Vicious Minds (Children of Vice 4)

“How long is it going to take you to pass this test, Calliope?” His voice called from above, from the place where there was light.

“It hurts.” I whispered. My throat was so dry. I wanted water. Just a little bit of water. “Please.”

“Still begging? I’m disappointed in you, Calliope.” Her voice sounded above me too as they pushed the cover over and I watched the blue sky disappear bit by bit until there was no sky. No light. Just darkness.

“Get away.” I waved my arms to make sure the rats didn’t come close…not again. If I was still, if I didn’t move, they’d bite again. Panicked, I rolled on to my side, but my legs wouldn’t turn with me. Reaching down to my thigh I pulled it over, screaming as I did.

I can’t stay still. I can’t stay here.

On my stomach I crawled just a little bit reaching out blindly, my hands trying to feel for the rope.

“Come on. Come on, where are you?” I was trying not to lose it but I did. I was so tired and angry even though I wasn’t sure who to be mad at.

“I’m not staying here,” I said, pulling myself up. The rope dug and burned my hands and I was sure they were bleeding, as I pulled myself up. I didn’t have any feeling below my stomach and it made everything else heavy. But still I didn’t stop, not until there was no rope left. I reached up and almost slipped back down. I didn’t have the strength to hold on with just one hand. But I had to get the lid open.

I wanted to kick it. The thought of figuring out how the hell I’d do that was funny. Who was I, Lara Croft? I couldn’t flip like that.

They’ll check on me, I’ll just wait. No. I didn’t want to wait…I couldn’t wait. Clutching the rope tighter I pulled myself up and used the only other part of my body that worked…my head. I rammed my head up into the bottom of the lid moving it bit by bit over and over again until I saw a small crack of orange light. I felt a warm liquid drip down my head but I didn’t stop. I kept going until the crack widened and I would have kept going until I could free myself, but the cover lifted. Everything was orange and pink for a second before I could see their faces.

My grandmother…my grandfather. They stood.

My grandmother smiled widely, her wrinkled face filled with joy as both of them reached out their hands for me to take.

“I knew you wouldn’t disappoint us. Come on, we’ll help you,” my grandfather said, a small grin on his scruffy hard face.

I looked between them both before shaking my head no and grabbing on to the edge of the well. The stone was smooth and slippery under my fingertips but I wouldn’t let myself fall now. And I didn’t know if I really passed yet. If I took their hands, they could drop me back. I needed to get out myself.

“Good,” my grandmother said when I fell on to the grass beside the well with a thud. She knelt beside me and I could feel her long silver-blonde hair on my face as she poured water on my head, I really wished she’d poured it in my mouth. “You can’t trust anyone, Calliope, not even us. We are going to push you as hard as we can. I will not stop, hate me if you must but you will be strong enough. You have to be, do you know why?”

I nodded reaching up and grabbing the water from her. “I have to protect our family.”

“No.” My grandfather knelt beside me stopping me before I could drink, and his eyes stared directly into my mine. “So you can avenge our family. You will be our weapon, and together, we will destroy the Callahan family for what they have done to us.”

“And then my mom and dad won’t hate me?” I asked him to make sure.

My grandmother kissed the side of my head. “Then you will be loved by millions, Calliope. You will deliver hope and justice. You’ll be our greatest hero. Drink. We have so much work to do to make sure you are strong enough.”

I nodded, drinking the water.

“They will never see you coming,” my grandfather muttered to himself before I fell asleep.

CALLIOPE - NOW

When my eyes snapped open, the first thing I saw were fingers, little tiny fingers. Shifting my head, her hand fell to the side of my face. Gigi slept on the pillows r

ight between…between Ethan and me. His arm was over her and his hand was on my waist. Gigi slept as if she were queen of the whole bed. Her arms outstretched, her legs too. Slowly I peeled myself away towards the edge of the bed. Rising from the bed I went to the bathroom, taking my phone with me.

Shutting the door silently behind me, I walked to the mirror, turning on the water before dialing. She answered on the first ring but didn’t speak.

I glanced at my reflection, my brown hair a mess of waves, noting the coldness in my own grey eyes.

“I’m in,” I whispered softly.

“How long will it take you win over the rest of them?”

“With Ethan at my side…soon.”

“You’re in love with him.”