Chapter 28
That evening, the police detective arranged a safe meeting spot at the local station, away from campus. I sat in a stiff chair in an interrogation room turned witness lounge, ankle bouncing with anxiety. Kate sat with me, flipping through her phone, updating me on the massive media coverage.
At last, an officer poked his head in. “Ms. Divore? We found your mother. She’s on her way.”
My heart leaped. I rushed into the corridor. A few minutes later, Mom—Ambrosia—rounded the corner. She looked disheveled, watery eyes ringed with mascara smudges, but otherwise unharmed. Rock hovered behind her, expression grim. My mom spotted me, let out a sob, and practically collapsed into my arms.
“Suede,” she choked, hugging me fiercely. “Oh God, they told me if I tried to contact you, they’d kill you. I was so scared.”
Tears blurred my vision. “They threatened you to get to me. I’m so sorry.” My voice cracked under the weight of everything.
She cupped my cheeks, eyes brimming. “Baby, I’m just glad you’re safe. We’re both safe. The police said you helped expose these psychos. I… never meant for you to get tangled in something like this.”
We held each other, the tension of years and near-death overshadowed by raw relief. Ambrosia insisted on hearing every detail, though it was too fresh, too complicated to unravel fully. She clung to me like she’d never let go.
Rock stood by, clearing his throat. “Man, these dudes in black suits jumped us at a roadside motel. Tied us up for a day. Craziest stuff I’ve ever seen, and I’ve been on tour with some wild rock bands. You all right, kid?”
I managed a tremulous smile. “I’m okay. You?”
He patted my shoulder. “Better now. We owe you big.”
Inside me, a knot loosened. My mother was safe. The watchers no longer could use her against me. A detective gently guided them to give formal statements. I returned to the lounge, where Kate hovered anxiously.
She rubbed my back. “You deserve a moment with them. I’ll wait.”
I squeezed her hand gratefully. Then, from the corner of my eye, I saw Anubis approach, guided by another detective. He hung back, letting me finish my reunion with Mom. She noticed him and raised an eyebrow.
“Is that the Edenvane boy you mentioned?” she asked softly, wiping her tears.
I nodded, cheeks flushing. “He’s… we helped each other through this.”
Mom’s gaze softened. “I see. You can introduce us properly later.” She gave my hand a final squeeze, then allowed the detective to lead her away.
I turned to Anubis, heart fluttering. “They’re going to be okay. The watchers can’t use them anymore.”
He nodded, relief in his eyes. “That’s a huge weight off your shoulders.”
We stood in the station corridor for a moment, ignoring the bustle of police, our hands finding each other’s. The brand under my sleeve itched, but for once, I felt no terror. We’d emerged from the darkest tunnel. Perhaps we truly were free.
In the next two days, the story broke wide. Major news outlets picked it up, sensationalizing “Secret Cult at Elite College.” The police charged the Dean with obstruction of justice and accessory to kidnapping. Sophie remained hospitalized, though rumors said she was cooperating with authorities, possibly turning state’s evidence. The old order of the Skulls was in shambles. The new order, disrupted by the chapel raid, scattered or faced arrest.
Toccara’s name filled every headline. A posthumous apology from the city’s police admitted they’d labeled her death a suicide without thorough investigation. Now, new evidence, the logs we leaked, proved watchers were on the scene that night, implicating them in her drowning. Toccara’s mother gave a tearful interview, praising the Undercurrent for unveiling the truth. My guilt eased slightly, knowing Toccara’s family had closure at last.
Kate’s phone messages overflowed with tips and interviews. She became a minor celebrity in journalism circles, though it was a double-edged sword. She needed police protection. Meanwhile, I found myself flooded with emotions: relief, exhaustion, sorrow for Toccara, and a new yearning to figure out my future.
Anubis and I lingered in the city for a bit, staying at a rental house, waiting for the dust to settle. My mother insisted on returning to her tour with Rock, but we parted on better terms than ever before. She actually promised to call regularly, a vow I hoped she’d keep this time. Part of me believed she would, after the close call we’d endured.
Finally, late one evening, Kate texted both of us:
Kate : “Campus calmer now. Some watchers out on bail, but most threats neutralized. Police hold caretaker’s cottage as evidence. You can come back for your stuff. Stay safe. –K”
I breathed out a shaky sigh, turning the phone to Anubis. “Looks like we can return to campus or at least pick up our things.”
He studied the message, lips pressed thin. “It’ll never be the same. Edenvane changed forever. But maybe… it can become something honest at last.”
I managed a small smile. “Let’s see.”
A few days later, we finally stepped onto Edenvane’s campus again. The vibe was surreal. Gone were the rumors. Now, gossip flared openly about the disbanded Skulls, the hidden crimes, the arrests. Some demanded the college rename buildings. Others insisted we bury the scandal quickly to preserve Edenvane’s reputation. The administration was in disarray, with the Dean under house arrest pending trial.
Anubis and I made our way to Eden Hall first. The courtyard where we once faced the watchers at dawn was quiet, newly installed cameras overhead, a sign the “new security measures” replaced the old. Students milled around, giving us curious or respectful nods. Word traveled fast: we were key witnesses.
He squeezed my hand. “Back to the caretaker’s cottage?”
I nodded, heart fluttering. “Yes, or what’s left of it.” The police had it sealed off for evidence, but we’d been given permission to retrieve personal belongings. I felt a pang at the thought of rummaging through the place where we first plotted our infiltration.
The caretaker’s cottage door bore a police seal, a detective waiting outside. He recognized us, nodded, peeled the tape. “Fifteen minutes to collect your things. Officially, this is still a crime scene.” He stepped aside to let us in.
