CHAPTER FOURTEEN
ZINZI
Darkness eked into every part of my soul. I’d never be able to lie in Dex’s darkened bedroom with the drapes closed in full ever again.
That was, assuming I got out of this place with its close walls, and unbreathable air.
My assessment that first day in Dex’s black painted room had been right. I was claustrophobic. I had no idea if it was a late onset or if I'd always been like this and was just figuring it out. But right now ruminating on that little stupid and useless piece of trivia was so much better than dealing with the two monsters who shared my space.
Both had pale eyes tinged with red rings, pale skin and identical features. Pale hair, so light it was almost colorless or gray in this unfathomable light. Their bodies were like ghosts or worms in the void that surrounded us that could have gone on and on…or walls that shifted, containing me until they were right there and all I had was a handful of breaths before my last remaining breath of air ran out.
It was enough to make me want to scream, so that was what I did.
Scream and scream and scream, shaking my arms locked in their metal shackles they had screwed to my wrists and ankles when they perched me on my box and pinned me in place and took those fucking pictures that were almost as hideous as them.
And then they turned out the lights, and the all-pervading darkness made it so much worse. Because then my mind wandered and I lost track of time and place and how much space there was between me and them.
All I could hear was my breathing, and them. The screams were preferable, and so I did that instead.
Until I couldn’t scream anymore.
Then my head hung between my shoulders and I panted, my throat raw, my body sweat sheened and cold and exhausted.
Which was when they began to talk, their conversation bouncing off one another like they were two versions of the same person, only not.
“Strange, isn’t it?”
“Very strange.”
“To make such noise.”
“I didn't think it would go so long.”
“The last one who screamed like that?—
“—we ended before it stopped.”
“But that just kept going and going and going.”
“Like it would never stop.”
Their words bounced back and forth, my head turning in the darkness, seeking them out. The slivers of light when they shifted, gifting me horrific glimpses of too gaunt faces, pale hair, and red eyes. Skin that looked like it had been interred for months, not of the living at all.
And their words?—
Almost poetic, their phrases ran with a sort of cadence I barely understood but did all the same.
Because this was Key and Kash Laurent. The hellish twins of Rippton U. If all the rumors I never listened to held true, they were psychopaths who murdered for money, favors and fun.
I believed every single myth about them right now in this place.
“You're insane,” I whispered. “Both of you.” I hadn’t convinced myself that I wasn’t hallucinating, and they were just one person my demented, terrified mind had split into two.
“Which one does she mean?”
“You?”
“Or me?”
“It can only be one of us.”
“But then she must be lying.”
“Because she means both of us.”
Twin, matching grins met me at too close a range. I shrank back against nothing but air behind me and nearly fell off the harsh wooden box I was seated on. The chains holding my wrists in their shackles jangled against the floor as I struggled to stay upright.
Suddenly that was important. I didn’t want my face near the ground. Once I was down there, I doubted they would let me up and then there was nothing but…
Pain.
An old friend, and one I didn't want to revisit today.
“He’ll come,” I whispered the promise to myself.
Of course, the freaky as fuck twins chimed in.
“Yes he will.”
“Of course he will.”
“That is the point, after all.”
“For him to come, and you to die.”
“For him. So he knows.”
“That he cannot break the rules.”
Rules. That’s what started all of this.. Me and my stupid, fucking rules. Tears flowed along my cheeks as I bowed my head and said a different prayer than anyone I ever hoped I would ever say.
Dex, don’t find me. Nelson, don’t help him. Falcon, forget I exist. Please.
Then they’d all be safe.
A twin brushed my cheek with deathly cold fingers. “Such pretty tracks. More, please,” he whispered, licking the tips of his fingers and touching them to his lips. “Despair tastes sweetest from the source.”
My woeful prayer said to the shadows, my voice a mere rasp, I let my tears run and run and run.
I cracked dry eyes open to find a man sharing my box, holding a condensing glass of water in a proffered, manicured hand. It took me a few blinks, but we got there. Or at least, I did.
