9

Amelia and I walk through the trees, the ground is dark and twisted, roots and plants constantly threatening to trip us up as we travel.

Above, the canopy blocks out the moonlight, making our trek all the more difficult.

Every shadow could hide danger, and every sound could herald our doom.

Technically, light wouldn't make much difference in the Gloom Dwellers chasing us, given they see in the dark, but our only forms of light are spirit powers, which would only draw extra attention.

"Shouldn't we be contacting the Order to get us out?" I ask, finally.

Amelia shakes her head. "It'd be a good idea, but none of us are given that ability."

I frown.

"You're saying we have no emergency distress call function...?"

"Well...." She offers me a small smile.

"It isn't necessary. The Order keeps track of us. Evidently not instantaneous track, but I'm sure by tomorrow they'll have noticed what happened and bring reinforcements to get us out of here. We jut have to survive the night at worst."

That's...annoying.

There are four teachers: Classmaster Thomson, Instructor Lockton, Instructor Minerva, and Instructor Maxwell.

None of them are on this island, but if they're watching, at least one or two of them have been assigned to do so. Probably not Thomson, since he'd be too busy. If they're watching, they must be on another nearby island.

Depending on how far away that island is, they should show up to pull us out after that near-miss soon.

After all, the Gloom Dwellers didn't go away, they just...backed off. 

They could come back at any time, better prepared for my...whatever that was.

The students present are a grand total of nineteen people including myself.

Amelia and Flynn, of course. Thomas and his sister Nicole, the latter of which provided the shelter for their little island party with her spirit powers.

The sisters Rachel and Rayne, and Rayne's friend Dominic.

Rich and Sonia, both of whom have such annoying voices I don't want to listen to them say anything.

Francis and his three lackeys who are so unremarkable I can't remember a single one of their names.

Meredith and her best friend Gracie who is never seen without her.

Michael, who keeps to himself and seems annoyed that socialization sometimes interferes with his studying.

And finally, Leah and her little brother Archie.

Archie is the only one I like.

We're not friends.

We basically don't interact.

But I like him.

He's quiet and he doesn't cause any fuss. He also gives me answers for exams whenever I run into him, without expecting anything in exchange.

He just seems to get along with everyone without trying, and no one really cares about him.

He's exactly the kind of person I'd like to be if I could choose to be someone.

Except I'm not quiet or content. I'm quiet, but not content. And I actively make sure I don't get along with anyone.

At least I try to.

For some reason Amelia and Flynn are broken and don't get the message.

Well, whatever.

We eventually make it to a small cave where everyone is hidden away in.

I don't realize it's a cave until we get there and one of them - Rayne, was it? - uses their spirit powers to move the dirt and reopen a cave mouth that had been hidden.

Amelia ducks inside, and I follow along behind her, blinking rapidly in the sudden torch-light that illuminates the cavernous area.

"This is perfect, great job, Rayne." Flynn is already settling into a seat on one of the benches Nicole created from the stone. "It's secure, and it's warm enough we can weather the night here with no issue."

"And with no food," Thomas gripes.

"...You're alive." I say.

Thomas glares at me. "I didn't ask for a tainted blood answer."

I stare at Thomas.

Amelia storms over to Thomas, eyes burning with fury. "Stop complaining! It's because of Caden we're all not dead! Or is your stomach so small that you're willing to be dead rather than be hungry?"

"And what did he do?" Thomas challenged. "All I saw was a Tainted Blood walking away with Gloom Dwellers, and here he is now, unharmed. Seems more likely he summoned them in the first place."

Everyone goes silent.

It's a stark reminder that as far as anyone other than Amelia, Flynn, and maybe Archie is concerned, I'm useless and shouldn't even be here.

But, it's also the truth.

So, if I'm being fair to the bastard, that's exactly what he thinks happened.

And judging by everyone else's reactions, they probably believe it too.

Amelia moves to open her mouth to defend me, but I gently place my hand on her shoulder, stopping her. "Don't bother."

"What?" She gazes up at me with confusion in her eyes.

"Don't bother defending me. I don't need you to. Just leave it, I'm used to it. If the rest of them believe I lured a Gloom Dweller here, so be it."

Her eyes fill with pity as they widen, but I don't let that affect me. I ignore it.

"...But you just saved everyone..." She mutters.

I shrug.

Before I can answer, Flynn intervenes.

"I don't care who's a tainted blood and who's pure. Right now we're humans and they're Gloom Dwellers, and if anyone starts in-fighting while we're supposed to be surviving, I'll personally eject them to face the Gloom Dwellers out there alone."

Silence falls over the cave.

That's surprising.

Flynn is the ultimate playboy and doesn't seem like he takes anything seriously.

To hear that tone from him is actually somewhat...impressive.

Everyone does stop their in-fighting, and the silence extends a while.

Flynn lets out a slow exhale, and then sits back.

"Thought I'd never see you alive again, Caden."

Sonia says something that my mind automatically filters out due to how annoying she sounds.

Meredith follows up on it - probably, maybe she says it independently. "He cried."

Rayne adds with a mocking sneer: "Yeah, he totally sobbed his heart out."

Flynn stutters. "I-I didn't!"

"We were worried Caden wouldn't survive." Amelia's gaze pierces through the group of students.

She's challenging each of them to speak against it, daring them to argue.

"Of course I was worried!" Flynn looks around frantically as the students watch him. "He's a fellow classmate, so of course I was worried!"

Flynn looks genuinely distressed. I've not seen him like that before.

I feel...bad about him getting teased on my account.

I pat him on the back. "Thanks, Flynn."

I think about adding a sarcastic 'I guess.' But...I think I'm tired.

Or something.