Chapter 30
CHAPTER 30
JARED
W e’ve all been off the last month. The only time I feel at peace is when I’m under the water during practice. There’s nothing but silence, the pressure is something I can handle as I swim.
It’s me against the water, which is why I’ve never thought about what it would be like to not be able to swim.
Crushing guilt fills me even though I know it needs to be like this. The guys and I have all been so busy, we haven’t seen much of each other due to practices. It’s pretty typical that this is the time we all buckle down, but I haven’t even had the time to be able to tell them about our updated timetable to finish our bet.
I can’t humanize the little mouse, or I won’t be able to go through with it.
Faced with the truth in that thought, I drive into the parking lot of Carlysle Prep for the first day of junior year. It feels as if I just walked out after my last sophomore year exam, it’s hard to believe that simply isn’t true.
Finding a spot, I slide into it, looking around to see if I can spot my friends. Theo is leaning against his SUV a few spots away, his head dropped back to catch the rays of sun on his face. He’s going to miss it as the days get shorter and fall crawls in.
His mood is always better during the summer. The little mouse is in for a rough last few months of her life.
Grabbing my bag, I turn off the car and push the door open to get out. My head turns on a swivel, finding Elijah moving toward me, but Nacio is nowhere to be seen. Pulling out my phone, I decide to text him to see if he’s running late.
We typically try to touch base and catch up for a few minutes the first day of school, so this is odd.
Me:
Are you running late today?
Heading over to where Theo and Elijah are standing, we chat and begin catching up on the events of the summer. Elijah says his parents were gone for the rest of the summer thankfully, while Theo explains that his dad is on his ass about going to boring meetings with him.
Theo’s dad enjoys showing off his genius son.
Nacio:
My run went longer than expected. I’m pulling in now.
Ignacio does tend to extend his runs when he’s stressed, so that makes sense. Relaxing slightly, I check the time to make certain we won’t be late if we wait for him.
“You seem on edge,” Theo murmurs. “Are you worried because Nacio isn’t here yet?”
“More so I need to tell you all something, and want to be sure we’re all together when I tell you,” I explain. “It always feels weird when we’re all too busy to see each other.”
“Yeah, I get that,” Theo says as Elijah nods in agreement.
“I don’t like when that happens,” Elijah admits. “I’m still not over my parents’ kidnapping.”
He says it so low, no one else can hear. While it’s normal for many of us to have fucked up families, most of us don’t talk about it openly. The four of us are dependent on each other, and keep the other on an even keel when we feel at sea.
I just have to hope killing the little mouse doesn’t destroy us all.
“Hey,” Nacio says, out of breath as he walks up to us.
“About time,” I tease him. “I really shouldn’t do this in the parking lot, but I’m too anxious to hold it in any longer.”
“If you have to shit, just say so,” Elijah teases back, though he sobers quickly. “None of that sounds good, Jared.”
“It’s not,” I sigh, crossing my arms over my chest.
People are beginning to walk into the school, giving us more privacy. I haven’t seen the little mouse or her girl, so I’m going to assume they haven’t arrived yet.
“I had a visitor about a month ago,” I begin. “It was Magnus Rothschild.”
“Shit,” Nacio breathes, biting his lip. As worrisome as things are, I have to admit that the summer workouts are working for him. His skin is golden and tanned, his neck corded in strength and muscle.
“That was my exact reaction,” I add. “Your father is making waves, very upset about what he says happened to his daughter.”
“Dad is losing his mind over this,” Nacio admits. “As a past King, he knows what it means to have Rachelle marked as a bet. He’s trying to save her.”
“He can’t,” I snap. “All he’s managed to do is bring up her expiration date.”
Nacio’s eyes widen, his gasp able to be heard. However Theo and Elijah appear to be just as taken aback, so I don’t think it’s a red flag. I didn’t expect this either.
“Explain,” Nacio demands, fists clenching.
“Magnus says we started so aggressively, we’ve made people notice the little mouse. The sooner we scrape her off the playing board, the better,” I explain. “October thirty-first is our date to be done with our bet.”
