Chapter 51
GABI
Present Day
Iopen the front door to our apartment as quietly as the old hinges will allow, hoping my friends are out and therefore not home to grill me with questions. But alas, Ele is perched on the couch like a judge presiding over her court of textbooks and notepads when I shut the door behind me.
“Hey,” she calls from the living room area. “I texted you, but you didn’t respond. I was at the library but couldn’t find you.”
“Oh, sorry,” I offer. “I didn’t realize I had zero reception until I left.”
“It’s okay. Everything alright? You look troubled.”
Troubled would be an understatement.
I double down on my anxious, stress-riddled expression and avert my eyes, chewing on my bottom lip for good measure.
“I got a call from my mom when I was walking home. She took my dad to the hospital this afternoon because he was complaining about chest pain, and we decided I should come home for a few days to be there for support.”
Seriously, how the fuck do I come up with these lies? I’m starting to scare myself at how second-nature my storytelling abilities have become.
“Oh my God, Gabi, I’m so sorry!” Ele says, standing from her spot on the couch. “I’m really sorry,” she says again, now embracing me with a hug. I hug her back, squeezing her into me like I might never see her again because it seems that is a likely scenario.
As Monroe explained her plan today, the nervous knot in my stomach grew until it had the weight of a brick.
Despite claiming otherwise, I know she’s going to kill Kieren and destroy everything in her path.
I’m not a fool. This revenge plan doesn’t end with the two of us riding off into the sunset with Kieren’s ring and computer, ready to air Sigma’s dirty laundry to the world.
I’m not even convinced that Kieren is the head of the snake.
Because while I’m certain Kieren would have no qualms about bringing back the tradition of Sigma Little Sisters, he’s not mastermind or evil enough to toss murder into the mix for his own sick pleasure.
No, it has something to do with the alumni who wear the black-horned satanic masks; I’m sure of it.
My gut tells me there is more to Monroe’s story, and I aim to make her tell me over the next few days.
I figure once the blood starts flowing, literally, she’ll be more inclined to open up.
Something tells me Monroe knows where the answers are hidden, and access to Kieren’s Sigma ring and emails are only the first of many steps to uncovering something much bigger and more sinister than we can even imagine.
“Thanks Ele,” I say, releasing her from my grip. “I’m headed out tomorrow morning, so if I don’t see you or Viv before I leave, I’ll be in touch over text.”
“Okay, please do,” Ele insists. “If there is anything we can do to help, don’t hesitate to let us know. We want to be there for you.”
I give her a weary smile and head back to my room to pack an overnight bag. Once the revenge shenanigans begin, I don’t think it will be safe to stay at my apartment, so I’ll stay in whatever rundown hotel Monroe has picked as home base.
I still can’t decide if I’m okay with the inevitable carnage that’s about to happen.
Barrett and Harrison are justifiable collateral damage.
Both are horrible humans and deserve the worst – Barrett for what he put Kasey through and Harrison for holding Monroe down while Kieren shoved pills down her throat.
Goddamn, the guilt I feel for leaving Monroe to fend for herself last semester eats me alive.
Of course, Jace deserves to go down with the rest of them for having no balls whatsoever and for being the worst fucking person in the history of this planet.
Kieren deserves to die, and I don’t know why Monroe won’t just kill him.
Fucking kill him! Fuck all this plotting and hoping the system works in your favor to expose the bad guys.
Spoiler alert, it won’t! Climb in through his window and slit the fucker’s throat.
That would make taking his ring and computer a thousand times easier.
Ugh, I hope I can convince Monroe to see the error in her ways.
My stomach growls from lack of real food, maybe I can persuade Ele to walk with me to get a sandwich from the corner bagel store before they close.
Fucking up men who have at least a hundred pounds on me will take strength.
Now that I think of it, I should get a bunch of bagels to-go.
Monroe can keep her diet of beef jerky and trail mix, I need real sustenance, because if I’m going to stab someone tomorrow, each strike needs to count.