Chapter Eight
Amelie
Once he’s gone, I decide to be brave. I take a can of pepper spray from my desk.
I hadn’t seen it before, but someone feels that it’s necessary I have it.
Then I take the short walk to Elsie’s room.
I manage to get there unscathed, with only a few names thrown my way and nasty comments when I pass a group of girls.
Whore
Bitch
Watch your back
Nothing I can’t ignore. I have a feeling though that this will probably get worse when school resumes properly.
I knock on Elsie’s door and wait, and I hear the light sound of music in the background. I knock again, louder this time, and the door swings open. She pulls a face and tries to slam it in my face, but my foot kicks out enough to stop it closing on me.
“What’s your problem?” I say to her back.
“You!” she spits, turning to face me.
“I didn’t do anything to you.”
“Exactly, Amelie! Baxter and I were the only ones, and Baxter won’t give a shit. His reputation will keep him safe. They think I helped you! You don’t understand what happens here when people turn on you, because you have the protection of the Knox guys...me? I have no one.”
“You have me!” I yell back.
“How was I supposed to know you were coming back? You left me here to deal with this on my own! You have no idea what they have been doing to me.”
“If it makes you feel any better, I will fix this. I don’t have the protection of the guys, I told them I didn’t want their help.”
“Big mistake, Amelie. Crimes here get swept under the rug, especially those linked to the Knox boys. Look at how much crap Baxter gets away with when he should be in jail. He isn’t a good person.”
“Baxter is misunderstood, he isn’t that bad.”
“He’s a killer, Amelie.”
“So am I and so are you. What makes us any different?”
“Get out!” she screams. “You have no idea about my life.”
“No, I don’t, because you haven't told me. You want to know about me to make it even? I drugged a teacher, thought it was hilarious, and he fucking died! Who dies from eating baked goods, even with hash in them? Well, he did and it’s all my fault.”
“Oh, poor you, cry me a river. I killed my family on purpose, and I loved watching every second of it.” She falls to the floor and tears flow down her face. I race to her side and take her in my arms. “They hurt me, they deserved to die,” she cries.
“I believe you,” I whisper into her hair.
“It’s why I’m here; the court felt my actions were justified considering their crimes.
I’m messed up, Amelie, and headmaster Knox saved me from life in jail.
I don’t know how, but he did, and that tells me that he is more powerful than we know.
Who has that kind of influence over a whole justice system? ”
“I know. I plan to find out exactly what is going on.”
“You can’t. People don’t leave here, Amelie. We all know the rumours of the girl that ‘left’ here last year. Funny how no one has heard from her since, and there are others over the years who just vanished and have never been heard from again.”
“I doubt my stepfather would let anything happen to me. Look, I broke the main rule and he still had me shipped back. He gave me more privileges and I have my phone.”
“If you’re digging, then count me in, because if you leave, I have no one, and I hate being alone. Amelie? Don’t leave me again.”
“I won’t,” I promise. Finally, she sits up and smiles.
“So, what do you have so far?”
“Not much,” I admit. “I just have this feeling something's going on. The guys all have the same tattoo, and when I went home I found a necklace that I’ve always had. I thought it was kind of similar, but now I’m convinced it’s exactly the same.
Sawyer saw my necklace today and he lied when I asked him about it; spewing some crap about his brothers and being a family.
..but that doesn’t explain why Baxter has the same one. ”
“You know, there are a few others with the same tattoos, mainly third and fourth years. I figured since the twins and Kalen had the tattoos, that the others had copied.”
“Baxter doesn’t strike me as the kind of guy to follow anyone else like a sheep though,” I point out, and Elsie agrees.
We talk about our theories for a few hours, going over everything we’ve found suspicious. Our best idea is that they have formed some sort of hot guy cult and they plan to sacrifice us to the gods of sex. We will never get to leave here alive. Death by multiple orgasms.
I’ll admit, we may have had a few drinks by the time we came up with that theory.
Close to dinner time I tell Elsie I will message Baxter and see if he’ll have dinner with us. She has been too scared to go alone and usually waits until just before the dining hall closes to eat. He answers on the first ring.
“What's happened? Are you okay?”
I’m shocked by the concern in his voice. It’s very un-Baxter-like. I frown. What’s got him all wound up and twitchy?
“I’m fine, Batman. Just hungry, and Elsie has explained that a few students seem to still be holding a grudge over my exit strategy.”
“Haha. Okay, I’ll be there in five.” He hangs up. It’s not like him to not want something in return – that’s how Baxter works – so I’m annoyed. I’m guessing one of the guys has bribed him to help me.
Elsie grabs a change of clothes, and we both head back to my room so I can change.
