Chapter Thirty
Amelie
Saturday mornings used to be for sleep-ins, but now they consist of freezing my ass off and running with Onyx. I don’t complain much, not since he started making sure I had my morning coffee waiting for me when I arrived. I missed it. Him. Us.
Jasper has been joining us for our early morning runs, much to Onyx’s disgust, and today is no different.
“I’m going to sleep for a couple of hours,” I tell Jasper, walking into my room when we’re done.
An envelope is on the floor, It must have been slid under the locked door. I reach down and pick it up. It isn’t addressed to me, just plain white, so I open it with caution. God knows what these assholes will do to pay me back now that I have security everywhere I go.
A slip of cardboard with the Celtic Knot printed on one side falls out. I flip it to see a very cryptic note on the reverse.
9pm. Edge of the woods. Wear a white rabbit costume.
Susan buzzes from my desk. I rarely message anyone since I manipulated my way into having my phone on campus, and because I know Monty traces my movements through her.
Kalen
Your outfit will be delivered today ; )
Ramped up knocking starts raining down on my door. I groan. It’s Saturday. Does no one here understand sleep-ins?
“Come in!” I yell and Elsie and Jasper both walk into my room.
“I brought you coffee,” Elsie says, handing me her peace offering. “I need you to come to my room and help me pick out an outfit. Kalen invited me to a party. One I presume you were invited to.”
“Okay,” I say and she raises a brow at me. I usually would put up more of a fight, but I can’t exactly explain the note to her in a room where I’m being watched. Speaking of, I look up and flip off the camera with a smile.
Jasper’s eyes follow my hand and his brow crinkles.
“The twins,” I say by way of explanation and he nods.
“Let me shower quickly and we can go.”
Fifteen minutes later I’m done and we head out for breakfast. Walking into the dining hall, I see that Kalen and the twins are at their usual table.
Elsie and I gravitate towards them and take our seat.
We only sit here when they’re here. It seems weird to sit at their table when they’re not around.
We prefer to blend into the background usually.
“Jasper, be a good guard dog and get the girls some breakfast,” Onyx snaps. Ah, it’s good to see he is back to his usual chirpy self. Jasper salutes and goes to get us food.
“I’ll help,” Elsie adds, jumping up and taking off after Jasper. Knowing now that she doesn’t just like girls, I think she has a small crush on him. I watch until she is far enough away from us and turn my attention back to the guys.
“So, what’s the go with tonight? If it’s an Order thing, why is Elsie invited?”
“Do you really think we could hold a party on the edge of the school and not invite students?” Slate asks. I shrug. God knows what these guys can do and get away with.
“And the fun part is, these idiots think it’s a fancy-dress party. They all get the fake invites to say they are invited and they have to dress accordingly, depending on the theme. They don’t know the end game and most will be too wasted to care,” Kalen adds.
“In case you can’t tell, Kalen came up with this stupid idea,” Onyx snaps, taking a sip of whatever green concoction he is drinking.
“But it works, doesn’t it? I didn’t see you coming up with a better idea, and it’s fun watching everything unfold.”
“Whatever. We need to head out and get some things organised,” Onyx grumps. All three guys stand and Kalen kisses my head before they all walk away.
Jasper and Elsie come back with a tray full of food, and Jasper slides it onto the table before taking his spot against the wall.
“We have so much to do today! We need to go and buy a new outfit, get our hair and nails done...”
“I’ll stop you right there, I’m afraid I won’t be needing any of that.” Her eyes go as wide as saucers.
“Did something happen while I went to get food?”
“It’s not that. Kalen has an outfit for me.”
“Fine, you can come shopping and help me find the perfect outfit.”
I groan. “You said you wanted me to pick an outfit for you from your room.”
“I changed my mind. The dress code is black and I want to look fabulous.”
“You always look fabulous, Els. Don’t try to convince me you don't have at least six sexy black numbers in your wardrobe already.”
“I want something new. Something special.” Her eyes quickly flick to Jasper.
All I want to do is sneak off to Sawyer’s house and snuggle in bed with him and Marshmallow. He’s been sending me updates, and a shirtless Sawyer hugging my puppy does things to my lady parts. Honestly, what could be hotter?
