Chapter 17

RILEY:

Maybe this was the time to believe they were indeed stronger than necessary. My face still hurts so bad from the slaps I received and I'm surprised that I was not able to stand on my feet after the second one.

I remember how fear gripped me. How I was defenseless against the Luna. I guess I really wasn't cut out for all of this after all despite living a life where I had to face off bullies and assaulters all because of being without parents and a roof over my head.

Sansa already helped massage my cheek with an ointment but nothing has changed. Mostly I felt like I was attacked with an iron at this point.

"Do you need me to get you something?" Xavier says just after I wince from the pain. He has been in the room for a while now and was just standing there without a word until now.

I couldn't shake my head. But at least I could still talk. "No, thank you. Ow." It was harder than expected. Proved really difficult to even do.

"What did you do that was so bad to resort to an a