Free Between Shadows by Chanel Cleeton Page B

more than anything I’m worried it’s going to get us both killed.
    I’m angry—angry he’s pushing me, angry at them for the life we lead, angry at myself for not knowing what to do next. But most of all I’m angry because I’m scared and I’ve never been able to conquer my fears.
    “You expect me to follow you blindly, and what, get myself killed? I’m not the same stupid girl who used to follow you around, letting you take the lead. I can’t risk this shit anymore. This isn’t stealing a motorcycle or sneaking out at night. This is the difference between the Academy letting us live some semblance of a life and them killing us. And they will kill us if you do this.”
    I’m not sure if I believe what he’s saying or not, but I have to get back to my sister. Now. 
    “I have to go.”
    Luke stares at me in disbelief. “You can’t seriously be going back there? Not after what I told you.”
    “Grace is there.”
    “We can get her out.”
    “Are you crazy? You want me to break my little sister out of the Academy and go on the run. With what money? How the hell are we supposed to survive? We have no friends, no family. We have nothing. We don’t fucking exist beyond what they control.”
    Just like they want.
    “You have me.”
    “Right. Until you decide to get your revenge. That is, if this isn’t your revenge after all. I’m leaving.”
    “Don’t be stupid, X.”
    “I’m not being stupid. The only stupid thing I’ve done so far is falling for your bullshit. I can’t afford this. It’s too risky. You’re too risky.”
    “This is dangerous. Beyond anything you’re used to. Don’t jeopardize everything because you hate me.” Luke reaches out, his hand gripping my arm.
    “I trusted you,” Luke continues, his gaze boring into mine. “I told you about this because I trusted you. Are you going to choose them again?”
    I hesitate, pulling my arm out of his grasp. He releases me without a fight. 
    “I won’t say a word. We’re even now.”
    ###
    My pulse races as I make my way back to my room. I’m not quite sneaking around, but every sense I have is buzzing. I circle the block several times to make sure no one is following me. I can’t see anything, but I know better than anyone that their invisibility doesn’t mean they’re not there. It just means they’re good at what they do. Good at flying under the radar. Good at being ghosts.
    That these people are professionals makes it all the more real—and terrifying. At the Academy, I’m the best. But out in the real world? I don’t know.
    I punch in the code to our room, my finger jabbing at the numbers. I swing open the door—
    Grace lies in bed, her back to me.
    I look down at my watch. It’s eleven-thirty p.m. I completely forgot about the ice cream. I sit down on the edge of my bed, staring at my sister’s sleeping body. Minutes pass while I sit there watching her. She looks so young, so innocent, incapable of the things I’ve done.
    If Luke’s right, then it’s only a matter of time before Grace’s life will be in danger. If those men were there for me, her life already is. But if he’s wrong and I go up against the Academy, there will be no place on Earth for us to hide.
    I sit there for hours watching her sleep.
    ###
    I’m in the room again. Fear slides down my spine like a snake slithering its way through my body.
    I hate it here. It’s cold and dark. There’s a musty smell in the air and something metallic that I’m afraid to identify—afraid to claim as mine.
    I’ve bled in this room.
    Without any sunlight coming into the room, it’s impossible to know what time it is. Sometimes I feel like I’ll be here forever. Sometimes I feel like I’ve been here forever. Sometimes I wish I would die here.
    I can’t cry. He told me not to cry. But that was hours ago. He knows I hate the dark, knows the fear that fills me. It’s always so silent—like a tomb. The silence is my punishment, the darkness my hell.
    He is the