Chapter 15 Gianna
Gianna
FOUR YEARS AGO
‘I don’t think we should be doing this.’ Monique pauses, gripping my wrist so tight my circulation almost stalls.
‘C’mon, Monz,’ I whine. ‘I want to check out what it’s all about.’
‘You know The Prank is for the basketball team, right? The seniors on the basketball team,’ she emphasises as we creep across the green at Empire City University.
‘That’s not true,’ I retort. ‘Tyler isn’t on the basketball team.’
‘He’s still basically a Kingsman!’ she whisper-shouts.
I place a reassuring hand on top of hers. On any other day, I’d feel the same. But after Jace and Ryker left, I didn’t want routine. I wanted more.
I put away my canvas. I didn’t want to create something that would make others feel.
I wanted something to happen to me so that I would feel.
I might regret this tomorrow morning, but if I keep waiting for the right moment, a moment that might never come, I’ll never get to do what I want.
I want to take risks. I want to step out of my comfort zone.
I want to feel free.
So I rang Monique to pick me up, which is why we’re sneaking around Empire City University in search of my brother and Ryker.
I got a small taste of their kind of fun and now I want the full meal.
I want to know why. I want to know how. I want to know what they do to feel so alive.
I want to know what makes their infectious laughter reverberate through the walls of the house every evening.
I want to know what the universe gives them.
I want to say – ‘Don’t you think saying do you remember when …? is better than could you imagine if …?’ I try Ryker’s words on for size. They feel good. Honest. Real.
Monique’s face twists and her hands splay open beside her. ‘What is that even supposed to mean?’ She shakes her head. ‘Scratch that, I don’t even want to know. Let’s just get out of here before we get in trouble.’
‘Monz.’ My eyes implore hers. ‘I want to live a little. All I do is sit in the art rooms. I want to explore and live and do things. Besides, the Kingsmen won’t be doing anything too crazy here. They’re probably siphoning gas from the bus like they did last year, remember? I just want to see.’
Her silence answers me, and I hear Ryker’s voice in my head, loud and clear. If you wait for someone, you’ll always be waiting.
‘Monz, I really want to do this. Why don’t you go wait in the car? I’ll take a look and come back and meet you. Okay?’
She shuffles for a moment on her feet before wincing.
‘Okay,’ she agrees. ‘But come straight back to the car.’
I give a nod and watch as she rushes back across the street.
In the same street is Ryker’s black R1 motorbike, Jace’s Mustang and Renny’s red WRX.
While the first two are driverless, Tyler sits behind the wheel of Renny’s car.
I wonder why he’s on his own, then move on, cutting across the football field to find my brother and Ryker.
The brisk air hits my bare legs. I’m in my favourite yellow skirt and white long-sleeved shirt, though now I’m sneaking around a rival college campus in the middle of The Prank, I wish I’d chosen something a little more clandestine.
Luckily, the sneakers were a good choice. I stick to the walls of the brick building like glue. The grounds are empty, with only the sound of brittle leaves blowing. I reach up to the windowsill and hoist myself up.
Just an empty seminar room with a few chairs and a dirty whiteboard etched with the scrawling of a lecture. The ECU buildings are huge and corridors branch off in all directions.
Maybe I should just go home. Jace and Ryker could be anywhere.
‘What the fuck are you doing here, Gia?’
My stomach knots as I turn and meet the terror of a mask … one of the masks I made earlier. The skull face is twisted and the deep red chrome paint only makes it look meaner.
It’s Renny. His eyes are barely visible and he’s clothed in black, the hood from his sweatshirt drawn over his dark hair.
‘I … well, I …’ Shit. What am I doing?
I wanted to find a little trouble, but saying that out loud sounds so stupid. He’s going to judge me and think I’m a stupid kid. Maybe I am. The annoying younger sister of his friend.
He cocks his head, letting his question hang in the space between us.
Screw it.
