Chapter 19 Gabi
GABI
Present Day
“This spot is far enough away from our apartment. Park here,” I instruct Ele, pointing to the open space between two parked cars.
After driving in chaotic circles for the last forty-five minutes to shake whatever car was or wasn’t on our tail, the fear we all initially felt has morphed into a mix of emotions.
Ele is fuming. That much is clear. Viv has settled into a quiet, pensive mood, which is never a good sign, and despite my innate urge to return to the scene of the crime and double down on our spy efforts, I’ve kept my mouth shut.
Ele parallel parks her light blue Subaru and switches off the ignition with intention. I brace myself for what I know is next.
“What the actual fuck was that, Gabi?” Ele shouts at me, her voice especially damning in the close confines of the car.
“You want to tell us why we were getting chased like criminals in a goddamn witch hunt?”
“They heard me,” I admit. “I was crouched against the porch, and two Sigma guys were outside talking. I overheard them say they were on guard duty. You don’t understand what I saw.”
“Well then, enlighten us,” Ele snaps.
I angle my body in the front passenger seat so that both Ele and Viv are in my line of sight before launching into a recount of the horrors I witnessed.
“What exactly did these satanic masks look like?” Viv asks from the back seat. I take out my phone and type ‘black horned demon mask’ into the search bar. Several images populate the search results.
“Kind of like this,” I say, clicking on a strikingly similar image from a seller on a retail site known for handmade goods. I hand my phone to Ele who leans back so both she and Viv can see the screen at the same time.
“Full face demon mask. Black horned demon, Halloween parties, demon masquerade…” Ele mumbles, reading the product description aloud.
“Admittedly, that is terrifying,” Viv states.
“That is some cult shit right there,” Ele agrees, handing my phone back.
“Yes!” I say, emphasizing the conclusion that these masks do trigger thoughts of a satanic cult. “Plus, they were wearing floor-length, hooded black robes. Then all the women with bags over their heads. I mean what the fuck!?”
“Also, those guys on guard duty mentioned Kasey. I guess she was at Sigma all week with Barrett, but maybe they’re on the outs because apparently she cheated on him over the summer. Oh, and something about elders.”
“Elders?” Viv interrupts. “Like old people?”
“Nothing you just said makes any sense,” Ele reasons.
“No, it doesn’t,” I say, furrowing my brow as I think through what I overheard. “Also, if she was at Sigma all week, why wouldn’t she just answer her phone when her parents called, or text them back?”
“So, in conclusion,” Ele begins, her tone mockingly playful, “basically, Sigma may or may not be running a satanic kink club for grandpas. And we almost got caught by a bunch of cult fanatics. Cool. What a steaming hot dump of malarkey.”
“They’re going to figure out it was us,” Viv adds.
“How?” I ask in challenge.
“Hello?” she gestures with her hands, as if the reason should be obvious. “Could we have picked a more conspicuous getaway car? How many Subaru cars of this same color do you see driving around campus?”
“I don’t know! It’s a hippie college town. It has to be filled with Subarus!”
“Jesus, Viv’s right,” Ele laments. “But not this color, Gabi! We might as well have left our calling card on the ground. Dammit, this is so fucked. You know what? A secret satanic sex club for old men is an immediate no for me. Immediately no. I’m out.”
Her words pin me like a cornered animal, and I lash out. “Are you fucking kidding me? Did you even listen to a word I said? We have to expose this shit! If not us, then who?”
“Do you hear yourself, Gabi? You sound absurd! Listen, we know Sigma is doing fucked up shit, right? Obviously, corralling women and bringing them to a party wearing only sexy pajamas is fucking gross, but so what? Okay, so some dudes got out of an SUV wearing weird-ass masks. Is this probably some strange sex thing? Yes. But do we need to go poking around where we don’t belong?
Absolutely not. Those guys said Kasey was at Sigma all week, so drop it!
Let them have their orgy parties. Who cares?
Did anyone have a gun held to their head, because if not, they’re all consenting adults.
It may not be our cup of tea, but don’t yuk someone else’s yum. ”
“How can you be so dismissive?” I gawk.
“Is this about Jace?” Viv abruptly pipes in from the back seat.
Ele’s gapes at me, and I can see the wheels turning in her head.
“Oh my God,” Ele gasps, like she’s just solved the puzzle.
“This is about Jace, isn’t it? This is about Jace participating in something you disapprove of, and you want to out whatever Sigma is doing so you can drag Jace over the coals? ”
“No!” I stammer. “I could care less about where Jace sticks his dick. Are you serious? Why aren’t you listening?”
“No, you listen, Gabi,” Ele says, turning stern as she points a finger at me.
“If you want to keep running around, playing your little Sherlock Holmes shit, then be my guest. But I worked my ass off to get into this school, and I’m not going to fuck it up in my last year over some bullshit frat trying to have secret kink parties.
Plus, if we get caught, you know those Sigma assholes will press charges, and if that happens, my career will be dead on arrival.
I love you, Gabi, but I don’t want to be dragged into your circus of revenge. I’m sorry.”
“She’s right, Gabi. I’m sorry, but I can’t risk it either. My parents would literally disown me if I managed to get myself arrested and not graduate.”
“Guys,” I stutter. “You’re wrong. This is not about Jace.”
“Listen, for your own good, let it go,” Ele says. “Make no mistake, I’m not condoning whatever fucked up shit Sigma is doing, but this feels beneath you, Gabi. You’re better than this, and you’re better than Jace. This is not the hill to die on, trust me.”
They’re wrong. I know they’re wrong, but I know it’s pointless to contest. Hell, I’m even starting to doubt my own motives. Is my need to know the truth subconsciously about Jace?
I mutter, “You’re right,” and reach for the door handle.
The ruckus of drunk reverie grows louder the closer we get to our apartment.
Swarms of people linger on the sidewalk outside Tommy O’s, likely making plans for after hours.
The three of us walk solemnly in a single-file line, dodging and weaving around groups of passersby.
I lag several feet behind my two friends, numb and dejected.
Only once before have I felt this isolated and disowned, and that was in high school.
Is this how Monroe felt last semester when we were gone?
Did Kieren force her to participate in weird, Sigma cult-y sex things against her will?
When I saw Jace at the campus store, he made a comment about Monroe not being innocent.
Was she in over her head, or a willing participant?
A sickening image of Monroe being forced to do sex acts under duress pops into my mind, followed by an even more disturbing image of Monroe’s body lying dead in a gutter.
Monroe may be easily susceptible to Kieren’s spell, but she’s no weakling when it comes to standing up for what’s right, and that’s what scares me.
There’s nothing wrong with secret sex parties, even if they are considered taboo, so if Sigma is only guilty of throwing orgies, then why would Monroe have gone missing? It doesn’t add up.
I reach for a kernel of doubt, but my gut tells me I’m right, and if I have to walk this road alone to uncover the truth, so be it. I know Monroe wouldn’t have gone down without a fight, and neither will I.