“You’re Beau Bennett.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He held the glass steady.
Eventually I took it, realizing that I didn’t shake or jangle any more. And that I could see. The room seemed bigger, and the horrifying twins weren’t present.
But the door was still shut and, I guessed, locked.
Still, I felt safer with this man than the ones before, so that was something.
“What changed?”
“Dex Breaker changed. And Falcon Gianio, and Nelson Milton. Actually, I'll probably have to offer them places in the Kingsman frat after this.” He rubbed at the back of his neck and looked amused.
“They aren’t dead?” I screeched and flung myself out at him, only to find my body held at arm’s length.
“I prefer hygienic females, and since mine is currently a hostage, I thought we should negotiate terms of release,” he said in a soft, respectful tone, considering his words.
“You…are negotiating, with me?” I pushed the rest of his words aside. “Why?”
“Falcon mentioned a marketing pack for the frat. If you would?” Beau motioned to the water and raised an eyebrow.
“Falcon..?” I blinked, gulped the rest of my water, and my brain ticked over. “The branding pack. Oh, Beau. That frazzled lion has got to go. Here’s what we planned.”
He listened to me talk in my ruined voice for what had to be half an hour, but I wasn’t wasting my chance to get in front of the rumored head of the Kingsman frat when I’d been working on that fucking group project for weeks—months—with Falcon and Nelson. Both who, admittedly, have excellent brains and also took direction well.
He waited until I finished. “We?”
I nodded. “Nelson, Falcon and myself have been working on this together this semester. I can produce the entire media kit for you…if I can leave the room. There's other strategy bits…” I shrugged.
Beau rolled his lips. “Can you pitch me off the top of your head?”
“Can I? Beau Bennett. I’m a marketing student. Don’t offend me.”
He smiled. “The floor is yours.”
I talked until my already raw voice ran dry, and he listened. Actually listened, not pretended. A few interjected questions and I swore we were there. His phone buzzed a half second before the door crashed inward and my dusty, dirty saviors arrived.
“Bravo. You found us before the air ran out.” Beau cocked his head to one side as he considered Dex, Nelson and Falcon, who stared around the small, brightly lit space with confusion. “Or was she ever in any danger at all?”
Dex looked at me. “Zin?”
I glanced at Beau who actually twiddled his thumbs and attempted to look innocent.
Good fucking luck with that.
“I was, but I believe we are good now. Or was that simply a distraction?” I raised my eyebrows at Beau, unimpressed if the latter was true.
He shook his head. “I agree with your assessment and the three of you are hired. Change the branding up. Also, you three have rooms. Barclay is moving in with a few friends, and I have space to fill. From what I’ve heard, you’ve been living in shithouse dorms. There’s room for extras,” he nodded to me though I didn't appreciate coming under the heading of an ‘extra’, “and I’ll find you a better space to fight in. Deal?”
Dex folded his arms. “You’re out of your fucking?—”
I body slammed him by accident. Okay, half by accident. “Deal,” I said into his shirt for him. “Nelson needs a home. He won’t survive without you two.”
Falcon laughed. “She’s right. You want to tell her?”
I looked between him and Dex. “Tell me what?”
Nelson gave me puppy eyes. “Your friend is the reason I have this.” He pulled his shirt up to expose a long, pink scar. “Twins, on his orders.”
I glared at Beau over my shoulder. “Deal rescinded.”
“Not rescinded,” Falcon said lazily. “We need a different presence in the Kingsman frat. Who knows? Maybe there's new leadership required.”
Beau held his gaze. “Don’t bet on it.”
Dex’s arms tightened around me. “You’re okay? Gonna tell me what happened?”
I swallowed as the first hours…day?...slammed back into me. I swayed into him. “Later, is that okay?” I whispered.
He nodded. “All the time in the world, sweetness. Tell me when you’re ready.”
I nuzzled into his chest and sighed. For the first time in hours, I sucked in a full breath.
We were going to be fine.