Abigail

I wonder what would happen if the walls caved in around me. Would I suffocate under the weight, or are they light enough that I could crawl my way out? Would I even try to crawl my way out, if they did collapse?

At night, I am surrounded by complete darkness. I cannot light the candle with my arms tied behind my back. I cannot see the stars from the small window.

I cling to my sister’s voice. Her stories. Her hope.

There’s a knock on my bedroom door. In the darkness, I find my way there.

“Cora?” I whisper.

“I’m here!” she says.

I smile, tears pricking the corner of my eyes. She’s here. She’s safe. She made it through another day.

“What did you see today, Cora?” I ask, like I do every day.

“We snuck onto the palace grounds today, Abby!” she begins excitedly.

“Cora!” I begin to reprimand her.

But she cuts me off and says- “They’re just like you over there, Abby!”

I pause, and Cora takes it as a sign to continue.

“They can make fire, too!”

“Who?” I ask, heartbeat picking up.

“The girls in the palace! I saw them practicing with light. But they can do other things, too! With water and air and-”

There is a crash and Cora stops speaking. I hear the booming footsteps of my step-father coming through the front door.

“Hey!” he yells, “Get away from there!”

Quinn

I opened my eyes in a place I’d never wanted to see again. Atlas’s mother’s guest room was as bright and ornate as the first time I’d slept there. I looked around the room, trying to figure out how I’d gotten there. At first, I thought I’d drank myself silly again. But the sharp pain in my left forearm sent a pang of remembrance through me.

The woman, the knife, the blood - it all came flooding back.

I gasped sharply and sat up, my heart beating wildly.

“You’re awake!”

Atlas had been sleeping in the chez lounge chair to my left.

“Elaina?” I asked - it came out as a whisper.

“She left an hour ago - she had to take care of her sisters,” Atlas said, rising from the chair. He sat on the edge of the bed and looked down at my arm. I followed his gaze.

My arm was clean - free from all the blood. A bright white bandage was wrapped tightly around the wound. I was sure underneath it I would find stitches.

“My… my dad?” I asked, not sure what happened to my attackers. Fearful that they would come back.

“We have a watcher at the house,” he assured me. “Quinn I am… I can’t even begin to… to express - “

He looked down at his hands, lost for words.

“Quinn I am so sorry,” he said finally, meeting my gaze.

“Who were they?” I whispered.

“We don’t know exactly. Our patrol is out looking for them - they can’t have gotten far. This is a very small town,” he said.

I nodded, my eyes falling. I was so tired, but I would never be able to get back to sleep here.

“Quinn, I swear to you,” he said, moving a few inches closer to me, “I swear that something like this will never happen again.”

I kept my eyes down, willing the tears to stay back. I couldn’t get the woman out of my brain. The knife in her hand. The thick red blood - my blood on her lips, in her teeth.

Atlas reached for my cheek with his right hand. I unintentionally flinched away.

“Don’t,” I muttered.

“Quinn,” he whispered, “I’m sorry.”

“I know,” I said flatly, “Why aren’t I at a hospital?”

Atlas dropped his hand and moved backwards an inch on the bed.

“We thought you’d be more comfortable here. Bringing you to the hospital would raise alarms - this shouldn’t get any more attention than necessary. But we did have a doctor treat you - a trained surgeon. Our house is fully stocked with medical supplies.”

I wanted to snort - of course this place had everything, including a personal doctor.

“Those people… they thought my blo- thought I could help them get it back?” I asked quietly, “Their manipulation, I mean.”

Atlas nodded, looking sick. My breath caught in my throat and I had trouble taking another one. I clenched my fist around the bedsheets, trying to subdue the sob that was threatening to escape.

“Shh, Quinn,” Atlas said in response to my panic. He tried to reach for me again, but I held up both hands.

“Don’t,” I warned.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered for the millionth time, “What can I do, Quinn?”

“When can I go home?”

His eyes widened in surprise.

“You want to go back there?”