“That’s soon,” Elijah mutters. “We’re done after that? We get everything they promised?”
“That’s the plan,” I grunt. “Eyes on the prize, guys. Just a few more months to make her life complete hell. She’ll be begging for the end.”
The guys nod, though we’re all pretty quiet as we begin to walk across the lot to school. Lili pulls into a spot in her vehicle quickly, and the little mouse steps out of the passenger seat with a much shorter haircut.
“Fuck,” I mutter. “You didn’t tell me she cut her hair, Nacio.”
“I didn’t think about it, and we haven’t had a chance to talk,” he says, shrugging. “She told my dad she needed a change.”
This hairstyle should appear severe, but it’s wavy around her face, giving her a soft, youthful look. Staring until I have to look away, I try to memorize her with the smile on her face as she waits for Lili.
It may be one of the last times I get to see it.
* * *
LILIANA
For the first week of school, things have been as expected. Rachelle has been slammed into lockers by the Kings as they walk through the halls, has bruises all over her body, and has been tripped by Marci and the bitches in the classes she has with them.
Apparently, the Kings not only choose violence, but also are outsourcing their work.
Ignacio is abstaining from the bullshit, though he can’t stop it. We all discussed it over breakfast the morning of the first day of school, which is why he was running late. Unless Rachelle is in danger of being seriously hurt or killed, he can’t interfere.
The knowledge that the Kings have to move up the date of Rachelle’s execution is a chilling thought. No more secrets means exactly that, and Nacio was very upfront about it. He even held her while she cried.
I fucking hate this backward society. Too much testosterone and not enough brains if you ask me.
Walking through the hallway after my last class, I head toward my locker to meet up with Rachelle. Our classes are so far away from each other this semester. The administration decided to put her in classes that would help “increase her performance” due to her low marks.
Not one of her teachers other than Dr. Richardson chose to speak up against this, but it was already too late. We have a new headmaster named Oliver Cooper who is in his mid seventies, a member of the Kings’ Society, and has sharp, cruel, intelligent eyes.
Dad says he’s considered a legend, and accepted the position as a nod to his time in the society. I see trouble, an assisting hand so the Kings can do whatever they want to Rachelle, which is terrifying.
Repacking my backpack and putting my cellphone in while at my locker, I glance around for Rachelle. Slowly, the hallways begin to thin, giving me a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach.
Slamming shut my locker, I zip my bag up and shove my arms through the straps. Walking toward her locker first since it’s on the way to her last class, I glance around for any signs of her. I can’t hear screams because while the hoards of students leaving on a Friday have thinned, there are still people milling around.
Fuck, where are you, baby?
I’m careful to walk in the middle of the hallway, not wanting to get pulled into a classroom. I’m paranoid, wearing my knives, and have also begun to carry a stun gun in my pocket. I know that Rachelle has one as well, but sometimes it’s impossible to get to depending on how you’re grabbed.
I have no issues stabbing one of the boys today.
“Miss Cruz, I believe the exit is in the other direction, and your bag appears ready to leave as well,” Headmaster Cooper booms from down the hall as he strides out. “New rule, unless you can prove you have club meetings, you’re all to vacate the school on Friday within fifteen minutes of the final bell.”
“What?” I ask. “No, I’m looking for my girlfriend. We’re riding together. I can’t leave without her.”
“Then you can wait for her in the parking lot,” he says, his heavy hands turning me around and pushing me firmly toward the exit. This isn’t possibly an actual rule.
Is he for real right now?
Everyone follows suit as they trudge out of the school, shrugging that they’ll just finish their conversations in the parking lot.
“So I’m just supposed to hope she comes out?” I ask, turning to face him as I stand on the front steps outside of the school.
He’s unlatching the doorstops that hold the doors open before and after school so they won’t auto lock on people, shrugging.
“Maybe she shouldn’t have gotten on the Kings’ radar, Miss Cruz,” he says, his voice soft enough that only I can hear.
