Chapter 25
The early sunlight felt too bright against my bleary eyes. Anubis and I crouched behind a low stone wall near the edge of campus, struggling to catch our breath. I kept checking the path behind us, half-expecting the black-clad watchers to appear at any moment. But all I saw were morning shadows stretching across the dew-slick grass.
My phone showed it was just after six-thirty in the morning. We’d fled Eden Hall less than an hour ago, leaving behind echoes of shouts, scuffles, and the pounding of our own hearts. If the Undercurrent’s ambush was successful, then the Skulls might be reeling from the sudden leak of our compiled evidence. Toccara’s murder, experimental gene therapy, sabotage, everything was laid bare.
Yet I felt no triumph, only a bone-deep fear. The brand on my shoulder stung, a permanent reminder of the hold the Skulls once had on us. Would they double down and hunt us to the ends of the earth? Or was it too late for them?
Anubis rested one hand gently on my back, the other shielding his eyes from the sun. “Let’s get off campus,” he said, voice low with urgency. “They’ll be tearing the place apart soon.”
I nodded, swallowing hard. “Where can we even go?”
“Anywhere that isn’t here,” he said. “We can’t risk your dorm or the caretaker’s cottage. Kate or someone from the Undercurrent might have a place.”
Kate. I pictured her barreling into that courtyard, the watchers closing in. We didn’t know what happened to her. My stomach twisted in guilt and worry. “We should try to contact Kate, see if she got away.”
Anubis gently took my phone from my hand, scanning the screen. “No bars. Either the network’s jammed, or there’s just too much traffic.” He tried his phone too. “Same.”
I repressed a shiver. Of course the Skulls would try to clamp down on communications. “We’ll have to find her in person, then.”
Standing upright, Anubis offered me his hand. I took it, letting him pull me to my feet. A swirl of dizziness hit me, too many nights of tension, too little sleep. My black dress, still from last night’s gala, was torn at the hem, and Anubis’ suit jacket bore smears of dirt. We looked like we’d stumbled out of some post-apocalyptic formal.
Still, his hand in mine felt like the only steady thing in the world. “Come on,” he murmured. “Let’s see if we can slip down to the city edge. There’s a motel near the highway. Maybe we can lie low there, regroup.”
“Okay.” My voice was a whisper, but determination underpinned it.
We stayed off the main paths, circling behind the soccer field and tennis courts until we reached the deserted visitor parking lot. The morning sun climbed steadily, brightening campus walkways that were usually so serene. Today, they felt ominous.
Once on the perimeter road, we trudged another half-mile in tense silence. Edenvane’s wrought-iron gates loomed ahead, strangely quiet. A bored campus security guard sat slumped in the booth, possibly unaware of the chaos deeper inside. Anubis held his breath as we passed. The guard eyed us but didn’t stop us, probably assuming we were just early joggers or a couple who spent the night out.
We made it through. My heart pounded with relief as we stepped onto the public road. A line of tall pines framed either side, leading into the small city beyond. My scalp prickled, waiting for black SUVs to roar up and block our path, watchers bursting out. But no one came.
Going behind a bush, Anubis emerged with a duffle bag. “For emergencies like this.”
He’d been prepared. I felt relieved for a second.
“Don’t exhale yet,” Anubis warned, reading my mind. “Let’s keep moving.”
We flagged down a passing taxi, one of the few rattling along the early route. The driver, a middle-aged man with wiry hair and kind eyes, didn’t question our disheveled appearance. We asked him to take us to a motel on the outskirts, offering a crumpled bill from Anubis’ wallet as partial prepayment. The driver nodded, unconcerned, perhaps used to frantic college kids needing emergency rides.
I pressed myself into the back seat, Anubis’ arm steady around my shoulders. As the taxi pulled away, I caught a final glimpse of the looming Edenvane gates in the rearview mirror. We’re out…for now.
The sign for the Redwood Inn flickered with a missing letter, so it read Redw__d Inn . The place wasn’t fancy—two stories of faded green siding, a row of doors opening onto a shared balcony. But it looked quiet, and it was well off the main roads.
