Scott McCall's Arc

Chapter 9 of 9

Morning sun cut through the high windows of the school library as Scott walked out into the hall. His ribs still ached from the pavement. He needed to tell Kira before first bell. He found her at her locker, the worn blue-gray metal scratched with years of names. She closed the door and smiled, then read his face and stopped smiling. "It came to my street last night," Scott said low. "Tall. Gold markings. It called itself the consequence. I swung first. It put me down in one move." Kira's hand found his sleeve. "Derek scared it off. I clawed it, Kira. Right across the arm before it hit me." She started to answer. Then Scott's eyes snagged on someone past her shoulder. Malik Kane walked by, hoodie sleeves pushed up, healthy and easy. Not a bruise. Not a limp. But on his forearm sat a small pink bandage, soft and neat, covering one thin line. Malik felt Scott's stare. He met it. He did not look away. He kept walking. Scott's breath went tight. Kira saw it too. The thing hunting her best friend wore a boy's face in their hallway. Scott had a name for the predator now. The arc had not closed, but the hidden door had. Whatever came next, he would be hunting Malik.