Allowing the door to close, he moves to the other door as students begin to rush out. I guess it would be awkward to wrestle with the heavy door after he closes it. Once he does, the doors will be locked from the outside.
I won’t be able to get back inside. Fuck!
“You know this isn’t right,” I hiss, starting to seriously panic.
This can’t be happening right now. I’m supposed to be able to protect her. What’s worse is that Nacio rushes out as well, oblivious to my current turmoil.
“I know no such thing,” Headmaster Cooper says. “This is the way our world works, and you know it.”
“What’s going on?—”
Nacio’s words are cut off as the headmaster slams the door shut as the last student escapes, and I swallow back a scream.
“Rachelle is still inside,” I finally gasp, turning toward him. “Do you know if the guys are gone yet?”
Nacio turns to face the parking lot, his teeth grinding together in anger. He’s beginning to see a set up just like I am.
“They’re all here,” he mutters. “I’ve been slammed today, and no one told me they were planning something with her.”
“Are they suspicious?” I rasp, my body coiled and tight with anxiety.
“Of me? No, not yet,” he says. “I guess we’re breaking into the school. It just won’t be this door that's locked. Let’s go.”
Blowing out a breath, I whisper a prayer that we’re able to get to her in time and help her. God, I fucking hate our new headmaster.
* * *
THEO
This isn’t a planned Kings’ punishment, but I can’t help myself. I’ve been watching her walk from class to class alone, as if she doesn’t have a care in the world. Her short hair pisses me off. I fucking hate how adorable it looks on her.
If she wants short hair, I’d rather shave it all off. Which is exactly what I plan on doing. I brought scissors and my electric razor to school in my backpack, hoping for a chance at the little mouse. Smirking as Headmaster Cooper glances over his shoulder, I pull the scissors out of my pocket to wave it at him discreetly.
The first day of school he pulled the Kings into his office to discuss how he would help us anyway he could. I guess he means it as he turns and yells at Liliana to get her ass in gear. He’s clearing the halls, which is perfect.
Replacing the scissors, I roam the hallways, looking for the little mouse. Just as she tries to open the door to the bathroom to leave, I catch the door, shoving her back in as I follow her.
I have no idea where the guys are, but I have pockets filled with hair cutting tools, my backpack left in my locker for now. I’m too impatient to wait for them to join me.
“Going somewhere, Little Mouse?” I croon.
“What do you want?” she snarls, her feet losing ground as she continues to step back.
There’s no where to go, little one.
“You’re full of piss and vinegar. Maybe you should drink one of them,” I decide.
Rushing forward as she screams, my fingers tangle in her hair before fisting it, ushering her into a bathroom stall.
I hope someone forgot to flush.
Unfortunately, the toilet water is clear as I drag her over as she kicks and screams. Fuck, she’s loud for such a little thing. She even manages to get her legs on the outside of the door, to which I roll my eyes as I fix that by walking back so her legs will drop before I rush forward and knock them out from under her.
The little mouse closes her mouth as she grabs the outside of the toilet bowl as I shove her head down, continuing to fight me. Pinching her neck hard startles her enough from the pain for her hand to slip, and I dunk her head into the bowl.
You would think she’d learn how much patience I have. My knee braces down on her back so she can’t get up, my hands scraping together as much hair as I can to cut off as she struggles not to inhale toilet water.
“It’s so funny how we keep meeting near water, isn’t it, baby?” I ask her, pulling the scissors from my pocket. It’s too bad she won’t be able to see what I’m doing until it’s much too late.
A large snip or two of the very sharp scissors means I lose my grip on her hair as I drop the now freed hair into the toilet bowl with her. Lifting her head, she gasps in a breath, silent as she takes in the hair now surrounding her before she screams.
“Theo, that’s my motherfucking hair,” she yells.
“I know,” I say like the psycho I am, ignoring the way she lifts her hands to attempt to hit me. It doesn’t work well since I’m still pushing her down with my knee. She looks like a T-rex instead, flailing its tiny arms. “You have no idea what I’m capable of. Maybe you’ll actually look ugly now, and I’ll stop feeling anything.”
