The Recall Trials Chapter 18: I’d Burn the World for Her

"So, let get this straight," Nomi said, narrowing her eyes like she was dissecting every word I hadn’t said. "You’re planning to play her?"

I smirked, trying to keep the act going.

"Obviously."

But inside, my stomach flipped.

Holy shit.

Why did I say that?

Why did I lie?

I could’ve just told her the truth, that I actually liked Zaara. That she wasn’t just so random girl I kissed to cover up a secret. But admitting that to Nomi? Bad idea. She knew too much already and she might dig deeper. She’d seen at my weakest, heard my secrets, and if I gave her more... she could destroy without even trying.

I couldn’t let that happen.

Not now.

Not with what we were caught up in.

What if Zaara resents people from Sector A?

I’d seen how she looked at people who acted like they were better. She didn’t take shit from anyone, and if she knew who I really was... who I used to be...?

Yeah, I needed to be sure before telling her anything real, before taking that risk.

Then Nomi scoffed, folding her arms like she already had figured out.

"She doesn’t even seem like the type of girl you’d go for," she said bluntly. "Not really your style, right? I an, you used to date top models, influencers, girls with last nas that probably own half the sky." She gave a dry laugh.

"Zaara’s not all that. And you’ve got a reputation. You really think soone like her is worth ruining it for?"

She laughed lightly as I forced a chuckle, mirroring her laugh even though nothing about this felt funny.

But behind that fake smile, my mind was sowhere else entirely.

But the truth?

Zaara wasn’t just "pretty." She was the kind of beautiful that knocked the air out of your lungs. The kind of girl that made the world stop. She wasn’t just "worth ruining" a reputation for.... I’d burn my entire damn reputation if it ant being with her.. Every label, every expectation from Sector A, every photo the tabloids ever plastered my na on, I’d burn all of it. Gladly.

Because sohow, without even trying, Zaara had beco the only thing in this hellhole that felt real.

If only I could say it out loud.

"So... how about we team up for the next ga?" Nomi said, folding her arms. "There’s a chance it might be a team challenge."

Before I could even respond, the chubby guy walked over to us like he’d been waiting for the perfect mont to interrupt.

"Hey, Vincent," he said politely.

And just like that, Nomi gave one last glance, then drifted away. Thank God, I thought. She had a way of making sweat without even trying.

"Hey, Luca," I replied, glancing down at his na stitched into the corner of his jumpsuit.

He didn’t waste a second. "Are you by any chance eating that?" he asked, pointing at the untouched dinner tray on my bed.

"Nope," I said, then offered it to him. "You can have it if you want."

He nodded eagerly, and I handed it to him without a second thought.

"Thanks, man," he said, already digging in. Then he looked up at with an odd little smile. "I’ve seen the way you look at Zaara. Kinda like how I look at food."

I let out a quiet laugh.

"Thanks for what you did back there," he whispered. "For trying to protect her."

"Of course," I replied.

He took another bite before glancing toward the bed where Zaara and a brown-skinned girl were sitting.

"Zaara, Asha, and I....we all ca from the sa place. We got poached into this ss together. And Zaara’s... been through a lot. She’s tough, but she doesn’t trust easy. Even if she does open up to you... don’t hurt her."

"I won’t," I said quietly.

He gave a nod. "A friend of Zaara’s is a friend of ours." And just like that, he shuffled away with his tray, leaving with that weirdly warm feeling.

A few minutes later, just when I was psyching myself up to walk over to Zaara, Carter approached. He looked more worn out than usual, his limp more noticeable.

"Your instinct to protect her? That’s good. But the best way to really protect her now is to help us all get out of this hellhole. If I’d known this place was gonna be like this..." He paused, swallowing hard. "I don’t care how much they offered. I just want to go ho. I’d give anything, I an anything to see my daughter again. My Star."

"Is that her na? Star?" I asked.

"Technically it’s Starlight," he said. "But I call her Star. She’s my whole damn world. I didn’t even get to say goodbye properly. Left her with a nanny and a lie."

His voice broke. "She’s only eight. No mother. No family. She’s completely alone. If I die here..." He didn’t finish the sentence...just buried his face in his hands as the tears ca.

I stepped forward and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"No, Carter. You’re going to see her again. I swear. We’ll find a way out of here. Whatever it takes, I’ll be by your side. I lost my mom when I was eight. I know what that kind of loss does to you. I won’t let that happen to your daughter."

He looked up at , with tears in his eyes.

"Thanks, Vincent. You seem like a good guy."

Then he turned and limped back to his bed.

I waited a little while longer until most people were already asleep, Nomi too. The few who remained were huddled on each other’s beds, whispering softly.

I finally walked over to Zaara.

She looked up at , her expression unreadable, like nothing had happened. Still, I sat down next to her on the edge of her bed.

"Hey... I just wanted to say I’m sorry," I began. "For earlier. The kiss. And for blurting it out in front of everyone. I wasn’t thinking. I just...."

The lights suddenly cut out.

Pitch black.

But before I could finish, I felt her hand slide over mine.

"That was a smart move, Vincent," she whispered in the dark. "I can’t bla you for it."

She leaned in just slightly, and I felt her breath near my ear.

"And besides... we can do it again anyti."

My heart nearly exploded in my chest.

Did she just say what I think she said?