บททั้งหมดของ MARKED BY MY MONSTERS.: บทที่ 71 - บทที่ 76

MAYA'S POV “Maya, get down—now.” Maddox clenches his fists and moves toward me, but Hadies stops him, placing her hand flat against his chest. He freezes instantly. Hadies turns to me, a sinister smile curling her lips. “Well, what do you know,” she says, staring straight into my soul—not just my eyes. “I know you’re not the Hex Queen.” “Blasphemy!” they all scream. Next thing, hands grab me—Dale yanks my right arm while another guy seizes the left, forcing me down until I’m bowing at Hadies feet. I struggle, trying to fight them off, but it’s useless. They’re too strong, too solid. Shit. I know what I’m doing is crazy. How hard would it be to just play along? But it feels like they’re trying to recreate the past. I glance at the students. They look like zombies. Eyes glowing crimson red, bodies bowing in unison, and nodding to every word Hadies claims to be the Hex Queen. I'm pretty sure this is how it started years ago, based on the stories I’ve been told and fragmen

MAYA'S POV “Jaden,” I call louder this time, jumping up and waving my hand. He turns, sizing me up. Then he shakes his head and starts walking toward me. I don’t move. I’ve never been one to back down. I stand tall with my head high and shoulders straight till he closes the distance between us. “Maya,” he says quietly. “You’ve made a very bad choice.” He glances around. “Food?” I step closer. Close enough to smell his cologne. I hate it. I used to love it. I'm standing so close that I can feel his breath against my skin, and I can whisper without anyone else hearing. “Food is the least of my problems, Jaden,” I say. “Can’t you see that everything—everything—is wrong? You keep telling me to play a game I don’t even understand. I don’t know the rules. I don’t even know what game we’re playing.” He adjusts the buttons on his suit, then folds his hands at the waistband of his pants. My eyes linger. I hate myself for it. I step back. For a brief second, something flicker

MAYA'S POV I wander around the academy for hours. I return to my room at some point to sleep, wake up, and wander again down to the underground area, through the classrooms, back to the ruined library, past the business office, and a little too close to the warded room where I know my friends are locked up. I am exhausted and tired of everything. Still, I force myself to keep moving, trying to pass time. I can’t go to the graveyard in daylight. It’s too risky, especially after I overheard Hadies assigning Maddox and Jaden personally to me. If I’m not in my room when they want me, I’ll be hunted immediately. I will go at night no matter the consequences. When darkness covers the academy, I sneak around the corner and head toward the backdoor, which leads into the woods. I used the secret passage Maddox had showed me when I caught him training out here in my early days in the academy. I step out, wrapping my hands around my body. It's cold. I walk slowly into the graveyard