IAN'

e taken th

I stepped into the east hallway-the one by the gym. The floo

s hallway.

Laughter. The kind that didn't sou

my he

om. My math binder was barely holding together with duct tape,

tor's closet. Tha

oo

ead, drenching my hoodie and jeans in one second

n bucket ful

pretending to be shocked-and then

with mock innocence. "Gues

hered down my back, into my socks. My backpack

ed my skin-the flush of shame crawling up my neck,

ht," another voice muttered. That

ers, holding the empty bucket like it was a trophy. He s

e of shit," I

hand to his ear. "Did the dro

r. The kind

but I didn't move. What was I gonna do? Hit him? The

I always did.

le. My jeans clung to my thighs, heavy and humiliatin

om mirror

e clinging to me like a second skin. I peeled it off slowly, my arms t

irt underneath was just as drenched.

ok it o

rs. The stares. But I had a test today-History, third period. I h

sloshed inside them when I shif

y made that horrible peeling sound w

en I w

kpack clinging to one sh

arder with every s

he door open. Heads turned. Then came the laugh

the he

come from a

ne forgot th

e it helped. I didn't look at any of them. Not even Emm

lue marker still in his hand, his

an?" H

ate. I... I had an accident

ou can go to th

er than I felt. "I'm fine. I j

Someone faked a sneez

n't r

with every step. My skin stuck to the cold plastic cha

by the sound of pens scratching and chair

hroat, the way it throbbed like it was trying to choke me from the inside.

ll picked

to be more than the boy with

urn behind my eyes.

nd leave the room. Then, I saw Dorian stan

ath hi

~

Keene in front of the other students. I was seen as a rat in t

ce came from the left side and

to be more careful. Why were you having such attack

y." I lied right

matic Stress Disorder. And it was all beca

ry flash of it. How I ended up dumped in the trash like I was n

n my room is on. I still hide inside my

baby. I run around the house, frantic, like I'm try

ntrol. I really thought I d

yet... he's also my obsession-the one I need to crush to finally breathe fr

your medication?" The doctor as

I was just... worked up. Tha

like I hadn't just passed through anothe

ust off my suit, willing my fingers to

t up at the pharmacy unit," he said, scribbling wi

g the prescription into my jacket's front pock

ought flickered-dangerous, bitt

ene?" I asked, too casual

"Yes, but... you know I can't share patient detail

ght be hiding between the tiles on the floor. "Come o

the rules. You know tha

y fingers curled around the doorknob

to the hallway-but my mind was racing

do I pull the strings un

r to Dorian's ward opened-and

as if he hadn't ripped me apart and l

me, was steel dipped in ice. "Mr. Keene, such i

speaking a foreign language.

before I could stop it. "Are you seriously

Enterprises..." he echoed, then frowned. "I know the name. But no co

ne, steady. Alm

ay... who

st. Playing innocent. Like he didn't bra

m play. But

eene,

, her tone firm as she stepped between

into the ward-like he was frag

shut beh

y jaw clenched, my hands shaking wi

ing out that eas

. Now he's my employee. My pawn. And I swear