Anubis paid the driver and escorted me inside the office. A sleepy clerk barely glanced at us, offering a halfhearted grunt of greeting. We secured a room with one bed. No sense wasting money on two. My cheeks warmed at the realization that once again we’d be sharing tight quarters, but so much had happened that I didn’t dwell on modesty.
The clerk handed over a key, and we trudged to the far end of the second floor. The door creaked open, revealing a musty smell, a patterned bedspread, and a small TV perched on an old dresser. A battered table stood by the window, curtains drawn against the morning light.
I flicked on the overhead lamp. “Cozy,” I murmured, my voice tremulous with exhaustion.
Anubis’ shoulders sagged. “It’s better than a jail cell,” he said wryly.
We both hovered near the door, uncertain. Then he gently locked the deadbolt and turned the chain, shutting out the world. The tension in my limbs loosened a fraction. Safe, for a moment.
I peeled off my torn dress, letting it drop over the chair. A wave of nausea hit me, probably from the adrenaline crash. “I feel sick,” I admitted, pressing a hand to my stomach.
“Here,” Anubis said softly, guiding me to the edge of the bed. “Sit. I’ll get some water.” He rummaged in the tiny bathroom, emerging with a plastic cup of tap water. I sipped it, eyes stinging with tears I’d been holding back.
He sat beside me, hands gentle on my knees. “It’s okay,” he whispered. “We made it out.”
My emotions cracked open. The events of the last few hours, escaping watchers, seeing Kate storm the courtyard, hearing the watchers confirm Toccara’s murder, clashed in my mind. “What if they’ve got Kate? What if the leak wasn’t enough?”
Anubis pulled me into his arms, cradling my head against his shoulder. “We can’t be sure of anything yet. We’ll try to contact her once we find a stable Wi-Fi or a burner phone. If she’s free, she’ll reach out.”
I sobbed once, then tried to swallow the rest of my tears. “I hate feeling helpless.”
He pressed a soft kiss to my hairline. “You’re not helpless, Suede. We’ve come this far. We’ll keep going.” His voice carried a grim determination that reminded me how far he’d grown from the cocky, privileged boy I once knew in high school.
Exhaustion swept over me like a tide. We both needed sleep, real sleep, not the snatches of rest we stole in the caretaker’s cottage. Without words, we moved to pull back the worn bedspread. The mattress sagged a little, squeaking under our weight. It wasn’t luxurious, but it was a haven.
We settled down, side by side, the air too thick with tension for intimacy, but the comfort of each other’s warmth felt essential. Anubis flicked the lamp switch off, and the room plunged into a murky half-darkness. My mind buzzed, replaying each danger we’d faced. But slowly, lulled by his rhythmic breathing, I drifted into a restless slumber.
I woke to the tinny sound of a phone alarm. Anubis stirred beside me, swiping at his phone. Afternoon light peeked through the threadbare curtains. We must’ve slept for hours.
Blinking, I sat up, confusion swirling. For a bizarre moment, I forgot where we were. Then the motel room came into focus, and it all rushed back.
Anubis glanced at me, concern etched in his features. “Hey. You okay?”
My throat felt raw. “Been better,” I rasped. “But I’m… alive.”
He gave a tight nod, expression softening. “Let’s see if we can get some news.”
We rummaged through our things. My own phone still had no signal, possibly the tower near campus was jammed or my cell was just out of range. Anubis’ phone flickered with one bar of service. He tapped it, trying to load any feed or call anyone.
After a moment, a single text popped up on his screen:
Kate : “Safe. At R’s place. Police investigating w real evidence now. U 2 ok? Hide.”
I exhaled in relief. “Kate’s safe. She says the police are investigating with real evidence.”
Anubis’ eyes widened. “They actually listened to the leak?”
I re-read the message. “It must’ve been big enough to force their hand. She wants us to hide.” The mention of “R’s place” might mean some safe house in the city. Or it could be the home of a supportive professor or alumni.
Anubis typed back quickly:
Anubis : “We’re safe. Let us know next steps.”
A swirl of hope and dread churned in my stomach. The police had evidence, maybe the documents we compiled. Would that be enough to topple the Skulls, or would the Dean manipulate law enforcement again?