“Of course,” I told him, “I can’t stay here. Those people… they can’t be the only ones.”

“That’s exactly why you should stay here,” he argued, “We can offer you much more protection here.”

“Those kinds of people live in your neighborhood, not mine.”

“But-”

“No - I won’t be a prisoner here. I want to go home. Send a watcher,” I said firmly, using my good arm to drag the blankets from my lap.

“Quinn, please! Just let me-”

I was abruptly overcome with anger, and I let my hatred show on my face.

“You’ve done enough,” I spat.

And then I left him alone - just like I’d left his mother alone here only a few days before.

*****

The bloodstain on the carpet was gone when I got home. I was sure Atlas had something to do with that. The knife was cleaned as well - back in its spot in the kitchen drawer. It was like nothing had even happened.

I slammed the drawer shut in frustration. The sound of disorganized metal utensils clanging together from within cut into the silence of my house. But it quickly died, and the quiet returned.

I had no idea how those people had gotten into my house. I went around to every window, making sure the locks still worked - they did. The backdoor was still deadbolted. And I knew the front door had been locked when I got home yesterday.

I couldn’t stomach the thought that I was unsafe here. Those people had found a way in - undetected even now - which means they could easily do it again. I had survived the first attack, but would they be back? Would others try the same thing? I choked at the thought of the woman coming back. My arm throbbed.

I crept to the window in my living room facing the street. The sleek black car was back, and that provided me some relief. But for how long would it stay there? The driver surely had to eat and sleep and take showers. Maybe he would switch off with someone else - but for how long? How long would they have to watch over me? The news was out - I’d awoken the prince. There would be more attackers - perhaps ones that might not leave me alive.

I didn’t notice that my whole body was trembling until the sob I’d been suppressing all morning cut through my throat. I fell onto the couch, trembling. I needed something - anything to calm down.

The fridge was empty. The freezer was empty. I ransacked the kitchen in search of a drink, but found nothing. Under the sink I found some rubbing alcohol and debated drinking that. But I wasn’t that desperate… yet.

I pulled out my phone and texted Elaian.

Come over - bring booze.

It was still early in the day - a little past noon. I was able to gain control over my body with the comfort of the bright light fading through the windows - there were no shadows, no places for people to hide. But I knew without a doubt that I couldn’t be sober when the sun went down.

An hour later, there was a knock at my door. I checked through the window to make sure it was Elaina before opening the door and letting her in. She held a bottle of something at her side, hidden by a brown paper bag.

“Quinn!” Elaina gasped, throwing her arms around my neck. “Oh my gosh Quinn! Are you alright?”

I hugged Elaina back lightly with one arm and then pulled away.

“Er- yeah I’m fine,” I lied, putting my bandaged arm behind my back.

“Atlas told me everything - about those psychos that attacked you! After you called me… oh there was so much blood I couldn’t believe…”

Elaina was lost for words for a second as she observed the living room, probably replaying the previous day’s events in her head.

“Atlas’s mom did a great job, though,” she noted, eyes pointed towards the carpet, “I don’t even see a stain.”

“Atlas’s mom cleaned it up?” I balked.

Elaina shrugged, “He claims she did - honestly I don’t see her as the type of person to get on her hands and knees and scrub a floor. But what do I know?”

I sat down on the couch, beckoning Elaina to do the same.

“Why was Atlas even involved?” I asked. I wasn’t mad at Elaina for involving him. I was actually grateful for her - for the fact that I didn’t end up in a hospital.

“When you called me, I was still at the school. I started running as soon as I heard your voice over the phone. I ran past him at the gates and he saw the panic on my face - saw the direction I was running in. He didn’t even ask, he just started running, too,” she said, her expression distant.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

“It was horrifying - the scene we walked in on. There was so much blood. I was frozen but Atlas - he picked you up without hesitating. He was on the phone with someone in the next second, ordering them to get a doctor and be prepared. I said we should take you to the hospital, but Atlas said his house was closer and their doctors were better. After he dropped you off, he was out half the night looking for your attackers. He was so angry when he got back. And now… well I saw the security car outside just now… Quinn, you must be so frightened.”

