Chapter Thirteen
A fter Sunday’s escapade of useless games and unnecessary icebreakers—I reminded Heather never to drag me to that kind of shit again—we managed to survive our first week of college classes. It was interesting, considering I took—more like was forced—Business Management as a major, so some were dry introduction courses, others were prerequisites, but overall, I managed to navigate each one without drawing too much attention to myself. Taking five was average; in reality, I wish I had taken two and called it a day, but the way my family’s connections ran deep in New York, they would find I half-assed the experience and scold me like a child.
Sometimes I wished my parents’ intense involvement in my life would end.
Once again, thank you, Grams, for this marvelous experience.
I liked a few of my professors, some not so much, but at least some were bearable and didn’t call on me when I wasn’t paying attention. It wasn’t at all like the movies I watched growing up or the scare tactics my previous high school teachers threatened us with. I called that a solid win in my book.
I hadn’t seen Kal since our little seven minutes in heaven were cut to two by that girl named Chloe, and it was honestly for the best. Josh had been MIA since his little tantrum that day during freshmen breakfast. Whatever Chloe told him was enough for him to give me a dirty look before storming off.
What a fucking pansy.
I’d seemed to avoid them all week, and although that would’ve been amazing, it made me worry, especially for Heather. The mere thought of her getting involved with such a violent group of people set me on edge every time she left our room. Granted, I had no proof they were evil, but I couldn’t help but shake the uneasy feeling their hidden agenda was dangerous.
But that night… after that frightful nightmare, sitting on those stone steps, that scarlet cape, then Josh just showing up randomly? I happened to find my stupid handbook in that acceptance folder and read through it. Sure enough, there was a curfew in the facts sheet.
What gave him the right to boss me around when he was clearly breaking the rules himself? Had he seen what appeared on campus? That striking scarlet cape? Was he trying to look out for me? But what if... shit, what if he was involved instead? Could he be protecting them?
If so, then Nickie had to get far away from Josh as soon as possible. But I knew she wouldn’t listen, she never had since our friendship began. And besides, dangerous men were her favorite to screw around with and chase.
The lack of presence from Jeremy and Nickie made me realize one thing; I never thought for myself. All my actions reflected theirs and how they presented themselves. No, they weren’t bad people, but it would seem I’d been hiding behind a mask made by two people unsure of their own selves.
A mask I wasn’t expecting to take off.
But I did anyway because I gave them the okay to meet them tonight.
I sat in front of my LED vanity mirror propped on my desk, slapping on my makeup, trying to hide my designer eye bags that I didn’t buy purposefully.
Never again would I take an eight a.m.
Heather had left for the night. She’d made some friends in her accounting class, and they wanted to go out for pizza and beers with their fake IDs. The invitation was extended, but Electric Haze called my name, along with Jeremy and Nickie, several times. I guess they missed me despite the fact there was a lack of communication, but it went both ways, and I was equally to blame for not reaching out.
I would be lying if I said I didn’t miss them too.
Preparing for my night out, a soft knock came on my door. Unless my parents decided to stop by for a surprise visit or Heather forgot something of hers, I wasn’t expecting anyone to come by at this hour.
So, when I opened the door, my double surprise followed soon after, as the hallway remained empty. Confused, I stepped out, giving it a thorough check, waiting for someone to pop out and yell surprise, but all I heard were the girls down the hall laughing obnoxiously through the thin walls.
Annoyed and slightly embarrassed with myself for opening it in the first place, I began to retreat inside, when I noticed a scarlet envelope taped to my door. Strange how I didn’t see it before, but then again, when did I ever really pay attention to what was on my door these days? I peeled the tape off the wood that held it in place.
I gave one last glance at the empty hallway before I quietly stepped back inside to rip open the pretty envelope. Inside was an eggshell brochure with beautiful handwriting staining the paper in black ink. Black ink that said the time of the event for induction of The Order of the Scarlet Quill had changed from seven to eight pm.
But the letter was addressed to no one.
And yet somehow, they knew Heather and I were rooming together.
Because Heather still had no idea.
Which meant us being placed together was no coincidence.
My head was hurting, and it wasn’t even midnight yet.
I had already ripped the envelope open, so I couldn’t pretend to Heather I didn’t read it, but I could recreate it and just put her name on the front.
Well, now I had to find out.
Was my invitation still under my desk near the trash can?
A few minutes passed, and I luckily found a new envelope—unfortunately, not the color of blood, but she wouldn’t know the difference—and tried to mimic the elegant writing, somewhat successfully. I grabbed my purse and phone and taped the letter back on the door before skirting out of there as fast as possible before anyone saw me.
Born and raised in New York City, I refused to take the subway at night by myself. The horror stories I heard over the years of young girls like me getting kidnapped or, worse, sexually assaulted, instantly made up my mind never to ride it alone.
Besides, our family hired a personal driver, so I’d never need to, but the odds of him coming to get me were slim to none, mainly since my parents use him constantly. And if they found out I left campus, that was another load of unwanted questions I didn’t intend to answer at this hour. Or ever.