‘I wanted to join.’ I lift my chin and steel my spine, staring into the blackness where his eyes should be. It’s intimidating to say the least. I have no idea what he’s thinking. ‘You guys always have so much fun. So I wanted to see.’
After a beat he shrugs a shoulder and nods his head. ‘é nóis.’
‘What does that mean?’ I frown, looking up at him.
‘It means “it’s us”.’ He looks down so the darkness of his eyes meet mine, and even through the mask, I can see them shimmer with that glow I’ve been longing for. ‘We got you. We got this. So, let’s go a little fucking crazy.’
He turns and I follow, half jogging to keep up with his long strides. I can’t help the massive grin that pulls at the corners of my mouth. ‘You’ll really let me come with you guys?’
‘You’re already here. Who am I to stop you?’
We approach a corner of the building. Renny glances around first, checking if it’s clear. He steps out and continues to scan the area.
‘Why is Tyler in the car?’ I ask. ‘Where are the other guys?’
‘I was waiting for them, but they’re taking too long.’ He pulls something from his pocket. ‘You better put this on. It’s only a respirator from the shop, but it’ll do.’
He hands me a black face mask. My fingers run over the carbon fibre mouthpiece. I slip the straps over my head and adjust the mask in place. My breath warms the skin across my face.
Renny gives an approving nod. ‘Now you’re one of us.’
‘Get back here!’ a voice booms across the grounds, making us jump.
Our heads snap up simultaneously to watch the action unfolding beside us.
Two ECU students chase after two masked men carrying a huge statue of a hawk.
They’re all sprinting toward us. Both guys are dressed in black, like Renny, but the guy in the silver mask carries the hawk’s head while the one in the black mask grasps the base of the statue.
‘Is that—’ My words end on a whoosh of air from my lungs as Renny grabs my arm and rushes us back to the cars.
I can barely keep up and stumble a few times, but his grip is strong and he hauls me to my feet. It feels as though I’m gliding across the lawn. He rushes to the rear door of his WRX, opening it widely.
I stand back as the masked men approach, gasping for air. They dump the ECU statue onto the back seat with a thud. Tyler starts the car, now wearing the hockey-style mask.
‘What the fuck is she doing here?’ Jace screams through his silver chrome skull mask.
Renny laughs wildly before adjusting the statue to slam the door shut. ‘She wanted to fuck around and find out.’ His mirror-black eyes give me a wink through the depths of his mask before he rushes to the passenger door.
Jace points at his Mustang. ‘Get in the car!’ he screams.
My feet falter for a second, a second I don’t have. I don’t even comprehend what’s happening before hands grip my shoulders from behind, holding me in place.
Shit. This is actually happening.
‘Got her! Lex, hurry up!’ My assailant screams at the blond guy catching up. I crane my neck around and see the same face that was hurting Chuckie yesterday. Erik.
My pulse races as I writhe against Erik’s hold. Pushing, pulling and twisting, anything I can to break free, but he’s so strong.
Suddenly, we’re both tackled to the ground and the unmistakable crunch of bone sinks into my ears, followed by an eerie wail dragged from Erik’s throat.
I brace for the pain to hit me next, but there’s just warmth as I’m enveloped in leather, wood and bergamot.
When I look up, piercing blue eyes meet mine through a black skull mask.
Ryker.
‘She’s not much of a hugger.’ Ryker hauls me off Erik, lifting me from the ground. ‘Might wanna get that looked at.’
‘My hand!’ Erik bawls, writhing against the earth, clutching his wrist. ‘My fucking hand!’
Ryker ushers me away before the blond guy, Lex, lunges, ripping at Ryker’s hoodie and trying to get a hold. Jace appears and pushes the guy off Ryker. It’s a scene of flailing arms and legs.
Ryker’s eyes meet mine once more. ‘Run!’ There’s something else in his voice. Laughter.
He’s laughing.
Even as Lex flails for a grip on his limbs, this crazy bastard is amused. Behind him, another ECU student, along with two security guards, are rushing toward us, so I do what I’m told. I bolt.