Free Nephilim (Academy of the Fallen #2) by Daniele Lanzarotta

know I hate this place Kayla… besides I got you in here.  I owe it to you to get you out”
    “Oh.”
    He pulled away and I could barely make out the outline of his face and body in the dark.
    “Were you expecting a different answer?” he asked.
    “N-No,” I said with my voice breaking.
    “I told you from the beginning, Kayla.  This trust thing goes both ways.”
    I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.  It probably made it easier for me to talk to him like that, with it being so dark… Not being able to see his expression.
    “I remember something from when I was in the Otherworld,” I said.
    Hunter moved his body as if he was going to get up, but he didn’t.  “Are you sure you want to talk about anything related to that place?”
    I knew I would never get the courage to say this again.
    “I’m sure.  You see, Kim said memories from the Otherworld are true memories, and I have this one memory that I wish I knew whether it was a true memory or my imagination… although Kim assured me it is a true memory…”
    “You are babbling, Kayla.”
    “I know.  Ugh, just… never mind.  I was probably imagining it.”
    Hunter lay back down with his arms around me.
    I had just fallen asleep when I heard his voice.
    “Kayla,” Hunter whispered.
    “What?”
    He hesitated.  “If the memory you were talking about was of me begging you to come back to me because I thought I was in love with you… well, it is a true memory.”
    “Do you mean you ‘thought’ you were as in, not anymore?” I asked.
    “You are so difficult sometimes… Yes, I do mean I thought I was.”
    “Oh,” I started to move away.
    “Kayla, I didn’t mean it like that.  It is a done deal… back then I thought I was… now I am sure.  Even if you are so damn difficult most of the time.”
    Hunter pulled me closer and kissed me.  When his lips moved away from mine, it was just long enough for him to say what I wanted to hear.  “I love you, Kayla,” then he went back to kissing me.
     

 
    THIRTEEN
    It felt like I had just fallen asleep when I saw Benjamin.  The nightmare was so realistic.  He was at the front gates of the Academy.  He was pulling on it, trying to get in and getting frustrated by not being able to.
    Once he sensed that I was there, he looked up.  Looking into my eyes, he said, “Open the gates, little sis.”
    “I’m not your sister.”
    “Well, no reason in denying it.  We both know that you are.  Now come on…  Open it.”
    I turned around to leave.
    “They may keep you in here forever, little sis.  This may just be your only chance to get out.  You know… your adoptive parents, your sister… they are not as protected as you think.  Now open it!”
    I woke up screaming.  Hunter quickly and gently put his hand over my mouth to keep me from screaming even more.  Once I calmed down, he moved his hand and just hugged me.
    “It is okay, Kayla.  He can’t get to you in here and he won’t be able to get to you when we leave.”
    “I may be safe here, but what about Kelly and Andrew?  Do you really think that Daniels sent someone to watch over them?”
    “Look, as soon as we leave here we will make sure they are okay, and then we will take off, okay?”
    “… and do what, Hunter?  How are we going to survive with no money… no place to live?”
    “We will figure it out, Kayla.”
    “WHAT?  We can’t just leave here with half a plan, Hunter!”
    “I know.  Look… I know it is not the most reliable source, but we can get help from my mom… at least until we figure things out.  She probably won’t even notice that we are there.  And if there is no one watching over Kelly and Andrew like they say, we will be able to approach them as well.
    “I don’t like it.  We need a better plan.”
    “I don’t like it either, but all I know is that I want to get you out of here.”
    “Hunter?”
    “Yeah?”
    “There is something we have to do when we leave.  I promised Ethan I would