11. Chapter 11
Chapter eleven
Jinx
I’ll be the first to admit it, but I missed the smell of the pool. What I didn’t miss was Cameron. I was stupid thinking he wouldn’t be here; obviously, he would be. He’s the captain. When the guys turn their backs to me, Cam glances at me and licks his lips. It takes everything in me not to throw up. He would never be back in this school if it weren't for his grandfather. I would make it so that even community college wouldn’t even accept his ass.
But my torture fest isn’t over, and whatever Cam has planned is only the beginning. His face needs to be beaten again. I wish Maddox were here, and then I wouldn’t have to endure this kind of torment. Cam looks away when Ash turns to me. He tosses Cam a side-eye; his eyes burn with fury when he looks back at me. I shake my head to reassure him nothing happened.
I watch everyone get a lecture from the new captain. It turns out that the team isn’t training how they should be. It’s entertaining to watch a bunch of twenty-year-olds getting their asses reamed out. I didn’t know everyone was slacking on getting into a pool. I should’ve known Ashton and Atticus hadn’t been here since Dad had died. I took them away from the one thing that kept them at the school.
I dig in my fanny pack for my phone; the guys won’t notice if I secretly take a photo of them or maybe two. As I take the picture, Atticus looks over his shoulder; his eyes seem radiant with pleasure, but no. Not Atticus; that radiant glow is something else.
My phone dings, making me jump.
Unknown: My sweet Odette. Don’t you want to know where your father’s heart is?
My heart bottoms out; this has been on my mind since I found Dad in his office with the hole in his chest. I still don’t know why someone would want to remove his heart.
Me: What do you want in return?
Unknown: You’ll find out when you find the heart. Do we have a deal?
Fuck. I must be stupid because my brain says take the deal, and so does my heart. My stomach isn’t saying anything. I don’t think anyone understands why it’s so important that I recover Dad’s heart. I still can’t comprehend why the cops can’t do their fucking job and search for his killer. We all know a student didn’t do this. It had to be Serena and Roan. That’s the only possibility, and I just can’t figure out why. I swear when I find out, I’ll kill them myself.
Me: You have a deal, but we do this now.
Unknown: Good girl, meet me in the basement in twenty
Unknown: Alone, Odette. Don’t even think about letting them know
That means sneaking out, which is one thing I’m not good at. I watch the guys waiting for the perfect time to make my escape. When their backs are turned, I make my way down the bleachers.
My foot barely makes it on the tiles when Atticus yells at me, “Where are you going? Little Grim.”
Heat creeps up my cheeks, but I refuse to face the crowd behind me. One look at me, and Atticus will know I’m lying.
“My asthma is acting up; I need some air. I’ll be in the lady's room.” I don’t like pulling the asthma card, but with desperate times.
“Want me to go with you?” Ashton asks with concern laced in his voice.
“Uh, no. I’m fine.” I cringe when I don’t sound convincing. I need to leave before they come over here.
I dart out of the aquatic center until I reach the main doors. I don’t have time to waste; the basement is on the main campus, and I’ve already wasted enough time. Unknown never told me what would happen if I was late; honestly, I don’t want to find out. His messages have been getting more intense, and to break into my dorm, he’s capable of anything. Yet here I am, running head first into the fucking basement of the school, and didn’t ask any questions.
The basement has always been where I never wanted to go, nothing good happens in cold, dark places. I’m hoping Unknown isn’t down there, that he left Dad’s heart, and that’ll be the end of this journey. I stroll into the main campus and avoid the route to the office. If Florence or Allan saw me, there would be many suspicions. Taking the stairs to the lower level, where the staff lounge and the nurse's office are found, I follow the brick to the end. The basement entrance is just around the corner, and I swear my body grows colder with each step.
I check the time from his last text, and my body tenses when I notice I have five minutes to spare. That’s all to determine if I’m in or out. Will this asshole finally be finished with his emotional torture on me, or does he have more planned? I only want him to answer why he picked me.
I unzip my fanny pack and find my inhaler, letting out an extended swoosh of air. I fill my lungs with that sweet medication. There’s no way I’m getting caught having an attack if I need to run; squeezing my inhaler, I round the corner and face the basement door.
The large wooden door should belong in a medieval castle. The oak hasn’t been restored, slowly fading yearly; the large black metal hinges keep it all together. The only new thing on this door is the deadbolt. Honestly, if someone wanted to get down there, all you would need is an axe.
I pull the handle, and the door creaks open. Darkness waits for me. Am I doing this? Jesus Christ, I am.
