<b>Chapter </b><b>17</b>


    The first room I walk into has to be Neil’s, I know because the artwork hanging up screams Neil’s entire personality. It’s clean, neat and immacte in all it’s glory. His sheets are pressed into perfect lines on his bed. The wood around the room is light and refreshing. There’s one window that looks out into ake next to the pyramid. Fish swim by like the window doesn’t exist. Mia points them out and coos


    “Yes, Mia,” I say “Fishies!”


    She <b>says </b>something back that sounds mildly like my words. Iugh at Iser. I give the room a once over and don’t see my dagger. I am too worried of messing up the perfection to dig through anything. Quietly, Mia and I leave Neil’s room and head into the <b>second </b>room. It’s most definitely Archer’s.


    It’s littered with trophies out the wazoo. Medals hang from the shelf that contains all of them. The bedspread is so ssically boy: navy blue. There’s several posters hanging up. I recognize a few of the men as warriors. I scoff at the thought of having such a ridiculous poster. I look a little deeper for the dagger in Archer’s room. Still, I find nothing


    The next room is Beau’s judging by theck of order. There’s shit everywhere. Most of it is piles of leather jackets or leather pants. There’s <b>a </b>few random spikey jackets. The posters in this room are women in lewd positions and minimal amount of clothing. I shift Mia in my arms so she doesn’t see it. There’s a <b>few </b>band posters of bands I’ve heard the guys in Greendale <b>talk </b>about.


    I go through the piles of shit, hoping to find my <b>dagger </b>and only find a pair ofcey ck panties. I shudder and drop them then all but sprint out of Beau’s room. I’m half convinced I just got some sort of disease by touching them.


    Thest room is Steven’s. It’s neat and orderly but very small. I’m confused until I turn the corner. There’s a giant wall of windows that leads into what looks like ab. Random bubbling potions are set on the counters. There’s also a coat hung out next to the ss wall,beled with “S. HAYES Ph.D. I snort at it. Of course they’d have to make sure everyone knew who they were. <b>I </b><b>shift </b>through a few of the drawers outside


    theb and still, no dagger.


    ilet out a frustrated cry. Mia touches my face, as if she knows I’m upset. I kiss the center of her palm. I need that damn dagger. It’s the only thing I have to protect myself. I’m determined to survive the rest of my time in the Pyramid and my time after. I will be a warrior if it almost kills me, toughpetition and grueling training be damned.


    I’m back in the hallway that has the brother’s rooms when I hear <b>a </b><b>bell </b>ring, I quickly scamper back off to mine and Mia’s rooms. I guess won’t be doing a second pass to look for my dagger after all. I sigh and set Mia <b>in </b>her crib. She yawns and rubs at her eyes. She must be exhausted from our adventure.


    I soothe her to sleep and settle back in the rocking chair. I fiddle with my phone before it starts buzzing in my hand. I nce at Mia then s outside to take the call..


    “Hello<b>?</b>”


    “Chloel How are you, love?”


    I sigh in relief. It’s my


    y mom. I wipe my hand over my face. “I’m good. How are you?”


    “Splendid!” she says.


    “But enough about me, I wanna know about this new school. Is it really as affluent as Isaac says it is.”


    “It’s…” I try and put into words the nonsense I’ve endured the past few days. “Something.”


    Mom Laughs. “Sounds interesting.”


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    Chapter 17


    _____“That it is,” I sigh.


    “And Wyatt? He’s being nice to you? Helpful


    46%


    I frown. I contemte telling my mom about how much worse Wyatt has made this for me. I think about her and Isaac in their little blissful bubble of happiness. Who knows what kind of argument that would cause.


    “Yeah,” say Better to keep it as vague as possible. But Mom knows me.


    “Okay?” she halfughs. “How’s ss?”


    <b>ve</b>.” I say


    Informative<b>,</b>” say


    Momughs again. I can almost hear her shaking her head. “One word answers<b>,</b><b>” </b>she says. “Who are you and what have you done with my


    Chloe


    “I’m just tired,” I say. Not a lie. If anything, it’s the only truth I’ve spoken.


    “Okay.” Mom says. She pauses. “You’ll tell me if you don’t like it there, right? Isaac knows p could send you back to Greendale-


    knows people. He can pull some strings for you. Or we


    “No!” I shout, almost frantically. I clear my throat. “No. I don’t want to leave. It’s good here. This will be good for me.”


    “As long as you


    u think so,” Mom says. “I just want you to be safe.”


    “I’m safe, Mom,” I say. I try and switch the conversation, eager to get me away from telling more lies. “How was Prague with Isaac?”


    “Oh, Chloe,” Mom gasps. “It was beautiful.”


    She


    goes on for another while about the trip and all the nice stuff they did. Her whole closet is designer now, she says. She’s also into snorkeling now, something I never could picture my mom doing. It’s nice, hearing her happy. With the amount of dickwads she dated before. Issac, it’s rare she’s this at peace. S


    ugh a story about the sales associate at Chanel when I hear stirring within the room. Mia must’ve woken up for her night


    he’s halfway through a


    feeding.


    “Mom,” I cut her off gently. “I’m sorry but I have to go.”


    “Oh,” she sounds disappointed. “Okay<b>. </b>We’ll be safe. I love you!”


    “I love you too,” I say and let the phone hit it’s dial tone.


    I make my dreams I look down at the phone somberly. I miss my mom more than anything. But I know this is the ce for me. This is how reality. Even if it means ying babysitter to some kid that apparently appeared from thin air. Another noisees from inside the room and I go back in. Mia kicks her legs and giggles inside the crib. I gently pull her into my arms and get a bottle warming for her. I rock the two of us in the rocking chair and wonder what life would be like if I <b>was </b>still in Greendale.


    Certainly not like this.


    The next morning, Mia’s awake and fussy. She won’t take her bottle and keeps trying to eat my hair. I sigh and make my way into the kitchen. I n on cutting up some berries, super small, and giving them to her. My n is thwarted when I look into the kitchen and see someone! didn’t expect to be there.


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