Free Web NovelChapter 20: I Want To Go Home
It was easy to hate an enemy, but much harder when you were forced to watch them bleed.
~ Rebel Beast
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Everything should have settled down after the herd attack was over, but it was only the beginning. Everywhere Aria looked, there was nothing but screams, pain, and sorrow. frёeweɓηovel.coɱ
Then someone screamed her name.
"Aria!"
Aria knew that voice. The moment she turned, she saw Brittney rushing toward her. Before she could brace herself for the impact, Brittney had already tackled her into a hug, knocking the breath from her lungs.
"You idiot!" Brittney wept in joy. "Why did you put yourself in danger like that for me?"
Except Aria hadn’t figured that out yet. Mostly because she hadn’t been thinking at the time. She was usually a sensible person.
"Don’t worry, it won’t happen a second time," Aria meant it.
Surviving Bestiaris was the goal. She couldn’t afford to let emotions get in the way. So from now on, there would be no more reckless charges toward angry bulls for Brittney. While they worked together as a team, survival was ultimately an individual responsibility.
Brittney rolled her eyes. "You’re so cold-blooded."
Except Aria thought that if being cold-blooded kept her alive, then so be it.
However, Brittney was Brittney because the next second she was already back to her cheerful self. The girl got to her feet and pulled Aria up with her.
Aria was dusting off her black pants when she heard Charlotte’s hysterical voice.
"I don’t think she’s breathing!"
Aria recognized the body immediately.
It was the girl she had seen tossed through the air by the bull.
Maverick Nightshade and another man rushed over and examined her. Then the two of them exchanged a look.
Aria knew that look. The girl was gone.
"Damn," Brittney breathed. "That’s so sad."
A sharp pain crossed Aria’s chest. Tonight, some family would receive the news that their daughter was dead. Just like that. A precious life gone.
She couldn’t help thinking about Davina in that position. The thought alone made her stomach twist. Aria’s hands clenched into fists. She had to survive no matter what.
Suddenly, a mighty roar echoed across the academy grounds, startling most of the human students. The beasts barely reacted, clearly accustomed to it. Then came the thunderous beat of wings and everyone lifted their heads toward the sky.
A dragon.
"Oh my," Charlotte gasped, completely forgetting about the dead girl lying at her feet.
Her eyes practically sparkled. This was a dream come true.
Finally, her dragon!
So close yet so far. Charlotte could already picture herself riding on its back through the clouds.
The dragon soared overhead, its massive body casting a shadow across the courtyard.
"It’s beautiful," one of the girls whispered in awe.
Unlike the others, Aria glared at the giant lizard.
She wasn’t stupid. What were the chances a herd of bulls just happened to attack the moment they arrived?
It was obviously orchestrated.
Her hands curled into fists.
What gave these creatures the right to decide who lived and who died simply because humans had crossed into their territory? A territory that hadn’t even belonged to them originally.
If the beasts were angry, they should take it up with the governments responsible, not ordinary people who had no say in the matter.
But that was how it always worked. When powerful groups went to war, it was the innocent who paid the price.
"How are we supposed to go up against a creature like that?" Brittney asked. "They’re even bigger than I imagined."
"You don’t," Aria replied. "If you want to kill a dragon, do it while it’s in human form."
"Whoa."
Brittney looked genuinely shocked. She immediately glanced around, remembering most beast shifters possessed enhanced hearing.
Lowering her voice, she whispered, "Let’s be careful with statements like that. What do you think these creatures would do if they even suspected we had an atom of ill intent toward them?"
Before Aria could answer, a shout of alarm rang out across the courtyard.
"Help me already! It hurts so much!"
The girls had gathered around a particular area.
Aria and Brittney exchanged a look before making their way over. They practically had to force themselves through the crowd.
Except Aria wasn’t prepared for the sight waiting for her on the other side.
It was Chelsea.
Karen was cradling her on the ground because the girl couldn’t stand. One of her legs had been mangled so badly that Aria’s stomach immediately turned.
Bone protruded through the torn flesh and blood soaked Chelsea’s expensive clothes, pooling beneath her on the stone pavement.
The sight was horrifying.
One of Chelsea’s friends burst into tears on the spot, unable to hold herself together any longer.
Aria didn’t know how to feel.
A small, ugly part of her couldn’t help thinking about how Chelsea had used those same legs to trip her earlier. Now they were shattered.
