Chapter 28
twenty-eight
Rowyn Hale
Broken Doll
One week later…
“Tonight is the Halloween party. You’re still coming with me, right?” Misti asks, and I shrug.
“As long as you promise not to ditch me for Spencer without saying anything.” I laugh, and she rolls her eyes.
“I promise I won’t. Did your costume come in?” she asks, and I nod.
“Yep. I’m actually excited to wear it,” I tell her, and she smiles.
“I hope mine is sexy enough for Spencer to want to rip it off of me.” She giggles, and I shake my head.
“Girl, that boy is obsessed with you. You’ve got nothing to worry about,” I say truthfully. I wish a guy would look at me the way Spencer does her. It’s super cute how much he dotes on her. I’m so fucking happy she found him.
“I know, but sometimes I second guess myself. Blame it on the trauma of high school.” She sighs.
“Oh, I know. But we’re in college now. Live it up,” I say, and her eyes widen.
“You should really practice what you preach, babe,” she fires back, but I shake my head.
“I don’t think it's in the cards for me. Speaking of cards, have you seen a black envelope anywhere. Last week I had it before that stupid fire alarm went off and now I can’t fucking find it,” I ask, but she shakes her head.
“No. I haven’t, I’m sorry,” she says. Things have been weird around here lately.
That girl is still missing. I’m not sure if I had anything to do with it.
My black outs are getting worse and they seem to be stress induced, especially when the guys are involved.
Grayson’s been quiet lately, which is fucking odd for him, but I brace myself everytime I’m near him.
Just waiting for him to make his next move.
Elliot's been distant. And Kade is trying my patience. He keeps buying me clothes and coercing me to sleep with him. He just doesn’t know I’m a virgin and I don’t feel like telling him either. It’s no one's business but mine.
The rest of the day flies by and now it’s time to get ready for the party.
I slip on my ivory laced, vintage style dress then white stockings, tearing one of the knees.
Picking up the makeup brush I paint cracks across my cheeks and collarbone then apply dark lashes to my eyes and pale pink lipstick.
Lifting the red ribbon, I tie it around my neck then look at myself in the mirror.
Damn I look good as a broken doll. Fits how I feel on the inside so fuck it.
Spinning, I look at Misti who’s dressed as a half angel half devil.
One side has feathered wings where the other has a pointed tail. She looks so damn good.
“Well shit, Row. You look dope!” she deadpans, and I laugh.
“Thank you, thank you. Hopefully someone spiked the punch because I’m going to need some liquid courage tonight,” I say, making her giggle.
She bends down, reaching into her fridge and takes out a small bottle of Fireball.
I wrinkle my nose which only makes her roll her eyes.
She pours us each a double shot then hands me one.
“To an unforgettable night,” she cheers as we throw the shots back. I gag a little and she pours another.
“Um, where is the party being held tonight?” I ask as she hands me another shot.
“The abandoned chapel on the other side of campus,” she tells me, and I nod, downing the shot.
“I’ve never seen it before. I didn’t know we even had a chapel,” I say, and she laughs.
“This place is so fucking huge I didn’t know either until Spencer told me.”
“Oh shit. Okay. So now I don’t feel so dumb not knowing.” I giggle and she shrugs.
“So many secrets within these walls. It’s truly disgusting,” she says, and I take a deep breath. She ain’t kidding. “Are you ready?” she asks and I nod.
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” I say, and she takes my hand, leading me out of the room.
It feels like it took us forever to get here.
I'm not sure I even know my way back. Fuck! Red solo cups are just thrown everywhere like the party’s been going on for hours.
Strobe lights flicker through the stained glass windows as music echoes off the old stone walls.
There’s even a fog machine spilling out fog across the ground.
So many bodies wearing all sorts of different costumes.
But two really stick out to me. A wolf wearing dark jeans and flannel with a mask hanging off his head and his cheek streaked with blood.
Kade looks hot, but then my eyes fly to Grayson’s.
He's wearing a black button-down shirt half open with slacks and makeup smudged under his eyes, which really brings out the green in them. The cracked crown on the top of his head really brings the costume to life and all I want to do is roll my eyes. Of course he’d be a fallen king.
Like it's perfect for his shitty personality.
They watch me walk in and Grayson tightens his fists, so I walk in the opposite direction to the punch bowl to get a drink.
I wonder where Elliot is. I lift the ladle and pour myself some punch as someone laughs behind me.
“Look,” a guy says loudly. “They let the cracked one out tonight.” More laughter surrounds me as I feel eyes all over my body, making me shiver.
“Careful, she might shatter.” Another voice chimes in. Bringing the cup to my lips, I take a gulp and thank god it’s spiked. I don’t know how much teasing I can take tonight but hopefully the liquor will help me pay no mind to it.
Walking away from the laughter, I spot Misti talking to Spencer and I try to make my way through the crowd but someone steps right into my path, almost making me spill the red punch all over my ivory dress.
