Chapter 2 2.

- POV MEGAN

Wait, isn't that the last name of the first two? This is so confusing. Like the previous ones, there's no sign of your gift. Why are they keeping this from me? I lose the will to continue looking at the file, afraid that it might get worse, but I face the last page determined to get it over with. Tristan Davis, years old, student at Hill University. Simply the son of the current fucking president of the Gifted Council. I throw the file on the table, huffing my frustration. I'm fucked. I lose track of how long I've been waiting for someone to come and talk to me. I'm told they're going to call my companions to let them know I've been found. My stomach rumbles, reminding me that my last meal was lunch the day before. After I was captured and left in this room, no one came back. I wasn't even offered a glass of water. That's what you should expect if you run away from your companions. I wonder if the Council will want to force the bond. That would be rape. My body shudders at the thought of such barbarity. The Gifted system can be very misogynistic. When the center is a woman, we're treated like cheap commodities. “Take everything you can, I'm here to serve you.” I refuse to accept the obligation to live with men I don't even know properly. Would my companions do that? Would they be so cruel and vindictive? Will I be forced to live with men who only want the power they can suck out of my body? My thoughts are interrupted by the lock on the door being unlocked. My heart leaps out of my mouth as the door opens and four men walk quietly in. The first is the nice blond man. Noah doesn't seem so nice in person his face is scowling, as is the one I recognize as Shadow. None of them look in my direction, only the man I recognize as Ace stares openly at me with a cruel smile on his face. I try to hide the nervousness in my body by wearing the dullest expression I can manage. They can't realize how much they shake me. I can't be afraid of them. Everyone sits down, Noah on my left, Shadow and Ace on my right, leaving the chair opposite for Nathan. There's no sign of Tristan. Nathan raises an eyebrow at the closed file in front of me. He looks like a fortress: powerless, strong, powerful, unshakeable... I close off my senses so as not to smell the masculine scent that has taken over the room, eliminating all that chlorine smell for something spicy. I look at each of them with an air of debauchery... if they think they're going to scare me, they're sorely mistaken. “If you're expecting an explanation or an apology, I must warn you that there won't be one.” I manage to say without flinching, breaking the awkward silence. Shadow clenches his fist over the table, probably trying to control his anger, but despite his reaction, he continues to ignore me. Nathan arches his eyebrow further, staring at me as if he could snatch my life away at any second. “You see that? The girl thinks we expect something from her.” Ace replied with contempt. “I can't believe we were fated to have a runaway child. She can be thrown in a cell and rot for all I care.” My chest tightens at his voice. It sounds like a knife in my heart. “That would be too little for her, too easy. She deserves to suffer everything we've suffered over the last few years.” Noah stares at me with his eyes promising me hell. I'm already there, baby! I smile sweetly trying not to show how much his words hurt me, the bond inside me pushes through my stomach, causing the nausea to return. Don't you dare vomit in front of your companions, bitch. I scold myself internally. “Hm, did you suffer, darling? What a sin...” “You think that's funny?” Nathan's cutting voice echoes through the room. “Do you realize how much trouble you've caused us? How many resources and money were used to find you? We've been dealing with the problems you've caused us since you disappeared in your act of childish rebellion.” I stare at my older companion sitting in front of me, his face a stone. I'd do anything to change that countenance... but I can't. “After all these years, we've finally found our central companion, only for her to be a dirty brat who makes fun of us. I can't see any funny bits!” I swallow dry, trying to keep my posture. “Let me go. I don't want to be around you...” “You have no choice, chérie.” Ace says quietly, only now realizing his slight French accent. “You belong to us and we decide what to do with you. Isn't that what you've been running away from for six years? From the monsters who would control your life? It's time we lived up to the reputation for cruelty you've bestowed on us.” He smiles, showing his bright white teeth, but his eyes could be those of a demon. I never thought they were cruel, that's not why I stayed away from them, but I'm sure I won't be able to convince them of that. “The council is divided.” Nathan informs me, “Half want the bond to happen, regardless of your goodwill...” his eyes penetrate mine and I struggle not to turn away or show weakness. “The other half wants you to be arrested like some deserter since you haven't fulfilled your obligations to the Council.” “Good to know you're complicit in rape...” “We're not!” Nathan doesn't let me finish. “I convinced them to leave you in our care until you accept us.” “That won't happen...” “You'll go back to school and be kept under our supervision. I don't want to hear your complaints about it or your useless opinion.” He seems very calm. “You belong to us, Red. You'd better start getting used to it.” I look away and rest my eyes on Shadow, of all of them, he's the one who shows the most that he doesn't want to be here. He doesn't look in my direction. His jaw is clenched as if he's trying not to turn the tables on me. “What if I don't want to?” I defy him, fighting for my freedom. “You'll be thrown in a dirty cell and forgotten by everyone.” I try to digest his words with caution. If I'm arrested, it will be much harder to escape. If I feign obedience, perhaps I can find a loophole to escape. I can't win every battle. Sometimes you have to take steps back and push harder.