“STUDENTS!” yells a booming voice and a powerful light shines down the hallway. We all turn to see the source of the announcement. Headmaster Novac, accompanied by a flock of professors holding their own high-powered flashlights, stands at the end of the hall. “Everyone come to the dining hall!”
I poke my head in to get Erin, and we join the rest of the students on the trek to the dining hall together.
Battery-powered lights have been set up downstairs, so we all turn off our flashlights as we sit. The headmaster and professors have commandeered a long table to set up at the front of the hall near the kitchens. It’s lined with flickering candles and more lamps. Headmaster Novac spryly climbs onto the table and stands there, waiting for everyone to file in and get settled.
“Everyone here?” he asks in a carrying voice, his eyes scanning the crowd. “Good. As you’ve all observed, we’ve suffered a power outage due to the heavy snowfall.”
There’s some muttering, and Novac waits for it to die down before continuing.
“Unfortunately, we must wait for crews to get up the mountain to restore our power. The snow isn’t expected to stop for several days, so there’s no telling when that might be.”
At this, there’s an uproar. I look around as people get to their feet, shouting in protest. I never knew the students here felt so strongly about this sort of thing. Beside me, Erin looks pale.
I think it’s stupid to raise a fuss, especially when there’s nothing anyone can do about it.
Novac waits for a moment and then shouts “SILENCE!” Everyone calms down immediately. He glares at us before continuing. “Classes will continue as normal. The school has a large supply of candles, and we’ll use those for the time being. Grab some before you head back to your dorms. Dismissed.”
There’s a rush for the pile of candles Novac indicates, but there’s staff to make sure no one takes more than they need. I push my way through the crowd and grab a handful for me and Erin and head back to the dorm with her.
“This sucks,” I mutter. “It’s already hard enough to study. Next thing you know, they’ll be telling us to take the menagerie monsters to bed with us to keep them warm.”
Erin nods. She’s still pale. I set a hand on her shoulder.
“Hey. You okay?”
“I don’t like the dark,” she whispers.
I smile at her. “You’re such a scaredy-cat,” I tease, and finally, she smiles back.
I find myself wanting to talk to Sawyer about the power outage, but every time I pass by the door to his and Bennett’s room, I pause, but I can’t bring myself to knock. I don’t know where to begin with Sawyer yet.
Studying becomes its own kind of torture. Our days change dramatically, starting later and ending early. The kitchens resort to canned goods and rations—as if the usual fare wasn’t barely palatable already. We take to studying in the library with a bunch of other students. With all the candles combined there’s more light; but it’s still hard to read anything with the flickering shadows.
After three days of getting dirty looks from the librarian, Erin and I finally give up on that too. I know she’s just watching out for her many precious books, but I can only take so much.
I’m exhausted and at the same time, fidgety. We haven’t been able to do proper PW training since the break-in, which must be going on two or three weeks now.
Erin and I gather our things and head out of the library. The halls are lined now with old-fashioned posts holding candles, but that doesn’t help much. It’s still dim, the shadows dark and flickering.
We turn a corner down the hall and spot Sawyer, alone, walking with a candle and a bottle of something under his arm, and I make a snap decision.
“You go on ahead,” I tell Erin. “I’ll be there in a bit.”
Distracted, Erin just nods and keeps walking. I break off and head after Sawyer.
I can’t stand this thing between us. I can’t stand not being near him. I can’t stand not talking to him. I haven’t decided if I’m ready or even able to forgive him for what he did, but I need answers.
I quicken my pace. He glances over his shoulder, sees me, and speeds up.
“Sawyer!” I call out. He breaks into a run. So do I.
If it’s a chase you want, it’s a chase you’ll get.
He leads me through the dim halls, the candles throwing weird shadows around corners. I have to rely on my instincts to hear his footsteps. He comes to a door and throws it open, darting out into darkness. I follow.
We plunge outside into the night and are immediately slowed by the snow, but he keeps going. I trudge after him, only briefly wondering why there’s no guard at the door. He’s fast, but I’m small and light—the snowbanks are no match for me.
“Sawyer, please!” I gasp, and he finally stops.