THE PERFECT TEN (Boxed Set)

hotel.”  Then he put more force in his voice again. “More water, too.”
    But nothing happened.
    Except the voices had quieted.
    I thought back on Zilya’s reaction to Gabby. The blonde who acted like a queen had expected Gabby to know what she’d been talking about with houses. Zilya and Mathias had taken issue mostly with Tony, and maybe me, but not Gabby. That gave me an idea when I raised my voice. “Tell Mathias the Gabby girl needs help. She could be dying.”
    I looked over at Gabby quickly and mouthed the words, Not true .
    Gabby, being the astute person she was, offered a tight, small nod.
    I wished there hadn’t been some truth in my claim. That she didn’t look as if she could get sicker, and die, if we didn’t get help.
    Tony and I kept the shouting up, sometimes one at a time, sometimes both together, until our voices sounded hoarse, our throats raw.
    Nothing.
    In fact, even the scurrying noises around the chamber had diminished.
    So maybe we were making some progress. But not much and not soon enough if the pain lines on Gabby’s face were any indication. Sweat glistened everywhere. Blotchy pink patches covered her death-white skin.
    Tony opened his mouth for another blast, but I waved him off. “Save your energy. We have to find another way.”
    Gabby glanced at me, her voice fighting to sound strong, but coming out thin. “What about what you did to the attack-vine earlier?”
    I’d hoped that wouldn’t come up for discussion again.
    Tony glanced at me, his expression confused. “Yeah, how’d that vine just die?”
    I crossed the room to squat by Gabby again, buying myself a few minutes. Gabby and Tony wanted answers. So did I, but I didn’t have any. I finally offered what I could. “Let’s say I didn’t do anything consciously.”
    “So what? You were knocked out and somethin’ happened?” Tony demanded, looking for a scientific answer he could wrap his head around.
    “No, more like a thought.”
    “A get-us-out-of-this-mess thought?” Tony’s tone made it clear he labeled that answer as woo-woo.
    Too bad it was the truth, or as close to the truth as I could manage.
    Gabby managed a weak smile of reassurance. “Whatever you did, you saved our lives, Rayen. Thanks.”
    “She also managed to get us stuck here in the first place if her touch–as you pointed out–is doing these things.” The stress of worrying about his life had brought back the abrasive Tony. He glared at me as if I’d planned the trip through the computer. “That crazy girl wants me dead and if that happens I let people down. If you don’t get us out of this hell-hole, I’m so going to kick somebody’s ass.”  
    “Mine?”
    Tony had a moment when I thought he’d say yes, but he shook his head. “I don’t hit girls, but I wouldn’t mind going a round with that Callan.”
    He gained a bit of respect from me for his personal code, but did Tony really think he could match up with Callan? He’d earn my appreciation if he’d just shut his broken trap. My body ached from toe to head. I had no idea who I was or how I’d ended up in this mess. And I was tired to the bone, mostly of taking grief all day. “I’d take care threatening Callan.”
    Tony scoffed at me. “Where I come from we’d eat a pretty boy like him for lunch.”
    When I didn’t reply, Tony taunted, “What’s the matter, Xena? No come back ?”
    Out of ideas and patience, I stood up, ready to give Tony the target he’d been wanting.
    The changes in my stance should have warned him I had no tolerance for aggression right now, but he just kept on pushing me. “How’d you even end up in Suarez’s class to begin with anyhow? That ain’t a class for the short bus kids...or criminals.”
    Whatever a bus was sounded even more insulting this time.
    Ready to silence that mouth, I took one step forward then stopped. I suddenly sensed another presence inside the hut.
    What the . . .?
    The old man I’d seen back when I’d first opened my eyes in the desert took a filmy shape beside Gabby. Sitting with legs crossed, he hovered a foot above the ground again, speaking in that gravelly voice. “A warrior fights to defend others and for honor. A child strikes out in anger. There is no place for a child on this journey.”
    Easy for you to say . But as long as Ghost Man was back, I could use more information.
    “Who am I?” I asked before the vision could vanish again. I might not make it back to the school to learn what had been