Sighing, I forced myself to my feet. “We should get food. My stomach’s empty.”
“Agreed.” Anubis raked a hand through his rumpled hair. “We can’t just starve ourselves in this room.”
We took quick turns in the motel’s dingy shower, one at a time, leaving the other to keep watch. Then, changed into spare clothes from Anubis’ emergency duffel bag, a pair of his sweatpants for me, an oversized T-shirt, and for him, a simple hoodie and jeans. We looked like normal travelers now, albeit worn out.
We found a nearby diner within walking distance, an old-school place with chipped linoleum floors and the scent of frying bacon. The neon sign flickered in the window: Open 24 Hours. My nerves knotted at the idea of being out in public, but anonymity here might be our friend.
A waitress with a warm smile handed us menus. The place was half-empty, just a few other patrons scattered in booths. We slid into a corner booth, scanning the options. Eggs, pancakes, coffee. It felt ironically normal after everything.
As soon as the waitress left with our order, Anubis leaned across the table. “Think the cops will actually arrest the Dean or the watchers?”
My thoughts churned. “Depends on how deeply the Skulls have infiltrated the police. But if Kate’s note is true and they’re investigating Toccara’s death with fresh evidence, there’s a chance. Toccara might finally get justice.”
He nodded, relief flickering in his eyes. “That’s been our goal.”
“Yeah.” I stared at the chipped Formica tabletop. My brand still ached, though the rawness was less. “But what if the Skulls come for us before the police can act? The watchers gave us that ultimatum…like we were next if we resisted.”
Anubis’ gaze sharpened. “We won’t let them catch us off guard. We’ll stay hidden, watch the news. If the police truly clamp down, the Skulls might go underground or scatter.”
The waitress returned with two mugs of coffee and a glass carafe. I gratefully wrapped my hands around the ceramic warmth. Some primal part of me needed this comfort, this normalcy of a diner morning. If only I could forget the nightmares for a little while.
As we sipped, Anubis’ phone buzzed again. We froze, hearts pounding. Another text from Kate:
Kate : “Cops took statements. Some watchers in custody. Dean lawyers up. Sophie missing?? Some say ill. Factions. Be safe.”
I read it twice, the words blurring. “Sophie’s missing? Or maybe she’s still recovering from that injection.”
Anubis’ eyes narrowed. “Or the sabotage faction has her in hiding. Or she’s refusing hospital care out of fear the truth will come out. Hard to say.”
We quietly relayed the possibilities. Sophie’s collapse at the gala might have left her in a vulnerable state, both physically and politically. If the Skulls were fracturing, she might be a pawn or a scapegoat.
“What about the watchers in custody?” I asked, heart lifting. “That’s major. They might talk to save themselves.”
Anubis nodded grimly. “If they flip on the Dean, we could see real indictments. Maybe they’ll reveal the full chain of command behind Toccara’s murder. All the hush money. Everything.”
A flutter of cautious optimism. “If that happens, we might not have to hide forever.”
Our breakfasts arrived, steaming plates. It felt strange to eat while discussing the possible collapse of a centuries-old secret society. Yet the growling in my stomach insisted on nourishment. I forced myself to take slow bites, focusing on each mouthful.
Across from me, Anubis ate in thoughtful silence. He’d been so strong, sacrificing his illusions about his own family legacy. I reached across the table, curling my fingers over his wrist. He looked up, and for a moment, the tension in his gaze softened.
“Thank you,” I whispered. “For standing by me.”
He turned his hand to clasp mine. “We stand by each other,” he said simply. “And once this is done…maybe we can finally figure out a normal life.”
My heart squeezed. A normal life with him. The idea seemed a distant dream, but I clung to it like a lifeline.
We were halfway through the meal when my phone vibrated. Unexpected, since I had no signal earlier. The screen displayed an unknown local number, possibly a landline.
I shot Anubis a wary glance and answered. “Hello?”
A raspy voice crackled. “Nubia. We spoke in front of Edenvane mansion, about respecting lineage. We know where you are.”