School rules, we have to be put together at all times, and I’m grateful Laura had winter clothes sent over.
Even though I hate having to take anything from that woman, it beats freezing my tits off. I have never been so cold in my life.
Elsie watches me pull out my clothes to get dressed in: two pairs of leggings; a pair of jeans; three pairs of socks; those gorgeous boots that were a gift from the guys; layers of shirts and long-sleeved shirts; a jumper and my coat; along with my beanie.
Yes, it's that damn cold here. My bones feel like they are constantly going to break from all my shivering and shaking.
“You know it’s not that cold here, right?”
“Speak for yourself, you’re acclimatised.”
“You’re going to be a hot sweaty mess if you wear all of that to dinner. You can’t exactly start a strip show in the dining hall! Besides, we’ll be outside for all of five minutes.”
Hmm, she may have a point. I’m stubbornly considering pulling it all on anyway now that I’ve hunted it all out though.
I watch as Elsie crosses over to my boxes of clothes and gently rummages through until she pulls out whatever the hell it is that she’s looking for. A single pair of black leggings, one pair of socks and a long-sleeved shirt that’s so thin it’s almost see through. I look at her like she’s crazy.
“These socks and leggings are thermal. They have a furry lining. And the shirt is silk, it’s a base layer you can wear under one other shirt. I promise that’s all you’ll need. Trust me.”
I give her the stink-eye, but take the clothes from her and quickly dress. I keep the boots, coat and beanie though. Elsie answers the door while I search the boxes for gloves. Baxter doesn't wait to be invited in, I hear him move across the room.
I find what I’m looking for and look up at Baxter. My knees go a little weak; I’m not immune to his devilish good looks.
“Well, don’t you look sinfully delicious?” He smiles and shakes his head at me. “So what do I owe you for being our chaperone?”
“Nothing this time, you’re actually doing me a favour. My grandfather was trying to force me to go to one of those rich asshole events, and you just gave me an out.”
I raise my eyebrow and smirk at him. “Soooo, you owe me then?” His laugh is pure evil, and I know that I should be scared of him, but I’m just...not. Elsie, however, shudders at the sound. Maybe she has a better survival instinct than I do.
“I wouldn’t go that far, but I’m happy to repay you in sexual favours.”
“Eww, I’m in the room!” Elsie says, making gagging sounds.
“You can record it,” Baxter says to Elsie and winks at her. She huffs and leaves the room, Baxter and I follow. We all head down to the dining hall, and I try hard not to duck behind them and hide. I need to show my face so everyone that’s here will get used to seeing me again.
As we line up to get food, a guy I’ve never seen before shoulder barges me, pushing his way in line. It smarts a little, but I’ve had worse. Doesn’t stop me from throwing a dirty look his way.
“Asshole,” I mutter under my breath.
“Oh look, it’s the bitch who outed us all.” As far as opening lines go, his game is weak. Before I can respond though, Baxter steps in front of me in what can only be described as a protective manner.
“Step down, Masters, no one cares you ruined a damn yacht,” Baxter scoffs. “Poor little rich boy gets sent from the Elite to the criminal. What a painful demotion that must have been.”
“She’s a stupid bitch. I hear her protection has run out. I guess being a whore got her ass dumped.”
Baxter steps up to this Masters kid, chest to chest, and the fear in Masters’ eyes is immediately evident.
I saw enough here last term: Baxter is silent and hides in the shadows, everyone knows he’s someone you shouldn’t cross but some – stupid – kids think that it’s all hearsay.
“Watch your mouth before I cut out your tongue.”
“Really? I heard all about big bad Baxter...but it’s convenient your files were never posted.”
Baxter pulls a knife out of thin air and in the blink of an eye has it pressed against Masters’ throat, whose eyes are like saucers.
“See...the problem with you rich kids is that you’re here because Daddy didn’t want to pay the money to bail your ass out.
Too busy saving the pennies for his new yacht.
My crimes are real and I could kill you right here and it would be cleaned up, hushed up, and forgotten about before morning. Because I have more money than God.”
“You’re f-f-fucking insane!” Masters stammers.
Baxter just grins, and fuck is it panty-dropping sexy.
Though, I’m sure he doesn’t intend for it to be.
I quickly glance at Elsie, but she just looks terrified.
Oh, maybe it’s just me getting all hot under the collar over this.
Pretty sure it’s down to Baxter and not the thermals.
“I sure am.” Baxter grins slowly at him, reminding me of The Joker. Underestimated. Dangerous. Deadly. “Make sure to tell all your buddies, if you fuck with the girls, you fuck with me...It’s about time I got to work on my knife skills.”