Crave

Grace suggests that Jaxon try being friendly to others, so they don’t treat him like a threat or an idol. Jaxon can’t convince them he’s anything but dangerous. Grace thinks the real Jaxon is harmless beneath his facade, but he laughs at her assessment. Before they part, he asks Grace to text him her schedule so he can keep walking her to classes.

Flint meets Grace after class. Although she tries to ignore him, he’s too friendly to resist. Strange feelings of self-protection rise up in Grace, echoing her suspicions that something isn’t right about this school and its students. Flint insists he’ll walk her to her art class through the underground tunnels instead of walking the large school grounds outside in the cold. In the dark, damp entrance to the tunnels, Grace gets a feeling of wrongness again. But she convinces herself that Flint wouldn’t hurt her and walks into the creepy tunnels.

Grace thinks the tunnels look like a prison or dungeon. She’s uneasy during their walk, though Flint insists it’s safe and she should ignore the old bars and shackles. Grace protests despite Flint’s reassurance that kids use the tunnels daily and that he’ll protect her.