It felt like some twisted form of poetic justice. Then guilt followed immediately afterward. Nobody deserved this.
"Clear the way!"
Maverick Nightshade appeared beside Chelsea the next second.
Aria couldn’t help feeling sorry for him.
The man had been dealing with one disaster after another since their arrival.
"Please help me," Chelsea sobbed. "It hurts. It hurts so much."
For the first time since meeting her, Chelsea sounded genuinely terrified.
Maverick crouched beside her, his expression unreadable as he examined the injury.
"Dimitri," he called his beta.
The wolf shifter immediately appeared at his side.
"Take her to the healer. Now."
"Yes, Alpha."
Dimitri didn’t waste a second. He carefully lifted Chelsea into his arms despite her cries of pain.
The girls around her began crying harder as she was carried away. Aria watched as another beast shifter joined Dimitri, and they disappeared into one of the academy buildings.
Then Maverick commanded.
"Everyone return to the bus."
Perhaps it was shock or fear, but nobody moved.
Then Maverick’s eyes flashed yellow.
"Now!"
The growl in his voice rolled across the courtyard. Immediately, everyone scrambled into motion, hurrying toward the bus without another word.
Brittney fell into step beside Aria.
"Wait," she said suddenly. "Where’s Abigail?"
Aria blinked.
Now that Brittney mentioned it, the woman hadn’t barked an order at them since the whole thing started.
"Oh no," her stomach sank. It couldn’t be what she was thinking.
Unfortunately, there wasn’t time to think about it. The remaining shifters were already herding them toward the bus with growing urgency.
The moment they entered the bus, the atmosphere changed completely.
Nobody said a word. There were no more teasing remarks about the beast princes or academy life anymore. Instead they sat quietly in their seats, fear written all over their faces.
Seated beside Brittney again, Aria looked around the bus and relief washed through her when she spotted Alek and Trisha toward the back. The two girls looked traumatized, but they were alive. At this point, that alone felt like a blessing.
Her gaze drifted toward the front. The doors had been shut and locked. Outside, one of the beast shifters stood guard. Then a shaky sound suddenly drew her attention.
"No," Philippa whispered.
Aria turned toward the blonde girl from Chelsea’s clique and frowned. Her hands were trembling so badly she could barely keep them still.
"No, no, no..." The girl’s breathing quickened. "I can’t do this."
Several girls exchanged nervous glances.
"I can’t do this anymore." Tears streamed down Philippa’s face. "We’re all going to die."
"Philippa..." one of the girls tried cautiously.
"No!" she snapped.
The outburst startled everyone.
"We just got here and someone already died!" Her voice cracked as fresh tears spilled down her cheeks. "Did you see what happened to Chelsea? Did you see her leg? I don’t want to die. I don’t want to be here. I want to go home."
Her breathing became faster and faster.
Aria recognized what was happening, Philippa was having a panic attack
"I’M GOING TO DIE!"
"Would you shut the fuck up already?" Karen suddenly shouted, close to losing it too.
The entire bus fell silent.
Philippa looked as though she had just been slapped.
Aria sighed. Were these girls really incapable of compassion?
She swiftly rose from her seat.
"Aria?" Brittney called after her. The look she gave her clearly asked what she thought she was doing.
Aria ignored her and made her way down the aisle until she reached Philippa. Just because she didn’t like the girl’s behavior didn’t mean she would pass up the chance to show a little kindness to a fellow human.
The girl was shaking so violently now that it looked painful.
"Hey," Aria said softly.
Philippa didn’t respond.
"Phillpa, is it?" This time, Aria crouched in front of her. The girl finally looked up, her eyes red and swollen.
"I can’t do this," Philippa whispered.
"I know," Aria smiled sadly, then pulled the girl into a hug.
Philippa froze for a moment before she finally fell apart. frёewebηovel.cѳm
The sob that escaped her sounded almost painful as she buried her face against Aria’s shoulder.
"It’s okay," Aria said quietly.
The words felt strange coming from her.
"It’s going to be okay."
That was a huge lie. But for now, it would serve.
"I don’t want to die." Philipa said over and over like some chant to ground herself.
"You won’t."
Aria didn’t believe that herself, but she kept speaking anyway.
"We’re still here..."
For now.
Aria didn’t let that part be known.
