Read Online The Merciless II by Danielle Vega - Free Book Online Page B

in a battered notebook, but it doesn’t look like notes. His handwriting is small and slanted and half the words are scribbled out.
    He pushes his sleeves up to his elbows. He’s wearing the same wooden cross he had on in the chapel, only he’s knotted the leather around his wrist, like a bracelet. The cross is worn and shiny, as though it’s been rubbed smooth by his hands.
    â€œIn this scene, Prospero and Miranda have just witnessed the shipwreck,” Sister Lauren begins. I tear my eyes away from Jude and stare down at my book.
    The class drags. I’ve read The Tempest so many times that it’s hard to pay attention as Sister Lauren talks about themes and imagery. My eyes glaze over, and my stiff new shoes dig into the backs of my feet. I can practically feel the blisters forming on my skin.
    â€œSofia?” Sister Lauren says.
    The sound of my name snaps me back to attention. I blink. “Um, yeah?”
    â€œCan you tell me why you think this passage was so compelling?”
    My palms are immediately sweaty as I start flipping through the yellowed pages. The words blur together. “Um . . .”
    A second ticks past. I narrow my eyes, pretending to study a line of text. I have this play practically memorized, but I have no idea which passage she’s talking about.
    â€œCome on  . . .” the girl behind me mutters. Another student laughs under his breath. I curl my fingers around the edges of the book. I want to sink down through the floor and disappear.
    â€œ The isle is full of noises ,” Jude whispers. He tilts his head toward me, pretending to study the cross knotted at his wrist. “Caliban’s speech. Act 3, scene 2.”
    I feel an instant gut punch of relief. I wrote a paper on Caliban’s speech last year. “This passage is compelling because it’s so different from anything Caliban has said before. It changes the way the audience views him. They know he’s a tortured soul.”
    â€œVery good, Sofia,” Sister Lauren says. She writes Caliban’s name on the blackboard, the chalk sending ahigh-pitched screech through the room. “Now if you’ll all—”
    The bell rings, cutting her off. Students around me stand and gather their things. I twist around, hoping to catch Jude and thank him. But he’s already hurrying toward the door.
    â€œSofia?” Sister Lauren calls from the front of the classroom. “Could I speak to you for a moment?”
    I grab my notebooks and walk up to Sister Lauren’s desk as she erases the chalkboard. “Listen, if this is about how I need to follow along better, I know—”
    â€œWhat are you talking about?” Sister Lauren leans against the chalkboard. “I think you did a great job today.”
    â€œOh. Thank you.”
    â€œI wanted to talk to you about the school play. I’m directing this year and I thought you might be interested in helping out. We’re doing The Tempest ,” she says, nodding at the paperback in my hands.
    I hesitate. Leena said she and Jude were in the play. I don’t want her to think I’m interfering.
    â€œI know it sounds like a lot of extra work, and you’re probably already overwhelmed, but you should consider it. First impressions are important at St. Mary’s, and Father Marcus looks more”—Sister Lauren hesitates, searching for the right word—“ favorably on students whoget involved in school activities. He thinks it keeps them from getting into trouble.”
    Sister Lauren smiles, but there’s an edge to her voice. I don’t want to ask what kind of trouble she’s talking about.
    â€œWhat would I have to do?” I ask.
    â€œWell, the roles are cast, but you could help with set design. You look like you’d be good with a nail gun.”
    The blood drains from my face. The sound of metal shooting through skin and bone echoes in my