Kings of Anarchy

by Caroline Peckham

  Being alone made those concerns swell and darken until I found myself fretting over them no matter how slim the chance of infection was now.

  I didn't much like the sound of me spending the next few hours moping about and sinking into those kinds of worries and as I looked out over the lake, my gaze caught on the lights illuminating the Willow Boathouse and an idea came to me instead.

  I pulled my phone from my pocket and shot Chad and Danny a text asking them to come meet me if they were free, then started up a swift jog down the path. I'd go have some fun, keep myself on a high until Tatum was ready to leave the library, then take her back to my room and show her all the reasons why she should have let me finish what we'd started in the stacks.

  By the time I made it to the boathouse, night had officially fallen and the dark water called out to me with the swift promise of exhilaration. Technically no one was supposed to take any of the boats out onto the water after dark, but as I was confident Monroe wasn't going to be expelling me, I didn't waste any time worrying about that.

  I didn't bother heading inside the main building but just went straight down to the covered area at the water's edge and moved along the row of boats which were bobbing beside the narrow jetty until I reached a blue and white jet ski which purred my name.

  I pulled my phone out of my pocket to check for messages from the others. Chad hadn't seen my message and Danny had replied to say it was date night for him and Mila but that he could try and rearrange if I really wanted him to. In all honesty date night seemed to be every night for those two recently but I felt like douche for cock blocking him, so I declined and told him to have fun before texting Chad to tell him to meet me on the water if he got my messages.

  I tossed my phone and keys in one of the lockers provided alongside the boats then took the key for the jet ski from the hook. There was a ledger sitting there too which I should have written in to keep a record of the fact that I was taking the vessel out, but I didn't bother.

  My feet thumped along the jetty and I quickly untethered the jet ski from its position before hopping onto it and starting up the engine. The throaty purr had a smile on my face before I'd even begun to get going and I kicked off of the jetty as I floated out of the line up before tugging on the throttle and speeding out onto the lake.

  The inky water seemed to spread out for miles in the dark and I laughed as I raced out onto it, whooping as I pushed the machine to move faster and sweeping it around in wide circles that had my stomach dipping and the adrenaline flowing freely through my limbs.

  I sped up and down the water, pushing the jet ski to its limits as I weaved back and forth, almost tipping it up more than once and soaking myself with spray as I went.

  My heart felt lighter with the pounding of my pulse and the grin on my face was full and wide as I kept pushing the jet ski harder, making sharper turns and riding the waves created in my wake.

  After around half an hour, the sound of another engine approaching on the water caught my attention and I looked up to see a bright light drawing closer.

  "You made it!" I called in excitement, though I doubted Chad would be able to hear me over the engine of the speedboat he'd selected.

  I drew the throttle back and whipped the jet ski around as I shot across the water to meet him in the middle of the lake. But as I came up on the brightly lit boat, my heart skipped a beat as instead of Chad, I found a hooded figure wearing a white mask looking directly at me as they turned the speedboat my way.

  I cursed as I changed direction, cutting to the left and crashing over several big waves that I'd managed to cause with the doughnuts I'd just been doing in the water and my progress was slowed.

  I looked over my shoulder as the roar of the speedboat's engine chased after me and a spike of fear flooded me half a second before the boat crashed into the rear end of my jet ski.

  I yelled as I was catapulted off of it, my arms cartwheeling as I was thrown through the air before I came crashing down into the ice cold water.

  I kicked for the surface with my heart racing and sucked down a breath the moment my head breached the waves.

  I cried out in alarm as I found the speedboat racing straight for me and I dove beneath the surface again, kicking as hard as I could moments before the dark shadow of it sped by overhead.

  The burn in my lungs forced me back up again and real fear found me as I realised that I was nothing more than a sitting duck out here. If they were determined to take me out, then there wasn't anything that I was going to be able to do about it.

  As I thrust my head up out of the water again, my thundering heart leapt at the sight of the boat tearing away across the water once more, heading in the direction of the boathouse and I let out a shaky breath of relief.

  I was forced to tread water as I looked all around for any sign of my jet ski and a flash of white above the waves drew my attention to it.

  I swam as fast as I could, cursing as I reached the jet ski only to find it upside down and dead in the water. The emergency choke would have been wrenched free to cut the engine when I was knocked off of it, but that didn't really mean anything as the acrid stench of fuel filled the air around me. The tank must have split in the crash which meant that there was no point in me even trying to flip the thing over unless I planned on sitting on it until someone figured out I was missing and came to look for me.

  I was right out in the middle of the lake, the lights from the buildings which surrounded the water little more than pinpricks on the horizon.

  The thought of that motherfucker in the white mask made my skin crawl as I realised he'd just put me out of commission. And as he hadn't circled back to make sure he finished me off, I had to assume that I wasn't his intended target.

  My mind instantly went to Tatum alone in the library and I cursed as I began the long swim back to shore. I knew she wouldn't walk back without me and was certain that one of the other Night Keepers would come to meet her once she realised I wasn't coming and called them. But at this moment in time, no one but me and that Justice Ninja bastard knew that I was stuck out here and that had my blood running even colder than the icy water of the lake.