“Can’t you just take Jasper and drop me at Sawyer’s? I want to play with my puppy.” Batting my lashes and pouting may work.
“Fine, but you can’t get out of hanging out with me at the party.”
We finish our breakfast and head out. Thankfully, Jasper agrees to drop me at Sawyer’s as long as he is there and will bring me back to campus later.
After a quick text to Sawyer, confirming he’s home, we set off.
Elsie is so excited to go shopping and play dress up, she doesn’t even seem to mind that I’m not going with her.
Come to think of it, Jasper seems happier about their little shopping expedition than I ever would have been. Huh, go figure.
I spend the day playing with Marshmallow and lying in bed with Sawyer. I avoid telling him about the party, but I suspect he knows what’s going on anyway. I just can’t wait for this to be over so I can finally figure out what’s going on.
Dressed in the ridiculous rabbit outfit Kalen provided, I head out to the meet spot.
I’m careful to make sure no one is lingering around; I haven’t been out alone in a while and who knows what could be waiting for me in the dark.
I stand at the edge of the woods and realise I’m a tad late.
In my defence, abs and puppy pictures distracted me for almost an hour. Again. Totally worth it though.
“We meet again.”
“What in the fuck? You creepy bastard! I almost pissed my pants.” I feel between my legs to make sure. The last time we met like this he was dressed in a 1920’s outfit. Tonight it’s a different one and I laugh.
His tight white pants and bright red jacket are not something I would ever picture Baxter wearing.
“What are you supposed to be?”
He lifts a top hat and bows to me.
“I’m the Ringmaster and I’m here to lure you into the woods.”
“Who did you owe a favour to? Because this is so unlike you I know there’s no way you’d wear it, unless you were under duress. It was Kalen, wasn’t it?”
“I may have lost a bet, but I did come down here to warn you.”
“Why would you warn me?” I demand, crossing my hands over my chest.
“You don’t understand all of this,” he says waving an arm around, cigarette in hand.
“I don’t understand what? Standing in the dark on the edge of the woods trying to get to a party?” I snap.
“Don’t play dumb, Amelie. This world isn’t for you, run away and don’t look back.”
“I can’t do that.”
“Why not?” he questions.
“Because I need answers!” I whisper-yell at him.
“What’s with the tattoos? Why do I have this necklace?
Is Laura involved? How am I involved? Why am I involved?
What does the book say and what the hell was with the Debbie clue?
” I pause, panting hard to catch my breath.
I’ve worked myself up into quite a state.
As all of the questions come flying out of my mind I realise several things at once: I’ve missed having Baxter around; he’s the only one I truly trust to give me answers; I’ve been letting myself get distracted by the guys again.
“Will you tell me everything I want to know?” I stare at Baxter and wait for his reply, but the only thing cutting through the silence between us is his icy glare. “I didn’t think so.”
I go to storm past him, but he reaches out and grabs my arm.
“It’s not because I don’t want to tell you.”
“It’s because you can’t,” I mimic. “Yeah, I’ve heard that one before, Baxter. I want answers and I plan to get them one way or another. Them being evasive and you being cryptic is no damn help.”
“They will suck dry everything good about you, Amelie. Please, run away with me. I can keep you safe.” I snatch my arm back from his grip.
“Just stop, you won’t change my mind.” I storm off in a huff, the crunching of twigs behind me the only indication Baxter is following behind me.
I wonder what has gotten into him. Run away with me?
Is he crazy? Something tells me that, even if I wanted to, I couldn’t hide from the Knox boys if I tried.
I stop abruptly when I'm cut off by two guys dressed as traditional magicians, appearing in front of a huge striped tent. Whoa, where did that come from?
“You need to wait there,” one says and points to a tree.
Baxter appears out of nowhere. Each magician holds up one red card and one black one.
They start off a spiel about picking correctly, intending to do some kind of magic trick I guess, but Baxter snatches the red card from the first guy’s grip.
He licks it and slips it in his pocket.
Huh, I wonder what that was about?
Onyx comes from inside the massive circus tent, dressed as a strongman. Except, he looks creepy as fuck with his fake handlebar moustache, but also insanely hot at the same time with his muscles on show. Topless and in tight white pants, nothing is left to the imagination. I lick my lips.
