Free Threader by Rebekah Turner Page A

there. See, Bobby taught me how to fight against stronger opponents, using one rule.
    Fight. Dirty.
    I pitch my hot coffee in his face and Dutch howls, reeling back. Before he gets too far, I follow up with a swinging kick, his crotch being ground zero.
    â€˜ Urk .’
    Dutch wobbles about, hands clutching between his legs. Cora stares at me, mouth wide, while the snarky twins hurry over to help their beefy friend up.
    â€˜You didn’t have to do that,’ one of them hisses at me. I blink, almost certain I saw a forked tongue flick out between her teeth.
    Someone laughs and starts to clap from the doorway and I realise we have an audience. Two guys stand there watching, looking amused. One is tanned with blond hair and the other has a dark complexion with startling red eyes.
    â€˜It’s not funny, Archer,’ Dutch wheezes. His face is red and I’m not sure it’s from my hot coffee or his blood pressure.
    The blond guy laughs. ‘I think it was, Dutch, and I think you might have deserved it.’
    The newcomers shift out of the way as the twins help Dutch limp out of the room. He turns awkwardly at the door, his mean eyes just slits. ‘This isn’t finished between you and me, fresh meat,’ he growls at me.
    Red Eyes barks a short laugh. ‘Let it go, big man. She beat you good and solid.’
    Dutch scowls, then lets himself be pulled out of the room by the twins, limping and muttering darkly under his breath.
    â€˜That was amazing.’ Cora grabs my arm. ‘I’ve never seen anyone stand up to Dutch like that before.’
    I shrug like it’s nothing, but my hands shake as I put down my empty mug. ‘I told him not to touch me.’
    The blond guy walks over. ‘You Josephine Ryder?’
    â€˜Josie,’ I tell him.
    â€˜I’m Luke. Luke Archer.’ He holds out a hand and I take it. Archer’s friend with red eyes comes close to introduce himself as well. He’s appallingly good looking and up close I see his pupils are pinpricks of white. I want to ask whether he’s wearing contacts or did it surgically, but I hold back. If I start asking questions now, I might never stop.
    â€˜Cooper Devon.’ He holds out his hand and it feels like shaking a piece of heavy metal wrapped in skin.
    â€˜Nice to meet you.’ I let go and absently wipe my hand against my leg, because I’m feeling a little creeped out by the sudden attention.
    â€˜I’m giving her a tour,’ Cora says. Her face is all splotchy red and she keeps smoothing down her hair.
    â€˜A word of warning. Dutch might come at you again.’ Archer walks to the fridge and pulls out an apple. ‘There’s a rumour you had a special meeting with one of the Helios suits.’ He bites into the apple with a loud crunch. ‘And not just any suit. Director Eckhart’s personal suit. Means you’re something special. That’s the kind of thing that can make other cadets real jealous, you know? Especially when there’s a lot of culling in the first year.’
    I’m about to ask more about Director Eckhart, but Cora cuts me off.
    â€˜Of course she’s special,’ Cora says. ‘She’s a threader.’
    Archer’s bright eyes fix on me. ‘A puppet-master, hey?’
    I go cold. ‘Don’t call me that.’
    Cooper joins Archer at the fridge and selects a tub of yoghurt. ‘But you are a threader, aren’t you? You can control other people’s talents?’ he asks, his voice smooth and melodic.
    â€˜Give her a break,’ Cora mutters. ‘It’s her first day.’
    Archer chews his mouthful of apple with a thoughtful look. ‘I heard you caught Blake Galloway spying on you and forced him to bring you here. Nice work. That guy is such a zipperhead.’
    They wait for me to say something, but my mouth is bone dry. Years of caution make it kind of hard for me to share. Not to mention I have no