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I open my mouth, then clamp it shut I’m not sure what to say to his forbidden words

"You should go" He directs his attention back to Maci "I have things I need to get done"

I slide off the bed "I’ll see you again, though? Right?"

"Of course," he says

Even though I’ the truth

I clasp rab my jacket and head out, but pause at the door "Bye Monarch"

"Oh and Kayla, one "

I turn to face hirasp on to each and every one, but I a away

I wake up, later that day, in o visit Monarch But I have Lessons this , so my visit will have to wait until afterwards

The Gathering is in one day and there’s nervous energy buzzing in the air I can s around, everything see, happy Being a Bellator, I’

Monarch toldMy excellent fighting skills, swift speed, and quick reflexes are why I was selected into the Bellator world The exact details of The Gathering are athe final hers The rest of The Colony reet lost in the dust

Lessons take place in the only room that doesn’t feel like plastic It smells of sweat and realness It’s the only place where I feel like I can be free I take a seat by the chipped brick wall and stretch s out on the mat Bellators pour in, dressed in their black warrior clothes, ready to thron their lives if they have to

Our instructor, Garrett, enters the room, his dark hair pulled back in a ponytail and he avoids looking at er than him and he fears that one day I’ll take over his job I hope not The last thing I want is to be trapped in this roo that comes naturally tofor Lessons to begin It’ll be the last one with all the sa to Maci and one to Bernard No one acknowledges the absence, but their spots stay vacant

Garrett stands in the center of the circle, on the ive his speech about the responsibility of being a Bellator, like he always does But today he’s interrupted by two Watchers who coh their masks

"Hold on everyone," Garrett says and e whispers and nods, and then Garrett returns to the

He clears his throat "Everyone, our plans have changed for the day" He glances around at the circle of Bellators "One of the Highers would like to join us"

It grows so silent that all I can hear is a handful of rapid heartbeats A Higher walks in, white robe dragging on the floor as he walks onto the mat Garrett bows his head and the rest of us follow

"All of you can look up," the Higher says, his pale eyes skinize his eyes because they’ve stared at me a couple of times Gabrielle

He latches his hands behind his back and paces the hers to interact with the Bellators, but today is an exception" He pauses, letting his words linger with the i secrets frohers and needs to be punished"

He doesn’t have to sayaboutto die

"Now, I’ht you hers," Gabrielle says "But, I can assure you, that’s not the case And I’m here to prove this to you and remind you all of what the consequences are if the rules are broken" His gaze travels to me, just like I kneould "Kayla, come to the center of the mat"

Everyone’s eyes widen, but I re to thedances in Gabrielle’s eyes He’s afraid of me; he’s afraid of what I am And what I’m not

"Veiin onto protect myself I hear a pop A cry, but noth it all, telling er

Chapter 7

My body feels heavy Lights flicker, my mind’s fuzzy I’m in the hospital, only it is bare and hollow There’s no Monarch, no Maci, no IV’s Even thewith ot here

Cluraceful balance fleetingly gone and I stagger for the door But it’s locked Monarch never locks the door Taking a deep breath, I tug on the doorknob, pulling and yanking, until the metal lock bends and snaps free The hall is crowded, but I push past the people,swiftly for Monarch’s roos