  Fuck.

  I couldn't focus on the what ifs right now, I just needed to give everything I had into swimming back to shore. I'd figure the rest out by then. I just hoped my girl stayed safe where she was until I got back. But I had the horrible feeling that ditching me in the middle of the lake was only the beginning of the Justice Ninja's plans tonight.

  I’d finished up my Physics paper and was working on an assignment for English, but I couldn't concentrate as I waited for Blake to arrive. I was anxious to see him again, biting on my lip every time I thought of kissing him when he got here, glancing around to see how empty this place was right now and wondering if we really could get away with fooling around down here without the librarian finding us again. I wanted to feel the hard plains of his golden chest against mine, feel him dominating me, holding me down, kissing my throat, my-

  Get a grip, Tatum.

  I laughed at myself, shaking my head and focusing back on my assignment. I swear I was legit obsessed with the Night Keepers sometimes. The Sacred Stone may have been some bullshit artefact, but it sure did feel like it really had bound me to those boys in some soul-deep way. They were so far under my skin that cutting them out would have been excruciating. And part of me hoped I'd never have to do it. But could this really last forever?

  I took a long swig from my water bottle and sighed, leaning back in my seat. I really needed to focus or I was not gonna finish this assignment in time for the deadline tomorrow. Not that Miss Pontus would do anything about it; she’d most likely just give me an extension. But I didn't like playing the Night Bound card. Just because I was one of the little Night Keeper gang now, that didn't mean I wanted to use their sway to get away with stuff. I was way too used to my own independence and I sure as shit didn't want any handouts in life. So I would get this assignment done on time if it kil
led me.

  I managed to get a few more paragraphs written before I checked my phone again, but there was no message from Blake. I got up with a sigh, typing out a message to him as I wound through the stacks and headed through the door into the restroom.

  When I’d peed, I washed my hands and stared at the girl in the mirror who had faced too much fucking bullshit this year. I could see Dad's features peering through mine, just glimpses of him in the angles of my face, the shape of my eyes. It felt good knowing he was with me in some way, that I could be reminded of him whenever I saw myself. It made me proud to know he lived in me like that. And I swore I’d never let go of him.

  I headed back into the library, realising the place had seriously emptied out. It was quiet, almost eerily so. But this was my safe haven. The one place on campus which I had claimed as my own. Especially in this corner by the window overlooking the dark lake.

  I dropped into my seat, gazing at my laptop screen with a pout as I tried to piece together my next paragraph about Othello. I procrastinated a little, checking my emails then reached for my water bottle to my right. I frowned as my hand met nothing and I looked up, leaning forward to grab it further down the table, figuring I must’ve moved it earlier as I downed the last of it.

  Okay so...Shakespeare is trying to say that Iago is a shady bastard and Othello really needs to notice it before he ends up killing his wife. Spoiler alert: he totally kills her just before he finds out Iago has manipulated him this whole time and his wife never cheated on him anyway. I mean really, the fact that Othello killed his wife over her handkerchief being found in another guy's room suggests he was kind of a psycho. Even Saint wouldn't kill me over a handerker- no wait, he totally would.

  I reached for my keyboard to type something completely respectable, but my vision blurred and I frowned as my hands dropped heavily onto it. I blinked to try and clear the clouds around my mind, but they wouldn't lift. What’s happening?

  I reached for my phone beside my laptop, but knocked it off the table with clumsy fingers and my heart thudded erratically. I leaned after it, falling out of my chair and groaning as drowsiness tried to steal me away. Oh fuck. What’s wrong with me?

  I reached for my phone again, my heart beating too fast and then too slow in my chest but a foot slammed down on the screen before I could reach it and I gasped.

  I blinked groggily, looking up to search for the perpetrator, but the room was spinning and all I could see was a bone white mask glaring down at me. Fear crushed my chest, but I didn't have the strength to get up and fight.

  Hands slid around me, maybe one set, or two, or more. I couldn't concentrate enough to tell.

  "Getoffme," I slurred, then realised I could scream. And I seriously needed to scream.

  I opened my mouth, my brain working too slow, and a hand slammed down over it that tasted like gasoline. For a moment I was reminded of Kyan, but it couldn't be him. I'd know if it was him.

  My scream was lost the same moment I lost consciousness and the next thing I knew, I was being shoved out of the window beside us. My stomach swooped, I gasped and my back hit wet earth, sending pain jarring through my body.

  Get up, Tatum, get the fuck up!

  I forced myself to move, the cool air helping my senses sharpen just a little more and I managed to roll and crawl forward. I had to move. Had to run.

  "Just carry her," someone hissed. I couldn't tell if it was a girl or a guy, their voice too hushed and my brain too fuzzy. Fuck, how did they drug me?

  "Get away," I snarled, pressing my hands into the mud as I tried to stand.

  Hands grabbed me again and suddenly I was being hauled, pulled and half carried along. My mind wouldn’t sharpen and I was falling down into the depths of darkness again. I fell into it once more and when I woke I was on my knees, the dark wood spinning around me and shadowy figures standing in front of me.

  "Help," I rasped, but it was too quiet. I had to say it louder. Why was it so hard to make my voice work? "Help!"

