t fair," he said flatly

"Life isn’t fair?" My voice kicked up a few decibels "I have hadhappen in s in life don’t work out the ant thes seem unfair and you feel like there’s no way you can overcome them, but you can Do you want to knohat I think? I think we aren’t given problems we can’t overcome"

"It’s not that simple," I muttered

"I know"

His words were harsh to hear but he was right I had to suck it up and push forward, besides it wasn’t like I hadyou with clothes and Lillian will bring your textbooks and class supplies to your dorain

It hadn’t crossed ht the school was providing therassy field to get to the student caold chain froiven estured with his finger to turn around I pulleddark hair out of the way and he fastened it aroundthe whistle; it was so shiny and gold I rubbedthe sraving on the side that I hadn’t noticed before

"Tua Custos Angelus; that’s Latin, what does itthrough with this? You don’t have to be oing anywhere"

As we approached the female campus, I couldn’t help but to notice how old this school was All the buildings resembled fourteenth century castles but they were obviously maintained andand all the other things you would norirl’s dormitory, it was quiet

A small lady sat behind a desk Her hair hite and bunched into short curls on top of her head

"Is this the new student?" she called to Eli as we approached her desk

"Yes Ruby Moore"

"Three zero eight"

She handed Eli a key and we proceeded up a flight of stairs and down a corridor My knees were shaky, my sto to an irregular beat I foundfor no one to exit their rooms

"What is the time?" I asked Eli

"Seven o’clock"

"And what tiht o’clock"

I looked down at ed; it was such a pretty dress and I did want to wear it again

"Can we hurry this up? I don’t want to be seen like I ruht a possuht here Rooht" He pointed it out and handed me a small silver key

The door unlocked with ease The roo like the cabin; the as dusty and the walls were an off white It was very set breakfast is at eight," Eli said, closing the door behind him

I didn’t have time to fully appreciate the nonsensical size of et out of this ruined dress I ran to the nearest cupboard and wrapped ers around the handles Please have fresh clothes, please have fresh clothes

Yes! Fresh clothes!

I made another mental note to thank Mila when I saw her next I picked out a pair of baggy black cargo pants and a sky blue tank top I figured I wouldn’t stand out if I was dressed casually I ran to the bathroom to shower The shower in my dorm room was ed, I ran a brush throughknots

"Seven fifty," I whispered tomy shoes on by the clock on my bedside table