“Jesus Christ," I squeal, then look up and swallow thickly. Grayson’s gaze drags slowly over my face and a small grin pulls at the corner of his lip.
“Cute costume,” he states, and I shrug. “I figured honesty was refreshing.” He smirks, and then I see Kade with his arms crossed, watching.
Always watching. Grayson lifts his finger and taps the fake crack along my collarbone, digging his fingertip painfully into my skin, making me wince.
“Is this where you broke?” he asks, and I tilt my head in confusion.
“Guess it depends on who you ask,” I simply state as people around us start staring then whispering.
Grayson’s jaw ticks the more I give him nothing so he simply nods and shoulder checks me as he walks off.
I glance over my shoulder making sure he keeps walking before I go over to my friend, but someone yanks the back of my ribbon, loosening it. A guy to my right laughs.
“Looks like someone already tried fixing her.”
“Nah, she’s past repair. Hungry Hungry Hippo,” someone else adds, but I roll my eyes, retying it and walking towards Misti. Fuck these goddamn people. They are all fucking idiots.
“Can we dance?” I ask her, and she smiles wide, takes my hand, and off we go to the dance floor.
For the next few hours, we drink. We dance, but most of all, I have fun.
No more laughter, no more taunts, just pure fun.
I still haven't seen Elliot and maybe he decided not to come. Whatever. But I can feel the other two. Their eyes have been on me all night. Every so often I’d catch Kade still watching from afar, and it’s at this moment, as I shake my hips on the dance floor, he finally pushes off the wall and comes right for me. He grabs my chin, tilting my face.
“Interesting choice,” he says as I meet his eyes.
“Thought you’d appreciate the theme.” I smirk, making his mouth twitch. But suddenly, Grayson has a hold of my wrist. Not violently but enough to make me wince.
“Walk!” he commands, but I don’t move. Misti puts her hand on her hip, and just as she’s about to say something, Spencer is lifting her off her feet, carting her away from us.
“I said walk!” he growls, and I narrow my eyes.
“Why?” And he leans in too close for comfort.
“Because if you embarrass me again tonight,” he murmurs.
“I’m going to remind you how small you actually are!
” he spits as he pulls me across the room.
Kade opens the back door to the chapel, then Grayson shoves me as the cold air spills around us.
While still holding my wrist, Grayson continues to drag me far enough away that the music fades.
The night sky spins a bit as the alcohol raging through my veins really sets in.
The crunching of their boots in the snow echoes through the trees and the moonlight filters through the dead branches.
I shiver as I’m shoved against a tree. He grabs my chin, forcing me to look up at him.
“Since you like costumes, let’s test how convincing yours is.” He smirks.
“Meaning?” I ask as my heart beats wildly in my chest.
“Let’s see if broken things bleed,” he states as he licks his lips. My eyes flicker to Kade who watches quietly with anger written all over his face. For a moment, I stupidly thought he would stop this but he doesn’t.
Grayson removes his finger from my chin and wipes his thumb across the painted crack on my cheek, making the make up smear.
“Congrats, you ruined a dollar store eyeliner.” I laugh, but he wraps his hand around my throat, tightening to the point where I can’t fucking breathe.
“You think this is a game, Chunkers. I’ve had about enough of you!” he growls, tightening his hold. But Kade steps in and grabs his shoulder.
“Enough!” he growls, and Grayson glares at him over his shoulder, then Kade looks at me and I see his eyes darken into something I’ve never seen before. “You’ve scared her enough,” he spits as Grayson loosens his grip.
“Next time you show up dressed like a warning,” he snarls, “don’t act surprised when people take it seriously.” And with that, he releases me and walks away. Kade’s eyes snap to mine but he shakes his head and jogs to catch up with his friend. What the fuck?
I don’t move. I just stand here in the moonlight with smeared makeup as my dress rustles in the wind. I don’t cry. I don’t get mad. I smile because, for once, I won.
“Good thing broken things cut deeper.” I smirk as a branch snaps behind me.
I spin but see no one. Walking back to the chapel, I swing the door open with a smile spread across my face but it’s immediately removed when red thick liquid is poured over my head, drenching me from head to toe.
Laughter and cheers erupt around the room, and that’s when I see it.
Grayson clapping in the center of the room.
It was all a set up. These motherfuckers.
I spin and run out, almost slipping on whatever it is all over me.
It doesn’t smell like paint. It smells horrid.
I have no idea where the hell I’m running to as I wipe the sludge from my eyes. I can’t fucking see. What the fuck!
“Rowynnnn,” someone calls out, and I spin, trying to get this shit off my eyes so I can see.
“Oh, Rowyn. You shouldn’t be out here alone, Broken Dolly,” he taunts, but I keep moving. Hopefully, I don’t get lost out here.
“Come play with us. We promise not to bite,” another voice taunts, then two hands shove me in the snow and I smack my head on the concrete and everything goes black.