Chapter 2 #3
Now, my heart pumps for an entirely different reason. Because, like a fucking idiot, I now realize I’m not being dragged out of my dorm by police officers, but by two other college students who happen to be best friends with the one man who wants to see me suffer.
This was Dread’s doing.
And I’m too fucking pissed to be relieved about it.
Too distracted by the utter panic from finding a dead woman in my room, the possibility of it being my father, and then thinking I was being arrested for murder, I didn’t register their faces or their goddamn voices.
You’re such an idiot.
Fucking Rogue Cameron has a hold of me. He's Dread's teammate on the swim team and the smart-ass of the three. He exudes a punk rock vibe with his buzz cut, eyebrow and cartilage piercings, and tattoos covering the majority of his body. But while his attitude is carefree and he prefers to spend his days partying and cracking jokes, he has no qualms about dishing out cruelty on Dread’s command, usually doing so with a grin on his face.
Beside me is Severen Fox. He’s the softer, quieter one, though not any less enigmatic than his friends.
I've seen too many women trip over their own feet when they catch sight of his deep auburn hair, amber eyes, and the dimples on either side of his killer smile. When he’s not helping his best friends torture me, he has his nose shoved in a romance novel, which has always been really fucking confusing to me.
Being both a romantic and a bully makes no goddamn sense.
“Let me go,” I snap, harshly tugging at my arm in Rogue’s grip and ignoring the sharp pain flaring in my shoulder.
“So she finally comes to her senses,” he croons, dropping the act and aiming a smirk my way.
“Rogue, I’m serious! Let me the fuck go!”
“Not gonna happen, little murderess,” he sings.
My survival instincts kick in full force, and I thrash against him, digging my heels in.
“We got a live one, Sev! And she's a fighter!” Rogue shouts, laughing as he does.
He and Severen easily pull me forward, despite my efforts.
“Stop it!” I squeal.
I can’t do much with my hands in cuffs behind my back, so I throw my body around like a wrecking ball, but my struggle only heightens as they both drag me toward a flagpole in the middle of the courtyard.
My eyes blow wide, and I instantly know what they’re planning. I’m shaking my head, chanting “No” over and over as we near it. It doesn’t matter how deep I dig my heels in or thrash against them, their holds only tighten to bruising levels, and an amused chuckle releases from Rogue’s throat.
“Let me go!” I screech, tripping over my toes. They keep me from face-planting, but it’s a fate much preferred over what they have planned.
We reach the flagpole, and Rogue holds my biceps while Severen disappears behind my back to unlock my handcuffs.
I stare up at Rogue pleadingly. His rugged features make him look like he belongs in a motorcycle club, with his strong jawline, a nose with the slightest bump at the bridge, hinting at a past break, and his unsettling raven eyes.
“Please, don’t do this,” I croak, unable to mask the desperation in my tone.
He smirks, not a single ounce of sympathy within his amused stare.
The metal around my wrists loosens, drawing my attention. Severen quickly retightens one cuff around my wrist then swings it toward the flagpole.
“Severen, stop,” I rush out, jerking on my arm.
He doesn’t. Of course, he doesn’t.
Instead, he fastens the other cuff to the pole, effectively chaining me to it.
“Sorry, sweet cheeks,” Rogue drawls lazily. “That dummy up there went through some pretty brutal torture, and I’d hate for all my hard work to go to waste.”
My wild gaze darts around, hopelessly searching for someone to help me.
But we’re alone out here, and despite the girls’ curiosity in the dorm, none of them come out to check on me.
No police cars pull up from one of them calling, so they must’ve realized the body was fake, that it was yet another cruel trick being played on me.
I’m sure they’re all used to my torment after nearly four fucking years of it.
I keep shaking my head, clinging to my denial that they’re actually going to leave me out here.
“It’s like five fucking degrees outside, Rogue,” I snap.
My lungs feel tight, as if the chill has reached the depths of my body, shriveling my organs.
It’s getting harder to breathe, and I’m once again overdosing on adrenaline.
“Please, guys! You got me, okay? I absolutely panicked and thought this whole thing was real. Dread wins. You don’t have to chain me up outside to prove that point! ”
Rogue rests a hand on my shoulder, his stare condescending as he speaks. “Look, babe. There are consequences to accusing our swim team captain of sexual assault in a classroom full of people. What did you expect? You could've cost him the next Olympics Games if they had taken you seriously.”
“But no one fucking does!” I argue heatedly, a humorless laugh sneaking out. “No one has ever taken me fucking seriously, and you know it.”
“Sorry, babe.”
He doesn't sound sorry at all.
I grit my teeth and glower at him, my nostrils flaring as I shove down the tears burning the backs of my eyes. They won’t see me cry again.
With one last smile, Rogue turns to walk away without a backward glance. Severen spares me one, though his expression is as blank as the sheet of snow beneath my feet. Then, he turns away, too.
Just like that, they disappear into the parking lot. Within minutes, they’re driving away in Rogue’s car, leaving me standing here alone, completely helpless to the unforgiving elements.
Now that they’re gone, I let the tears well, once more blurring my vision.
My chin trembles as I slide the handcuff down the pole and settle on the cold, hard ground.
I slump against the icy metal, bringing my knees to my chest and tucking my free hand between my thighs and stomach.
Instantly, the snow soaks through my jeans, turning my ass numb.
My shoulder throbs, but the discomfort is nothing compared to the howling wind seeping beneath my clothing into my pores, goosebumps rising and shivers racking my body.
My teeth chatter, and I rest my forehead on my bent knees, letting loose a single sob before forcing myself to suck the rest back in.
He wants to break me, but I won’t let him.
I didn’t survive all these years for nothing.
I will get back at Dread for this. As long as I survive the night, he’s going to fucking pay. I just might make a liar out of myself and commit real murder. Lord knows he’d fucking deserve it.
But instead of leaving him to freeze, the fucker will burn.