I take my first step when I remember that my phone has that stupid flashlight feature. The further I descend, the colder the air becomes; the brick walls are shiny with mildew, and the smell of mold and earth takes hold of me—the stairs round coming to a large open room. I shine the light around, and a sense of dread creeps in when three hallways appear. How the hell am I supposed to know where to go?
I feel like one of those chicks in a horror movie because I’m about to do something stupid.
“Hello?” My voice echoes off the walls. I take the last step onto the dirt floor, listening for any sound. “You better be down here.”
I move to the middle, wondering which hall to pick. Or if I should say fuck it and leave. My phone dings in my hand, scaring the shit out of me.
Unknown: The middle hallway
I’m smarter than this, aren’t I? I glance at the hall; I guess not—anything for you, Dad. I squeeze my inhaler tighter and take slow steps, and if the cult rumors are true, I wonder where their little hideout is. What the hell did they use this basement for, anyway? I pass one door to my left and pray that Unknown won’t jump out; hell, he can do it for all I know. I have no clue where this path goes. Why didn’t I call Spencer?
Unknown: There’s an open door on the right, enter it
I like how he gets to make all the rules. The beating of my heart grows louder with each step. A yellow glow shines from a few feet ahead, and this is my chance to turn around; in doing so, I’ll never recover Dad’s heart. I’m stuck between a rock and a hard spot. I look behind me; freedom lies that way, and so do the twins.
Shit, the twins. They probably already figured out that I’m not coming back. Maybe it’s not freedom after all. My ass will be reamed out like there's no tomorrow. I might as well do it with a heart in my hand. I take slow, steady steps. I’m in no hurry. What is Unknown gonna do? Leave? I’m already down here, plus he didn’t say I couldn’t take my time. All I had to do was be down here in twenty. Found a loophole.
Unknown: Hurry up, I don’t have all day. And I’m sure those boyfriends of yours will be looking for you by now
News flash, asshole, I’m standing at the fucking door. I just don’t have the balls to walk in.
“Odette, you need to hurry. School starts soon, and we're going to be late.”
“I’m coming, Daddy.” I climb down the stairs in the pink dress I picked out the night before. When Daddy sees me, he looks sad. “What’s wrong? Why are you crying?”
He kneels in front of me, running his hand through my hair. “Oh, pumpkin. I’m not sad. I’m happy. Today is a big day for both of us. It’s the start of endless possibilities. You, my sweet girl, are going places, and I can’t wait to see.”
“Daddy, it’s only kindergarten.” I giggle.
“You wait and see. I love you with all my heart.”
With all his heart, that’s the push I need to walk into this room. I take a deep breath and move in front of the open door. The yellow light that’s been shining is nothing but an old lamp sitting on a stack of books in the corner.
I hesitantly step inside, praying I’m not about to get jumped. But rational Jinx is gone when I see a box positioned on a stool in the middle of the small room; I don’t think I bolt toward it like my ass is on fire. Pain grips my chest as I reach for the box.
“Not so fast,” a deep robotic voice says behind me. “I told you, I want something in return.”
As I turn around, I suddenly see my stalker standing before me. My whole body freezes with fear as he takes a step closer, cutting off any chance of escape. His eyes look so eerie when they meet mine, especially with his hood covering most of his face and casting scary shadows.
I swallow the nausea that’s creeping into my throat; whatever he wants can’t be good. “What is it?”
He digs into his black cargo pants pocket, pulling out a key. “This will open that box under one condition.” He steps closer, and my heart tightens with fear; being this close to my stalker, I’m too afraid to try anything. I grip my inhaler when he stops in front of me. “I want you to leave this school, Odette.”
My mind goes blank, that’s all. He’s been tormenting me for months for that. Leave my school. He has got to be kidding me. What the fuck for? I turn back to the box.
“How do I know my dad’s heart is in there?”
He laughs with that creepy, distorted voice. “You don’t, that’s the point. I need an answer.”
The longer I gaze at the box, the more I’m convinced I can hear Dad’s heartbeat. The fact that he’s still here is such a comforting presence. But I still need to get him out of the basement. I reach out and trace my finger along the lock.
“You can’t keep him forever, you know. You have no right to him.”
“I know.” His breath tickled the side of my neck. I go to move when his arm wraps around my waist. “I can’t let you run. You should’ve agreed with me.”
A sharp prick to the side of my neck made me lose my breath. Did he just inject me with something? I attempt to rub my neck as though something has bitten me, but my movements are sluggish, and everything’s getting fuzzy around the edges. My head rolls forward, and my knees buckle.
The guys are gonna be pissed with me, is the last thought rolling through my head.