“I’ll be fine,” I muttered.

My phone started buzzing and I looked at the caller ID. Atlas. I clicked end and turned my phone off.

“He feels terrible,” Elaina whispered.

“Good,” I said angrily.

“Really - he was beating himself up all night. Said he never should have listened to you when you asked him to relax security. But how c-”

“Elaina,” I cut her off, grabbing the cheap bottle of wine she brought and unscrewing the lid with my good hand, “Please, please as my now sole best friend, can you please do a huge favor for me?”

She nodded, clamping her mouth shut and looking nervous. I tried to soften my face before I said the next words - not wanting to be harsh.

“Can we please not talk about Atlas for the next few hours?” I asked, “Can we just pretend things were how they were 2 weeks ago?”

Elaina smiled softly, “Of course, Quinn.”

Elaina stayed true to her promise. We spent the remainder of the day drinking and talking about nothing - pointless high school gossip, trash TV, whatever else was as far as possible from the east side of the golden gates.

But Elaina couldn’t spend the night. She looked at her phone as the sun was setting and jumped up.

“I’m so sorry Quinn, my mom leaves for work in 10 minutes. I have to go watch my sisters.”

My heart sank, but I kept my face smiling. I nodded.

“Okay, no problem,” I told her, “Thanks for today, Elaina.”

Elaina gave me a lazy one armed hug and then made her way for the door,

“Any time babe,” she said on her way out.

And then I was alone, buzzed at best but nowhere near the oblivion I wanted to- needed to find myself in. I decided to try to sleep. I made my way around the house, double checking every door and window to make sure they were secure and locked. The watcher remained outside in his car.

Lying in bed with the lights still on, I turned on my phone for the first time all day.

Quinn, I’m so sorry. How can I make this up to you?

Atlas had sent the text hours ago. I rolled my eyes.

I went to turn off the lamp next to my bed, but froze, suddenly fearing the darkness that would come. I put my hand back down on my bed, biting my lip.

“Don’t be such a baby,” I whispered to myself. I snapped off the light and fell back on my pillow.

The darkness was worse than I’d expected. Every small sound had me jumping to turn the light on. Every time I turned the light back on, I would check the windows, doors, and watcher out front. I gave up on the prospect of sleeping by 1 am. My dad still wasn’t home. I switched on every light in the house and sat on the floor of my living room watching TV.

Sleep never found me.

I was deliriously tired as I got ready for school the next morning. The already dark circles under my eyes were even more purple - the rest of my face too pale. In the mirror, I glanced at my nose ring and wanted to laugh. It had seemed so important just 2 weeks ago - a marker that my life was changing, getting better. I hadn’t thought about it in days now. The excitement I felt for it once now seemed childish.

I made sure to wear a long sleeve shirt and pull the sleeves down over my fingers.

Atlas, strangely, wasn’t in school that day. I felt relieved that I wouldn’t have to face him today. I didn’t want to hear any more useless apologies. I didn’t want to see the pity on his face when he looked at my bandaged arm.

But another small part of me was hurt by his absence. I wondered if he’d given up on trying altogether after I ignored his text yesterday. I felt so much anger towards Atlas for what he was putting me through - but I still missed his presence.

I shook my head, trying to erase the ridiculous thought. If Atlas was permanently out of my life, I could move forward. I could fix things with Jamie, Kylee would probably come around, and maybe we could all enjoy our goddamned senior year.

The bell rang, ending English class. Only one more period before I could go home and hopefully get some sleep.

“Quinn,” Mr. Valez said as I passed his desk, “Hold back for a minute?”

I nodded, too tired to feel annoyed. I sat on a desk, waiting for the room to clear, my arms wrapped around me.

“I heard what happened,” he said as the last student left, “I’m so sorry.”

My eyes shot up to meet his. “How did you hear?”