“You’re late,” he says. I giggle, but he’s stoic, just standing there. I mean, how can you be late to a party anyway?
“Spray her,” he demands. The magicians both pull spray bottles out of thin air – magic – and before I can blink, I'm covered in something that smells kind of sweet but bitter.
“What the fuck was that?” I complain, but Onyx just drags me inside the tent. I stop and look around at the party inside. ‘Jungle’ by X Ambassadors is playing, the base radiates through my chest. Bodies are grinding against each other and the air smells of sex and a good time.
“All in good time, little rabbit...Have fun, but remember to keep a clear head. Rabbits can’t run all that fast.” Onyx walks away and I spot Taco and a group of guys I recognise from the obstacle course.
I push my way through all the bodies and Taco spots me coming his way, a huge smile on his face.
“We didn’t think you were coming,” he says, pulling me into a hug. “I must say your rabbit costume is a fuck ton sexier than ours.” That's when I notice all the initiates are dressed in some kind of white rabbit costume. Pity mine doesn’t have as much fabric as theirs.
“Thanks to you, we have to do this all over again,” some big muscly guy snaps.
“Do what?”
Taco explains that when the clock strikes midnight we are sent to see the Ringmaster – Baxter – and let out into the woods to be chased by dogs. We were sprayed with something the dogs can track.
He can’t be serious. We have to outrun trained dogs? What happens if we are caught? He tells me that all he knows is that a few guys didn’t return after the last time.
Apparently the riddle at the door is for drugs...since when do they do drugs? But the riddles are kinda catchy: Pick the red card so pleasure and pain are one and the same, or the black where colours and time are rather divine?
It explains why Baxter licked the card for me and why all the people on the dance floor are grinding against each other...And now I understand why Kalen is behind all this; it’s one way to take the focus off what’s really happening tonight.
Shit! Panic fills me. I need to find Elsie. I have to make sure she’s okay. She’s on some meds and I’m not sure if drugs are the best fit for her.
“I need your help,” I tell Taco, not really asking. “I need to find my friend, but I can’t wander around here alone. I haven’t exactly made friends.”
He nods and says something to Mr Muscles and they follow me through the crowd of bodies. It’s hard not to admire the room as we walk around.
For starters, all around the tent’s edges are small platforms with circus performers.
Fire eaters, jugglers, dancers and contortionists move fluidly to the driving beat of the music.
Their movements are hypnotic, their skill level surpassing anything I’ve ever seen before.
Overhead, the tent is criss-crossed with tightrope walkers, acrobats and trapeze artists.
The whole place is a riot of colour, sound and flashing lights, with all the ‘normal’ guests wearing black.
The rabbits stick out like a sore thumb, but everyone is too out of it to care.
I notice darkened tunnels leading off from the main room, with signs announcing ‘This way to the sideshow’ and ‘fortune favours the brave’. I dread to think what that’s about.
Elsie and Jasper are in the middle of the dance floor and I watch as they grind against each other in some fake semblance of dancing. I mean, she looks fine, but I need to make sure she is okay, because that is not Elsie behaviour, no matter how much I’m rubbing off on her as a bad influence.
Frost is here and dressed in his usual suit, he crosses the dance floor and comes to stand next to me. “Did you lick a card?”
“No. Did you, Elsie and Jasper?”
“Elsie didn’t, Jasper did instead, and then he called me. The Paul Daniels wannabe dickheads wouldn’t let him in, so I used my stun gun to take one down. After that, the other let me in.” I laugh because I can picture Frost doing that, he is pretty badass.
“Can you keep an eye on Elsie? She’s on medication and I don’t want her to get messed up.” He nods and I thank him.
Taco, Mr Muscles and I go back to the other rabbits. I’m yet to see Kalen or Slate, but I’m sure they will hunt me down eventually. And I’m right, pushing through the crowd is Kalen, dressed as the King of Ring, a lion tamer, complete with a wickedly long bullwhip.
“Sorry boys, I’m stealing my girl,” he says with a menacing crack of his whip. He holds out his hand to me. I shake my head at him and take his hand as he leads me away from the crowd and into a back room, which is essentially just a sheet separating us from the rest of the party.