The last words are lost to her screams, and it’s probably for the better. I’ve been having nightmares lately, though I don’t know if the other guys are. I’ve never felt regret for anything as much as I do for what happened in the woods.
I have to kill the feelings, the regret, so I’m conducting an experiment. Remove the things that make her pretty, so she can’t make me feel the things I do.
It’s the only way I can survive this.
Pulling out the electric razor, I shrug. May as well get it all.
“You’re going to hate me a whole lot more,” I mutter, moving my knee to grab her chin and pull her tightly against me.
I don’t care that my pants may be getting wet as her face drips onto the ground. Making sure I hold her arms and legs tightly with my body, I begin to shave her head. It’s not the easiest because I’m contorted to keep her still, but I strangely don’t want to cut her.
That’s not the lesson I want to teach today.
“Shh, Little Mouse,” I whisper in the shell of her ear as she sobs, clumps of her hair falling down. “This is one of the many things we’re going to do to you. This year will not get better. Should I just kill you with my scissors shoved deep in your throat? I’m a quick study, a small call to Ignacio, and he’ll help me make it look like it’s a suicide. Do you really want to keep fighting?”
She can’t move her head because of how tightly I’m holding her chin, and she’s crying too hard to create words. I want her to beg me to kill her. Maybe she’ll even suck my cock so I can come when I do it.
I’ve always had a sick attraction to the macabre.
I want to be done with this, desperately, so I can begin to mourn her. She’s this bright, sad light in the world, one that has the bad luck of landing on the wrong side of us.
“All done,” I croon, releasing her so quickly she almost hits her head on the damn toilet as she collapses.
Shrugging, I decide she’s not my problem anymore as I stand, walking out to rinse the razor and dry it off. Frowning, I pull out my phone, knowing I’m missing something. Returning to the stall, I crouch down at eye level with her where she’s curled in a ball facing me.
“For prosperity, Little Mouse, since my fellow Kings aren’t here. You understand,” I murmur, taking several photos.
There’s still so much fire in her swollen, angry, tortured eyes as she spits at me, hitting my shoe.
“You’re lucky I’m in a good mood,” I mutter, standing. “Otherwise, you’d be shining my shoe with your fucking face.”
Leaving the bathroom, I whistle as I put away the razor, content to know that I just broke the little mouse a bit more, despite her fire. Now, to message the guys about this.
Me:
If you haven’t left yet, get the fuck off the property unless you have an alibi. I just left a broken little mouse in the bathroom.
Ignacio:
Even with the headmaster on our side, that’s probably a good idea.
Elijah:
Did you at least get a photo? I can’t believe I missed this.
Sending them photos, I’m glad our chat is encrypted. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be doing this.
Jared:
Is anyone else pissed off that she’s still gorgeous bald?
Sighing, I realize he’s right. Fuck me.
* * *
RACHELLE
Pushing myself up to a sitting position, I gasp in a breath, water dripping off my face at a pace that I’m unsure if it’s toilet water or tears. I feel disgusting, there’s loose hair all over my face and clothes, in the toilet and floor.
Leave it to Theo to ruin a decent day. Even though I hate my classes, and I’m constantly pushed around, I’ve been trying to enjoy school. What’s really fucked up is how much I enjoy learning.
The Kings are trying to take all of that from me.
My entire body is shaking as I force myself to my feet, immediately falling down again. I can hear the running of feet in the hallway, and it’s embarrassing to admit that I whimper.
“Just leave me alone,” I wail, on my knees because I simply don’t have the strength to get up.
“Rachelle!” Lili hisses, making me sag against the stall, trying my best to dry my face with my jacket shoulder. Unfortunately, it’s also wet.
“In here!” I call out, deciding I’m not too good to crawl out.
Nacio and Lili burst into the bathroom as I make my way out of the stall, jaws dropping as they see me. Nacio is the first to move toward me as I burst into tears.