  Someone kicked me in the jaw. "Shut up!"

  A guys' voice for sure this time. But whose? Pain throbbed along my jaw and I found an inch of resilience to hold onto, fighting against the hands on me as someone tried to move me again. I threw an elbow back which landed against soft flesh.

  "Just do it here," a guy growled and I was shoved to the muddy ground again. "Hurry up."

  Freezing liquid suddenly splashed over me and I coughed heavily as the scent of gasoline caught in the back of my throat and made me heave.

  "No!" I half choked, half screamed, my voice loud with desperation as I moved onto my knees. My vision blurred as two masked figures stared down at me while one of them continued to pour the gasoline all over me.

  I staggered to my feet as terror overrode some of the drug gripping my body, giving me enough strength to stand, but I immediately wobbled.

  I can't pass out. I must not pass out.

  The click of a lighter made my heart clench like it was in a vice and I gasped as the flame flickered before me in one of their hands, dancing, my vision tripling so there were three of them threatening me.

  I backed up, hitting a tree. "Help!" I screamed, managing to pour more volume into the word this time.

  A flaming arrow ignited in front of me in one of their hands and fear made my senses sharpen another inch.

  "This time it doesn't matter if you miss," the guy's voice again. And I recognised it. I was sure I recognised it. I just couldn't place it with the drug clogging up my brain. Who the fuck would do this to me? Think, Tatum, think!

  "Run rabbit run," he spat and the arrow swung toward me.

  I screamed, turning and racing into the trees. It was so dark and my legs were leaden as I ran as fast as I could with the drug taking root in my body.

  My shoes squelched through mud as I hit a downhill and I almost fell way too many times. A flaming arrow whooshed past me, carving a trail of light through the air before it slammed into a tree ahead of me. I veered away from the flames with a shriek of fear, my mind hooking on the only thing I needed right now. Water. I had to get to the lake.

  I ran on, the world a haze ahead of me and I was terrified I was going in the wrong direction. But I was heading downhill, it had to be the right way. It couldn't be far.

  Cackles of laughter followed behind me, seeming to echo everywhere through the woods and for a second it seemed like there were more masks peering at me amongst the trees. Monsters lurking, prowling near, hunting for flesh.

  Another arrow whipped past me and someone swore. "That was close,” they laughed and I couldn’t tell if they were relieved or disappointed it had missed.

  My foot caught on a root and I stumbled, slamming into a tree as I caught myself, tearing my nails into it as I made sure I didn't fall. Falling would be the end of me.

  I pushed myself upright and laboured on, my lungs weighed with lead and my mind thick with the pull of the drug.

  Don't give up. Keep running. Stay awake.

  My feet suddenly hit flatter ground, but the trees didn’t thin. I screamed for help. But hardly anyone would be out this late. What if no one was close enough to hear my screams?

  Another arrow speared past me, hitting a tree and splintering into two pieces and sending them flying through the air. The flaming tip careered toward me and I screamed, falling to the ground to try and avoid it. It landed a few inches to my left, hissing in the mud as it went out.

  Footsteps pounded closer behind me, drumming into my skull. I gritted my teeth and kept moving, desperate to reach the water and praying I was getting near. I didn’t know how much longer I could run. And they were so close, so damn close.

  I moved with every last scrap of energy in my veins as the drug worked its way deeper into my body, taking hold of my muscles and trying to freeze them, immobilise me. No no no.

  I pushed myself on as more laughter called out behind me, distorted and filled with their amusement at watching me trying to escape.

  I gla
nced over my shoulder seeing two, then three, then ten figures amongst the trees with masks covering their faces as my vision blurred and multiplied.

  Another arrow speared through the air and I ducked with a scream, terrified I was about to feel the pierce of metal driving deep into my flesh and the raging burn of fire consuming me. But somehow it didn’t come. So I kept running. And I wouldn’t stop.

  I just didn’t know how much further I could go before one of those arrows found its target.

  E very muscle in my body burned with a fatigue so deep and relentless that I was almost certain my limbs were about to give out and I was going to drown in this god forsaken lake.

  As I swam, my mind played tricks on me, making me believe that I could hear screams on the wind that whipped above the waves which had my heart racing with fear for the girl I loved.

  I'd kicked my shoes off and ripped my shirt off too so that I could swim better, but I was starting to feel like I wasn't getting anywhere at all. Like I'd somehow managed to swim myself around in circles out here in the dark and I was going to run out of energy at any moment and succumb to the inevitable call of the deep water beneath me.

  Tatum's screams carried to me again and the jolt of fear that shot through my body at that sound had a spark of adrenaline igniting in my veins.

  That hadn't sounded like my imagination. It had sounded damn like reality come to sucker punch me in the dick.

  I swam harder, faster, the sound of her screaming coming once more and making me feel certain that I hadn't imagined it.

  A wholly different kind of panic enveloped me as I powered towards the screams, hoping against hope that I was getting closer to her as I sucked down breaths and my limbs trembled with fatigue.

  My toes suddenly scraped against the pebbles on the lake bed and I could have fucking sobbed with relief as I struggled further forward and the shore rose beneath me.