“Who do you think sewed up your arm?” he said, offering me a small smile.

“You… are a doctor?”

“Was,” he corrected, “I outgrew the profession about 50 years ago. But I still practice in emergencies.”

“Oh,” I said awkwardly, not wanting to press him for more information. Not wanting to do anything but sleep.

But 50 years didn’t make any sense… he only looked to be about-

“Wait… you-you’re from the East! I forgot…” I blurted

“I am,” he said, smiling a little brighter.

“So you haven’t… aged?” I asked quietly.

He shook his head, chuckling, “Physically, no. Not in 300 years. Perhaps mentally, though.”

“Then why do you work here?” I asked. Why do you work at this shitty ass school was what I really wanted to say.

“I’ve had many different professions in my lifetime,” he admitted, taking off his glasses, “About 20 years ago, after I lost interest in carpentry, I figured I’d give teaching a try. Turns out I really enjoy it.”

“But you’re rich,” I said, “Why have any profession at all?”

Mr. Valez folded his hands under his chin.

“I would go crazy without work,” he said kindly, “300 years is a lot of time to do nothing.”

I nodded in understanding. “And you’re hoping that I… that Atlas and I break the curse.”

He waved his hand casually in front of his face. “Oh, I could give a rat’s ass about that - pardon my language - 30 years, 300 years, heck give me a thousand - I am one of the few who enjoys immortality without manipulation.”

I nodded again, relieved, and then asked, “Why are you telling me this?”

He sighed, “The East Side can be a… complicated place. I just want you to know that you have someone in your corner. If you choose to become more introduced to our lifestyle.”

There was silence for a beat. I didn’t know if I could say thank you and mean it.

“Do you mind if I check your stitches?” he asked.

“Um, sure, yeah.”

I extended my arm towards him, and Mr. Valez gently slid my sweatshirt sleeve up, revealing the long white bandaid. He lifted the bandaid to inspect the wound. I caught a glimpse of red and purple and black and looked away quickly, not wanting to puke in his classroom.

Mr. Valez placed the bandage softly back on my skin.

“That should heal nicely,” he said, “just let me take a look at it every few days. And I’ll give you some fresh bandages. Try to replace it every day.”

“Okay um… thank you,” I said.

He searched around in his desk drawer for a moment before pulling out a stack of long white bandages. I quickly shoved them in my backpack before anyone could walk in the classroom and see me accepting a gesture of kindness from my proclaimed least favorite teacher.

“I should get to gym,” I said, sliding down off the desk.

“You should,” he agreed, “A graduation requirement - which means you need to watch how many times you skip.”

I waved him off casually as I left the classroom. He chuckled quietly behind me.

Maybe ‘least favorite teacher’ was just a bit dramatic.

****

Elaina was busy, my dad still wasn’t home, and the sun was setting. Pure fear kept me awake. I debated texting Jamie out of desperation as I lay in bed staring at the ceiling. I’d given up trying to turn the lights out.

An idea hit me - and I took out my phone. My mind was racing with all the reasons I shouldn’t be texting Atlas Ellroy. I was only adding fire to the flame. He was the reason I couldn’t sleep. Him and his East Side freaks. He had - albeit unintentionally - unleashed an unknown world upon me. I was unprepared and undesiring for this world.

But still, I texted him Come over.

It was a stupid idea, but I didn’t trust the watcher waiting outside. He didn’t have any view of our small backyard or the windows that faced it. And I couldn’t live my life in fear of the dark.

Atlas owed me this.

Ten minutes later, Atlas appeared on my front porch. I opened the door to let him inside, not saying anything. He looked around my tiny living room - it probably looked like a broom closet compared to where he lived. Embarrassed by the outdated furniture and clutter, I cleared my throat to get his attention.

“Where were you today?” I asked him quietly, leaning against the doorframe and crossing my arms.

“I was… dealing with them,” he muttered, his eyes darkening. I started to ask who, but then I realized - he meant my attackers.

“You found them?”

