Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 137326 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 687(@200wpm)___ 549(@250wpm)___ 458(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137326 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 687(@200wpm)___ 549(@250wpm)___ 458(@300wpm)
Fucking Kane is the last thing on my mind right now. Okay, not really the last. I’d be lying if I said I don’t find him hot. Under different circumstances, I’d be open to some harmless fun like Megan, but with my situation, I need something deeper.
A lot deeper.
“Have you ever been to Ravenswood Hill?” I ask. “You know, to snoop and see how they live.”
“Hell no. This pretty head.” She motions at her face. “I want it kept on this pretty neck. Thank you very much.”
“Is it that dangerous?”
“Fuck yeah. Listen. I know you’re probably one of those students who loves the thrill of secret worlds, haunted houses, and enchanted forests, but this is not a horror movie. Those who’ve dared to go close to the Hill have disappeared without a trace. Don’t become a statistic.”
I already have. I have nothing else to lose.
But Megan is right. Going to the Hill just to snoop without any entry or escape plan in place is just asking for death.
That’s why I thought the best way would be to achieve entry through the team.
Megan sprays a cloud of perfume before she leaves, attempting one final time to invite me to the latest ‘sick’ party. However, she gives up when I tell her I’m studying tonight.
At least, that’s what I intend to do.
I find it hard to focus and barely finish reading a case study for ethics.
My phone lights up and I check it to look at the pictures Megan’s sent of ’what I missed.’
The pen nestled between my fingers stills and drops on top of my textbook when I find a DM from @kane.davenport.
Kane
Are you free tonight?
My heart thunders so loudly, I can hear it in my ears as I type: Hi! Yes.
Then realize it sounds too desperate, so I delete it.
Me
Why?
The initiation is tonight. In two hours.
Oh God.
That came sooner than I expected. I didn’t think I’d get a save-the-date card or anything. But a two-hour notice?
I’m not even mentally prepared.
Will you be there?
Yes. Where?
I’ll send you a location. Be there in an hour and a half.
Okay. Thank you.
I think the conversation has ended as he sees my text and doesn’t reply, but then a single word appears on the screen and my heartbeat quickens.
Dahlia.
Yes?
Red. Say that word now and this nightmare won’t happen. If you don’t, you won’t have a chance afterward.
My eyes fly over what he’s written again and again. Just like when he learned about my interest, he’s offering me a way out.
But he doesn’t know that when my mind is set on something, I won’t stop until it’s done.
Someone in Vencor was behind my sister’s attack and subsequent coma. I lost my only family because of them, and I won’t rest until they’re six feet under. Hopefully, after they suffer.
So no. Even if I’m going to die, I won’t take the out that Kane’s offered.
I like that he’s putting the option on the table, though.
I’ll be there.
There’s a long stretch of silence from his end before he sends one final text.
Dress comfortably. It’s going to be the longest night of your life.
4
KANE
This isn’t the first, the second, or even the hundredth time I’ve faced such a scene.
It won’t be the last either.
But it never manages to penetrate me. Not the screams, the gurgling of blood, the stench of fear mingled with the absolute realization that they’ve fucked up.
And that it’s the final time they’ll ever fuck up.
“Listen…listen…please hear me out…” the vice-chancellor, Fred, begs on his knees, his belly bulging from between his shirt’s ripped buttons, his ugly purple tie tight, turning his face red.
Jude, Preston, and I asked Fred to join us for a ride after school.
He smiled with delight, thinking we were presenting him with an opportunity. It’s not every day that a mere vice-chancellor gets a private meeting with three Senior Vencor members who’ll become de facto Founder members as soon as they graduate.
And Fred, like any Vencor member, knows that only we who are born into the four founding families are granted the Founder position. So we’ve always held monopoly on the power balance on campus, even if we’re still just Senior members. A position Fred will never reach.
Because instead of the opportunity-filled meeting he expected, we drove him to a warehouse owned by my family, located so far out of town, no one would hear him scream.
My father’s cronies are stationed outside, waiting for us to finish with our fun so they can clean up.
Though, truly, it’s more fun for Jude and Preston than me. I’m only here to finish a ‘decapitation’ mission. Meaning, cut the head off a snake that’s starting to consider biting its master.
Vencor’s power, aside from strong business relations between the four founding families, is all about control. If there’s an opportunity, not only do we seize it, but we also eliminate anyone who forms any type of obstacle.