Inside, the dusty space seemed eerily still. The desk where we pored over Toccara’s logs. The trunk stuffed with old ledgers. Police tags labeled everything. My heart tightened.
Anubis walked around slowly, picking up a stray scarf, some notebooks, a duffel bag. I found the battered laptop we used. Broken now, but the memory of our nights here resonated. The caretaker’s cottage had been our refuge and our war room.
We packed what we could. The detective reminded us of the time. I cast a final glance around. “So many secrets we uncovered here.”
Anubis’ gaze lingered on the spot where we’d once fallen asleep in each other’s arms. “And we survived,” he murmured. “Toccara’s story will live on, and the Skulls’ hold on this place is broken. Nothing will erase the brand on our shoulders, but maybe it’ll remind us how far we’ve come.”
I swallowed a lump in my throat. “Yeah. A scar that shows we fought back.”
He turned, pulling me into a gentle embrace, our possessions clutched awkwardly between us. “Suede… you realize we’re free to make our own choices now. About classes, about life.”
I met his eyes, a soft warmth blossoming in my chest. “Then let’s stay. At least for a bit. Finish the semester, maybe help rebuild the campus. Write a real story for the Howler. And after that…?”
His lips curved in a slow, genuine smile. “After that, we can go wherever. Together.”
Emotion clogged my throat. “I’d like that.”
The detective coughed, reminding us of his presence. We pulled apart, cheeks flushing. Gathering the last items, we stepped outside. The caretaker’s cottage door shut behind us, the police seal replaced, a relic of a dark chapter we’d left behind.
We ended up standing at the campus quad, near the statue of Edenvane’s founder. Morning sunlight drenched the manicured grass. Students bustled, a normal day—if not for the tension in the air, the swirl of rumors about impending trials and boards of inquiry.
Kate jogged over, phone in hand. “You guys back?” she asked, breathless. “I tried calling, but signals are iffy.”
I nodded, hugging her. “We got your text. Retrieved our stuff.”
She grinned. “My phone’s exploding with interview requests. Toccara’s story is headline news. The board might rename the library after her if you can believe it.” Her smile faltered, tears shining. “At least her memory won’t be buried.”
Anubis murmured, “She deserved better. But this is a start.”
Kate wiped her eyes, then brightened. “Speaking of starts, the Howler wants you both to give a statement. Or an op-ed, maybe, about your experiences. And the cops might want more details for their official records.”
I exchanged a glance with Anubis. We’d never wanted the spotlight, but maybe it was time. We could cement the changes, keep the Skulls from ever rising again. “We’ll talk about it,” I said quietly.
“Cool,” Kate replied, patting my arm. “I’ll let you breathe first. Just know you have a platform if you need it. Also, the Undercurrent is meeting tonight to celebrate. You’re welcome to join.”
We thanked her, promising to consider. She hurried off, her phone buzzing again. I watched her go, a flood of gratitude filling me. She’d risked so much to help us. Toccara’s spirit lives on in these brave souls who refused to be silent.
Anubis hefted the duffel bag, eyebrows rising. “There’s a weird sense of normalcy, isn’t there?”
I nodded, scanning the busy quad. “It’s like the campus is the same on the surface, but everything underneath changed.”
He squeezed my hand. “Come on, let’s find somewhere quiet. We can talk about the future.”
We drifted to a secluded garden behind the language arts building. A fountain trickled, roses bloomed in neat rows. The crisp midday sun warmed the stone bench where we sat. Birdsong replaced the hush of secrets that once hounded us.
We placed the duffel on the ground, content to just be for a moment. Anubis draped an arm around my shoulders, and I leaned my head against him, eyes fluttering shut.
“Feels almost normal,” I murmured, voice soft. “No watchers lurking behind every bush.”
He nodded, pressing a kiss to my hair. “No crypt ceremonies, no brandings, no forced tasks. We can breathe.”
My fingertips grazed the brand hidden beneath my shirt. “I still have this scar, though.”
He gently guided my hand away, lacing our fingers. “Scars tell our stories. This one says we chose each other over fear.”
Emotion welled up. I turned, meeting his gaze. “I love you, Anubis. Not just because you saved me. Because you see me, every side of me, broken or brave, and you never turn away.”
His eyes shone. “I love you too, Suede Sara Divore. More than anything. Even if the world tries to bury us again, I’m by your side.”
I leaned in, lips brushing his. The kiss was slow, unhurried, a quiet culmination of all our shared suffering and hope. My heart pounded, not from terror this time, but from the raw intensity of love.
In that sunlit garden, we let the fear slip away, focusing on the warmth of each other’s mouths and the press of our hands. Every breath felt like a promise that we had found something worth living for, worth fighting to protect. The brand’s ache dulled into background noise as the new closeness replaced it with a surge of belonging.
When we finally pulled apart, the garden seemed brighter. My cheeks glowed, a sweet ache in my chest. “So, what next?”
He exhaled, smiling softly. “Finish the semester. Help rebuild Edenvane without the Skulls’ shadow. Maybe I’ll keep rowing, if the team even survives the Dean’s downfall.” A half-laugh. “And you?”
I pursed my lips in a thoughtful grin. “I still want to be a journalist, or some kind of truth-teller. Toccara’s story showed me how powerful that can be. Maybe I’ll do an investigative piece on campus corruption for the Howler or a bigger outlet.”
He brushed a strand of hair from my face. “You’ll be brilliant.”
My heart soared at his unwavering faith in me. For the first time in forever, I felt like the future was ours to shape. No watchers, no rigged scholarship, no forced compliance. Just two people forging our own path.