“He took my hair,” I wail as he scoops me up into his arms.
“The bastard sent a photo to our group chat,” he whispers, kissing my bald head. “Don’t look at the mirror just yet, alright? I want to finish what he started, only so it’s even. We’ll make it work, nena. You’re gorgeous with or without hair, and it’ll grow back. Lili, can you grab your car and pull it up to the side entrance we came through? Let’s get her out of here.”
Tears run down Lili’s face as she nods.
“I’m so sorry,” she whispers, turning and opening the door to the restroom as she leaves.
“Why is she sorry?” I rasp, my throat hurting. I swear, we all need to stop meeting this way.
“Headmaster Cooper kicked everyone out of the school when he saw Lili looking for you,” he murmurs, moving backward until he can grab paper towels.
Wetting them, he cleans my face off. It immediately begins to feel better somehow, the cool water helping.
“The doors all automatically lock, as you know, so neither of us could get back in. We went around and I jimmied the lock. I knew to start looking inside the restrooms because of his text,” Nacio explains. “I don’t know how he managed not to cut you, Rachelle.”
“He forced me to sit very still, but cut most of it off with scissors after he shoved my head in the toilet,” I sigh, resting my head on his chest. I know I’m getting him wet. I doubt he cares at this point. “I think this was a game for him to remove all of my hair without spilling a drop of blood.”
Nacio pulls more paper towels, gently drying my face before throwing them out with a sigh.
“Let’s get the fuck out of here,” he murmurs. “I also think it may be time to discuss some homeschool options.”
I’m struck dumb by his words as he opens the door, striding for the side exit he talked about.
“I don’t know how much worse things can get,” he says under his breath as he walks quickly.
I know he doesn’t want to be seen. He’s the only lifeline I have to the Kings’ movements, and even then they’re all fucking wildcards, content to take their shot whenever possible.
Using his body to open the exit, he jogs down the stairs to where Lili is waiting with reddened eyes behind the wheel. She must have run the entire way.
She opens the door for us from where she’s sitting, and Nacio tucks me into the seat and pulls the belt.
“Remember, be a good girl for me and don’t look at the mirrors, okay?” he says, kissing my temple.
I really want a shower, to brush my teeth, and a time machine. I’ve been having those thoughts a lot, wishing I could change my life. A cruel sense of deja vu runs over me, making me shudder.
“Okay,” I whisper, watching as he leaves to run back to his car.
“Let’s get the fuck out of here,” Lili whispers, putting the car into drive and taking my hand. “Call Mr. Emil.”
Her phone connects through the car’s Bluetooth as she drives, and I close my eyes at the shit show that’s going to happen. My life is worse than a shit show. It’s a fucking circus.
“ Lili, are you on the way home?” Emil asks. A part of my soul settles hearing his voice. This is a man that is firmly on my side.
“I am,” she says, tears clear in her voice. “I’m with Rachelle. Mr. Emil, Theo shaved her head after school. Headmaster Cooper made up some bullshit rule today, ensuring we all had to clear the school, which left her alone in there.”
“ He… fuck. Rachelle?” Emil asks, forcing me to respond, though I keep my eyes closed.
“I’m here,” I reply. “Next time, I'll hold it until I get home. He attacked me as I was walking out of the restroom.”
“ I want to kill them all,” he growls. “ This headmaster is a plant ? —”
“I know,” I sigh. “Nacio told me the same thing earlier this week. Apparently, he pulled the Kings into his office to offer whatever help he could.”
“I’m glad my son has turned a new leaf. It’s unfortunate his friends are on the wrong side of this, but I need them to fail. I will not accept anything else,” he says.
“I wanted to let you know what happened,” Lili says.
“ This wasn’t your fault, Liliana,” Emil says firmly. “ Take a deep breath, and remind yourself of that. Theo took advantage of a situation he was set up to take. The fact that he had the tools to do this means he somewhat planned this.”
It’s only mid-August. How much worse can things get?