Chapter Nine

"You idiot! What the hell were you thinking?" 

I flinched, the shouts filtering in from the hall hurting my already pounding head.

"It was Stan who said to do it!"

"And if Stan told you to put a gun to her head and fill it with led, would you do that too?"

"I was making sure I took her weight, but she caught me off guard!"

"It's Fayle!" Aaron roared, as if that were explanation enough. 

"Would you two shut up?" I groaned. It felt like every word they said was a kick to the side of my head.

Aaron bridged the remaining distance between us and came to a squat beside me. "How's your ribs?"

"Fine."

"Your shoulder?"

"Still burnt."

"Your head?"

"Better if you'd lower your damn voice."

He shook his head. "There'll be no more practices with Stan. Got it?"

"What! No. Stan said -"

"I don't care what Stan said, I'm telling you no and never again!"

"Don