A cab was the next best thing.
It took only fifteen minutes from campus to reach Electric Haze in record time, considering it was a Friday night in New York City. Nickie and Jeremy were waiting outside in line as the car pulled up to the curb. Their outfits were coordinated, and I wondered if they got ready together.
Then it got me thinking, how often had they done that without me?
Securing my crossbody purse, I gave the cab driver a generous tip for risking his life in the heavy traffic to drive my ass out on a Friday night and met them in line.
Nickie hugged me so tight I thought she would pop my head off like a bobblehead. Jeremy kissed me on each cheek and spun me around like a ballet dancer.
“Did lover boy slay you yet?” he asked, handing Nickie our signature silver flask.
I smacked him hard on the arm. “No!”
“He better lay the pipe soon. You’re getting rigid,” Jeremy stated.
Nickie smacked him upside the head. “She knows; don’t remind her.”
“Wow, thanks for that,” I said to both of them.
“We love you and want what’s best,” she reminded me, and then gave me a weird look after her eyes scanned my outfit. “Excuse my French, but what the fuck are you wearing?”
“What?” I gazed down at my attire. Sure, it wasn’t my typical tight black dress, but I’d had a long day, and she was lucky I put in the effort with my makeup. Eight a.m. classes tended to catch up to someone if they were used to staying out past midnight on weekdays, and I refused to nap.
“You look like you just got off a shift at Old Navy,” said Jeremy. His facial expression of horror matched Nickie’s.
“I’ll go if we’re going to make fun of me all night,” I suggested, stepping away from them.
Nickie and Jeremy both pulled me back in line.
“We’re sorry. Just surprised, that’s all. A week of school and you already dress differently,” said Nickie sadly.
“It’s one outfit, not a whole personality change,” I grumbled. We hadn’t even entered the club yet, and they were already getting on my nerves. The feeling of jealousy subsided with each snide remark, and I was in no mood to deal with any of it.
“But that’s just it, soon you’ll change your hair, the music you like, and the next thing you know, you’re a part of some tacky sorority where girls pose drinking from a wine bag, thinking it’s trendy,” Jeremy explained while he fiddled with his collar.
The line moved, and they followed suit, but I stepped aside. “I think I’m gonna go.”
“What?” they shouted together.
The look on their confused faces not only pissed me off more, but they played it off like it was a shock I’d be leaving before we hit the doors. Sometimes their remarks went too far, and I’d felt crappy lately.
“I think I need to be alone tonight,” I announced.
“No, girl, come on! We were just kidding!” panicked Nickie.
“We only half meant the Old Navy comment,” confessed Jeremy.
“I’m going to walk back to my place. I’ll text you guys later,” I said over my shoulder, escaping before it got ugly.
I could hear them both in the distance yelling at one another for whose fault it was for making me leave early. It was equal but hearing them hash it out on the busiest street in New York City was priceless. All eyes were on them, and at one point, someone yelled at them to shut up. But their negativity struck a chord, and I needed space to think.
I let my feet carry me to a familiar location in my neighborhood, only two blocks from Electric Haze. The summer heat seemed to take an early vacation, and I welcomed the cool breeze. The only parts of the city that didn’t have excessive amounts of trash and random druggies in back alleys, the only time I felt somewhat safe walking home, were these two blocks.
Keeping my focus forward, I let my mind wander to all the events leading up to tonight. Maybe they were right; perhaps I had changed in a week, but had it been that major? I found my outfit a minor alteration, and I overreacted a little to their comments, but damn, they hadn’t seen me in a week and were already freaking out over dumb shit. A simple outfit that didn’t match their aesthetic sent them into a tizzy; I could only imagine what a month would do and how bad their words might be.
For now, I just needed the space to think.
I took extra time getting back home, wanting to bask in the crazy buzz of the city. All the smells of overly fried food, the occasional hot dog stand, and I could never forget the city performers that appeared randomly to put on a show until they harassed you for money.
I hadn’t seen Kal since our little rendezvous in the janitor’s closet. No matter how hot the interaction between us became, his disgusting comment at the end left a shitty taste in my mouth. Of course I wanted no strings attached; the issue was I never made it known to him.
Maybe I’m the problem?
It shouldn’t excuse what he said, and I had a bad habit of making excuses for others.
Heather, on the other hand… I had no idea how to approach this society’s bullshit. She still didn’t know I had been invited, and part of me wanted to tell her the other night, but how did I come out and say it? It wasn’t something to have a normal conversation about, let alone one I wanted to have, but it might help me understand why we were chosen, if she knew anything at all. And how would I go about telling her I found it under her bed, potentially snooping in her personal belongings?
My options were slim, just like my patience with Nickie and Jeremy.
A couple more blocks until I got home, and the idea sent a warm tingle through my body. Just the thought of being back in my bed, even for a couple of hours, the softness that would engulf me the minute I curled under the covers, was all I wanted and more.
