Chapter 54
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
ELENA
I’d never seen Orion like this. It was beyond unhinged, especially when Jasper mentioned Kate.
A darkness rose in him. His face, his eyes, they all transformed.
I could see the love he still had for her. And it sickened me that I was jealous. Maybe all of my insecurities rose to the surface because of what had just happened. Or what would have happened if Orion hadn’t arrived home on time.
My body shivered, and Orion took my hand into his. “I want to know every detail.”
I pushed away my insecurities and squeezed his hand. “It happened a long time ago.”
I wake to someone touching my face and yanking at my T-shirt. I blink to see JR2 with another boy. I don’t know his name. But he hangs with the JR brothers.
I sit up, scooting away from them.
“You’re a newbie here. That means you need to strip and abide by our rules.”
Fear skitters up my spine. Where’s my cabinmate?
I hear giggling outside the cabin and know Ginais probably out there.She likes one of the boys.
I wish Elliotwere here. But he’s two cabins down the path in the boys’ cabins.
“You’re not supposed to be here. I’m telling the cabin director.”
JR2 laughs and slaps his friend on the back. “Hear that, Connor? She’s threatening me.”
“That means she deserves the punishment.” He smiled and dropped his pants. “Suck it.”
JR2 grinned. “Do it.”
I looked away from Connor’s penis.
What’s wrong with these boys? I’m so scared.
JR2 takes outhis phone and starts recording. Fear overwhelms me, and I vomit.
“Fuck no. I don’t want her mouth on me.”
“Go rinse!” JR2 barks.
I get out of bed, trying to figure out a way to get out of the room. I sense there’s someone else in the room other than JR2 and Connor. He must be standing in the shadows on the other side of the room where it’s dark.
I don’t have time to think about who else is there. Maybe it’s just my imagination scaring me. I walk towards the bathroom, but instead of going in there, I run out the door and scream. “Help me!” Then I run.
They chase after me down the path. I run toward the main camp center. The quickest way there is to cross a rope bridge. I usually have trouble crossing it unless Elliot’s with me. I don’t know if I can do it now.
You have to.
Be strong.
Plucking up my courage, I step onto the wooden planks and keep my face forward.
“Let’s have some fun!” JR2 grips the rope and starts shaking it.
I almost fall but hold on tight.Fear spikes in me as my body losescontrol of itself ...
I didn’t have to finish the sentence. Orion understood what I meant. I told him the rest of the story and how terror had seeped into my bones that day. And how Elliot had arrived with the director, who didn’t punish the boys at all.
“I’m going to fucking kill him.” Hisjaw twitched with murder in his eyes.
“It’s in the past, Orion. He’s not worth your time. I don’t want to cause any more trouble for you. You have so much on your plate already.” I leaned into him. “Plus, I’m not afraid of heights anymore. What came from the horrific event today is that Jasper—that old trauma—doesn’t control me anymore. I’ve overcome the fear.”
He released a stressed sigh. I knew he was trying his best to calm the rage in him. It was weird how I could sense his emotions.
“You’ve helped me find my stability again. I don’t think the fear of heights was the issue. It was that event that triggered the trauma and the fear. I don’t feel it anymore. At least not to that crippling extent.”
He nodded and kept me in his arms for the rest of the night.