He nodded, “One of our watchers did. They were hiding out in some abandoned house on the outskirts of Fairview. They left a trail of blood.”

I shuddered - my blood.

“What did you do to them?” I whispered, debating if I wanted to know the truth.

His mouth thinned and he said in a strained voice, “The East Side has our own way of dealing with the wicked. Trust me, Quinn, you will never see those people again.”

I nodded, looking down at my feet. Silent.

“There could be others,” I said finally.

“I doubt there will be - not after word gets out about what happened to the first ones,” he said, clenching his fists and then flexing his fingers, “But still, you’ll be protected - at all times.”

“You can’t know that,” I argued, feeling myself begin to panic. “They came in here without breaking any windows. My doors were locked. The windows were locked. There’s no way they should have been able to - but they did.”

“You’re right, Quinn, I-”

“And what about when I’m not at home? What if I ever want to go somewhere else? Am I just supposed to live with this? Live in fear of people getting to me to fucking drink my blood? Just spend my life looking over my shoulder? Hoping the security guard doesn’t fall asleep? I c-can’t live like that!”

The tears were overflowing, pouring down my face. I didn’t care that he was seeing me cry. I stared at him desperately, waiting for answers. Hoping he had some sort of solution.

“I know, Quinn,” he whispered, taking a step towards me. When I didn’t flinch away, he came closer. “I know. And I know apologizing doesn’t help, but just for my own sanity I need to tell you once more how sorry I am for everything. I would change myself back into stone if it meant you could go back to living your normal life. Truthfully, I would.”

He put both of his hands on the sides of my face and used his thumbs to wipe away my tears. I looked up at him, letting him speak - finding a strange comfort in his voice.

“We’ll find a long term solution - I swear we will. I’ll hire a personal bodyguard to follow you around if I have to,” he said.

I closed my eyes, his hands still on my cheeks, and one final tear slipped out. He brushed it away with his thumb, and then wrapped his arms around me in a tight embrace.

I’m not sure if it was sleep deprivation or utter desperation, but I hugged him back. For the first time in 2 days, I felt safe. Safe in his warmth and strength.

But the feeling wasn’t real.

I was the first to pull back.

“I haven’t been able to sleep,” I admitted, “Would you mind - um - spending the night?”

The request had sounded better in my head when I was still mad at him. Now, asking Atlas - asking the prince to spend the night on my dingy green couch felt wrong. I opened my mouth to take back the request.

“I’d love to,” he said before I could change my mind.

“Are you sure?” I asked.

He nodded, “It’s the least I can do. Is your dad going to come home and be concerned about the stranger sleeping on the couch?”

“He’s on a bender… hasn’t been back in days.”

“And you’re not concerned?”

“Nope,” I said truthfully, “He does this all the time.”

Atlas laughed lightly and then sat on the couch. He bounced a few times and made a face of approval.

“Not bad,” he said.

“Sorry,” I cringed, wondering if he would be too tall to sleep comfortably on the couch.

“Don’t be. Please.”

“We could switch - you could take my bed and I-”

“Don’t even think about finishing that sentence.”

I smirked.

“What about your parents? Will they be fine with you sleeping over a strange girl’s house?” I asked, a smile playing at the corners of my lips.

“Psht, my mom will be thrilled. Although this will definitely put the wrong idea in her head. She’s probably getting her hopes up already,” he said.

My face fell. I’d forgotten the part about an entire neighborhood of people relying on us to gain back their mortality. Stop torturing my son she had told me, accept fate so we can all move on. I swallowed thickly and turned away from him.

“I’m going to try to sleep,” I said, “Do you need anything?”

“A pillow?” he asked gently, sensing my change in mood.

I nodded and went to my bedroom, taking the spare pillow from my bed. I grabbed the throw blanket at the end of my bed as well and brought them out to him.

“Thank you, Quinn,” he said.

“Thank you,” I told him, “Er… Goodnight.”

“Goodnight, Quinn,” he said as I disappeared into the hallway leading to the bedrooms.