That was before a familiar scarlet fabric caught my attention.
A few apartments down from my home at the end of 77th Street, no taller than my five-foot-five stature, was a person cloaked with that same scarlet fabric. Striking against the hues of the city lights, I watched them hide in a nearby alleyway, unsuccessfully since I could see them clear as day. Or maybe I was utterly observant and nobody else gave a crap. Why would you try to be secretive but wear one of the most obvious colors?
A mystery I might never solve.
They kept turning their head as if they were watching out for someone or something, but I couldn’t quite make it out from where I stood. Trying to get a better view, I dipped around a few cars that lined the city streets and inched closer. If I could just see the person’s figure, I might get a better glimpse of their actions. The further I got, the harder it seemed this person was frantically checking down the alleyway. Then a soft whistle blew across the street, and the hooded figure’s head snapped up, revealing Chloe.
The same girl who caught Kal and me in the janitor’s closet.
Stay away from the elite. You have no business with us.
Her words began to bounce inside my head, and my heart hammered in my chest like a hummingbird.
What the hell is she doing out here? Is this what she meant about the ‘elite?’
Suddenly, a tall figure walked across the street; a black hood covering their head, and they somehow avoided eye contact and strange stares from people. They wore dark, fitted, long-sleeved shirts with matching pants and black shoes. It looked like this person had a bow and arrow strapped across their chest. I was baffled how nobody thought it was strange that a random person walked around with a bow and arrow strapped to his chest, but then again, this was New York, and nothing seemed crazy in a city like this. Without warning, they gave a quick look back, stunning me as recognition dawned.
Josh.
His face was stone-cold like his eyes. He whispered something into her ear, his lips urgent with each word leaving his mouth. Chloe shook her head vigorously as if she disagreed with him over something, and Josh’s hands gripped the strap around his chest, anger plastered to his face. More whispers were exchanged, almost like they were in a heated argument.
I needed to get closer.
Just as they reached each other in the comfort of the dark alley, I dashed through the traffic, hiding between cars and avoiding angry grunts from people trying to sneak through. Only a few more strides and I would be in perfect earshot of their conversation.
But I was too late.
Josh put a hand on her back and hurried her along in the dark alley, shifting his body in view to where I got a look at the front of his shirt. A large scarlet S was embroidered on the breast, standing against his dark attire. I’d seen it before, though I couldn’t pinpoint where, but the design struck a familiar chord. Thankfully, he didn’t see me and disappeared into the alley, letting the darkness swallow him.
I realized my breathing had become erratic, and I had to hold onto the side of the building to catch my breath. After the encounter with Nickie earlier, there was no way she’d believe what I saw.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t follow them now, especially since I didn’t know what they were doing or where they were going. Do I even want to know? I needed to get the heck out of there before they caught me. Oddly, they hadn’t seen me, but I wouldn’t stick around to change that. Chloe already made it clear I wasn’t allowed to be around them, but that only fueled my curiosity after tonight.
Especially since this was clearly more than just a silly college society.
Dashing across the street, I ran as fast as possible to my house, hitting the button in the elevator to my floor repeatedly, getting more impatient by the second. Once it took me up, I quickly squeezed through the opening of the elevator doors and swiped the key card on our front door. The place seemed quiet, which meant my parents were out at some dinner function, and since Aiden was back in Hicksville for school, and Rose, our housekeeper, went home for the night, I had the whole place to myself.
Not taking any chances, I found my dad’s stash of his most expensive whiskey. Thank heavens it wasn’t a fresh bottle, and I grabbed the flask inside my purse. Careful not to spill, I filled it until it almost touched the top. Somehow, I needed to convince my dad to buy more stock so I could snag a whole bottle. Easier to refill, less likely to get caught.
Getting a bottle of water from the fridge, I trekked up to my bedroom, my feet dragging from exhaustion. From eight a.m. classes to useless social gatherings, my body was beaten. But my mind was far from tired.
My body collapsed on my neat bed. Everything seemed the same since I left it last week. Then again, why wouldn’t it be? It had only been a week, yet it felt like a month.
I chugged the water, letting it slide down my throat, cooling me down from the adrenaline burst earlier.
What were Josh and Chloe doing, and why were they dressed like they were going on a secret ops mission? Not only did it come across as suspicious, but it made me question a few things about the school. Or was it part of the school? They both went, but could it be some outside activity? Some secret club? Or were they mentally insane and had made this into some weird kink? Shit, did that mean Josh was cheating on Nickie? But why wear a scarlet cape?
As those last words filled my head, my eyes wandered over to my desk, where a scarlet card still leaned against the trash can underneath.
Rose missed a piece of trash.
A vital piece of trash.
Placing the half-empty water bottle on my bedside table, I got down on all fours and crawled across my bedroom floor, reaching for the thick card. Turning it over in my shaky hands, that large scarlet S carved in the front sparked the familiarity of what I saw not five minutes ago.
My decision was made when I tucked the invitation into my back pocket.