Miracle's POV (The present)
I pushed the painful memories away and forced myself to focus on now. I took a deep breath, but the heavy weight in my chest only felt heavier.
I stood up on shaky legs. Dinner was probably over. It was time to get back on the bus, continue this horrible journey, and eventually go home.
I followed the path back until I heard voices. I was back around people again.
I was almost to the small cafeteria when two boys stepped out, blocking my way. I didn't know them, but I recognized one as Ramsey's friend.
"Can I help you?" I asked. My voice was flat.
Truthfully, I was too tired and sad to be scared. I already knew the world was a horrible place.
I felt tears well up in my eyes. My sadness was so big there was no room for fear. I just looked at them, waiting.
Before I could figure out what they wanted, Ramsey walked up with two others—a boy and a girl.
"What do you want?" I asked their leader.
Instead of answering, the girl shoved me hard. I fell to the ground. It was almost comfortable there. I didn't move.
"Real mature, asshole," I spat out.
She stayed quiet, but Ramsey didn't. He crouched down and grabbed my cheek roughly.
"You shouldn't talk to me like that," he said. "Your protector isn't here now, is he?"
If I had more energy, I'd have told him he was hallucinating. I didn't have a protector.
"Are you done?" I asked. If the bullying was over, I wanted to go back to the bus to find food and maybe have a good cry.
"You threatened to cut my throat," he hissed. "You have no idea who you're dealing with."
Boy, was he wrong.
They were werewolves. Ramsey hid his scent well, but the girl didn't. She was beta blood. If one was a wolf, they all were.
"I didn't think Oswald had your kind," I told him.
"My kind? What does that mean?" Ramsey asked.
"Wolves, stupid," I said. "You must be Alpha blood if these idiots take orders from you. They must have really low self-esteem. Not that yours is any better."
The girl stepped forward and smacked me across the face. My teeth cut into my lip, and I tasted blood.
It was a welcome change. The physical pain was a relief from the emotional pain.
I spat blood onto the ground. I didn't fight back. I could maybe take her, but I'd be a fool to try and fight an Alpha and four wolves all by myself. Especially without my own wolf.
"What are you?" he demanded. "You're hiding your scent."
"Backward people like you call us abominations," I told him. "We prefer 'heretics'."
He took a step back. He wasn't sure if I had my powers. If I did, he was dead.
"You're a hybrid," he whispered.
"Yes, genius. I'm a hybrid," I said, my voice getting stronger. I was buying time, hoping an adult would notice we were missing. "That means there's a 50% chance a near-death experience triggered my powers. If it did, I could rip you apart. Even though I'm half-human, half-werewolf, I'm better than both. I get all your strengths—super speed, healing, reflexes. And none of your weaknesses. I don't need a pack. I don't have to break my body to shift. I'm your worst nightmare. So back off!"
I held his gaze, praying he wouldn't call my bluff and just beat me up. I had no powers. I'd had plenty of near-death experiences, but nothing ever happened.
Ramsey stood up and moved back. It looked like my plan was working. But then he stopped.
"You don't have your powers yet, do you?" he asked.
"Only one way to find out," I said, trying to sound brave.
He leaned down close to my face. "No, you don't. You would have attacked me already if you did."
He stood up and laughed loudly. "You're helpless! No one is coming to save you!"
His pack laughed with him. I knew he was right. No one was coming. Xavier was halfway home. My father wouldn't even say my name. I was completely alone.
"I was raised right, so I don't hit girls," Ramsey said. "But threats get answered with violence. Nancy here will beat you senseless. Right, Nance?"
The girl smiled a wide, nasty smile. She couldn't wait to hit me.
Great. Out of the frying pan and into the fire. The only good thing was I might get knocked out and sleep through half of this military nightmare.
"Well, what the hell? Bring it on!" a voice called out from behind us. "Who doesn't love a good knock on the head, Ramsey?"
I turned. Hardy was standing there, holding a plate of food.
I wondered if he knew what he was walking into. He was probably going to get hurt, too.
He took a step toward Ramsey. I expected a fight, but Ramsey just looked at me.
"Come on, guys. She's not worth it," Ramsey said. He walked away, his followers trailing behind him.
The boy with dark hair—Hardy—turned his attention to me. His voice was softer when he spoke.
"Are you alright?"