My stomach turned over as I grabbed my bag and followed the other halfs out. Their faces were pale, eyes sharp with distrust. Quietly, we trailed behind the three Guards to the med center. The sickening feeling expanded when I saw we were going to the same room Kain had been kept in. That alone was enough to make me want to flee.
One of the male nurses, a pure with salt and pepper hair, faced our group. Part of me hoped Lucian really had promised Seth that I wouldnt have to go through with the exams, but I shouldve known better. There was no bond between us, nothing to make him care about me.
The pure smiled, showing off a row of straight teeth. Something about his smile clenched my lungs. There were three female halfs in the group, and his mouth twisted into a greasy grin. Nausea rose sharply.
We will take you in one at a time. We will make this as fast as possible for you, the pure said. Any questions?
I raised my hand, heart tumbling over itself.
Yes? He sounded surprised.
What if we dont agree to this?
The pures gaze darted to the Guards behind me, and then bounced back to me. Theres nothing to be worried about. It will be over within a couple of minutes.
I nodded slowly, feeling the eyes of the other halfs on me and the Guards shifting uncomfortably. Yeah, Im not down with this.
But you have no choice, he said slowly.
But I do and Im choosing no. And if you dont like that, then Id like to see you try to make me do this.
That was pretty much when the Guards behind me decided they were going to try to make me do this. And that is when I decided I was going to be hitting someone again.
CHAPTER 5
I ELBOWED THE FIRST GUARD IN HIS STOMACH. THE SECOND Guard tried to force me into a corner, but my spin kick sent her flying into a gurney. The third and final Guard took a swing at me, and Im not sure what happened, but I do know I kind of lost it.
A deep and terrible rage flowed through me. Time sped up incredibly fast. I caught the Guards hand and twisted his arm backwards, spinning him around. Planting my foot in his back, I knocked him into a table. The first Guard came at me again. He dodged my kick, but I spun around before he could anticipate my next move and my foot connected with his chin. The impact sent him staggering back.
The female half rushed me. I jumped the table of medical gloves and cotton swabs with startling grace. There was a second when I acknowledged that I shouldnt have been able to do that. Not clear a five-foot table with one jump. Especially when I hadnt even looked behind me, but then the heel of my shoe slammed into the cart, crashing it into the females chest. The three Guards struggled on the floor in various degrees of pain.
The white walls of the med office spun as I turned around, facing the cowering pure.
I still dont have a choice?
He edged along the wall, his face as white as his coat, hands held out in front of him as if that could stop me. I took a step toward him out of maliciousness. Not like Id actually hit a pure again. He bolted for the door yelling, Guards! Guards!
Several of the halfs looked shocked, like they too couldnt believe what Id just done. Two of them looked like they wanted to join the melee.
You dont have to do this, I said earnestly. They cant make you if you dont
My words were cut off by the first Guard. Recovering, he jumped to his feet. Miss Andros, you have made a very unwise decision. No one would have hurt you.
I wheeled around. They werent going to come at me one at a time now. Some of the rage ebbed as I stumbled backward. Time stopped moving so fast. The three of them rushed me at once. I managed to knock one of the Guards aside, but another grabbed hold of my arm. I would have had him too, I swear, but the swarm of Guards entering the room distracted me.
So did the two halfs blocking their entrance, putting up a decent fight. I almost smiled, but a heartbeat later,
I was pinned to the cold tile. Two of the male Guards held my arms down, and the female half literally sat on top of me. I bucked, trying to free myself.
Stop. She grabbed the sides of my head and forced it back. Blood trickled from her nose. Stop fighting us. No one wants to hurt you.
I could hear the scuffle by the door. Youre hurting me now, I gasped out. Youre busting my spleen.
The commotion caused by the fighting quickly ceased, and for a moment, all I could hear was the sound of my heartbeat slamming against my ribs painfully. Okay. Im done.
She glared down at me. Well decide when youre done.
No. I will decide when you are done. And you are done with her, came a new
voiceone that was both as cold and as hard as it was oddly musical.
The weight on my chest suddenly vanished, along with the Guard. She flew across the med room, slamming into one of the many carts lining the walls. I rolled onto my knees, drawing in air.
Seth took one step into the room, eyes simmering with anger. You. Help her up now.
But we have our orders. She refused to comply. said the Guard.