Chapter Six
They put Gideon back in his wheelchair as soon we were done speaking. They kept him on the other end of the line of people behind the podium, as far away from me as the guard who had taken my crutches could manage. My leg burned and my chest ached like someone had punched through my ribs and flattened my heart.
I tried to focus on what Director Holbeck was saying as she addressed the crowd. But a high-pitched buzzing filled my brain, and I couldn’t hear past the sound. The noise of it dug down into my spine. I almost missed the bang that had haunted me for days.
A doctor spoke after Director Holbeck. I couldn’t hear him either.
I watched Alec. He didn’t flinch at whatever the Director and the doctor said. Not a single raised eyebrow or clenched jaw. He’d turned to stone. I
