“This is how I want you every morning, outside The Temple at six am,” he demanded and excited chattering filled the air.
I had to bite my tongue on the insults that were dancing through my mind as I nodded my agreement.
Saint grinned as he beckoned me back to my feet and I was more than happy to comply.
“Now, go sit down,” he directed, pointing over at the Unspeakables.
“My pleasure.” I gave him a mock curtesy, lifting my skirt almost high enough to flash my panties before hurrying away to the table, somehow getting away with that.
I dropped down in the same spot I’d filled all week and the Unspeakables stared at me with wide eyes.
Freeloader patted my arm and Bait gave me a sad sort of smile. They didn’t need to mention the fact that the Night Keepers owned me now. Even more so than they were owned. But I was never, in all my fucking life, gonna end up looking like these beat down Barrys.
I ordered my breakfast – my choices consisting of plain porridge or a fruit bowl. So I opted for the fruit and just thanked my lucky stars that grapes and bananas hadn’t been stolen from me along with pizza. Oh hell no, did I just express gratitude for what the royal fuckwits deigned to offer me?
Anger rolled through my chest and I slammed my phone down more firmly than was necessary, making every one of the Unspeakables jump. And that made me even madder, because they must have been like me once. I mean sure, maybe not all of them. Some looked like they’d been hiding from their own shadows for most of their lives, but Punch didn’t. Punch looked like he’d once been a machine of a guy who didn’t need to take shit from anybody. But there he was down the table, throwing cursory glances over at the Night Keepers while he spooned porridge into his mouth with a look like he was chewing cardboard.
And Deepthroat had the look of a prom queen who’d had her crown broken into pieces and stabbed into her gut. She must have been one of the popular girls once, breezing through life without a care. Now, her mascara was slightly smeared and her eyes reddened like she’d been dabbing tears from them not long ago. It made me angry for her, for all of them.
“You’re so lucky, Sneak,” Freeloader said to the redheaded girl beside her with a look of longing.
“Yeah, I wish my parents could come for me,” Bait said with a heavy sigh.
My ears pricked up as I looked to Sneak, my heart slowing for several beats. “You’re leaving?” I asked and she looked to me with a shy nod, tucking a lock of crimson hair behind her ear.
“My mom’s taking a few days off work to drive all the way from San Francisco,” she said, her eyes shining with tears of joy. “She won’t be coming ‘til next week, but when she arrives, I’m gonna be free.”
The Unspeakables gazed at her in desperation and my breathing hitched as a plan clicked together in my mind.
“Would she give me a ride out of here into the nearest town?” I asked her in a whispered tone and everyone stared at me in surprise.
Sneak frowned. “Well yeah, I’m sure she could take you to Murkwell. But the guards won’t let anyone out unless their own parents come for them.”
“I know that.” I drummed my fingers on the table as I tried to work out the kinks in my plan. “But if I can get past them, she’ll take me?” I hung on her next words, the possibility of escaping this place filling me with so much hope, I almost whooped with joy. But this plan had to be seriously covert. In fact…I glared around at the Unspeakables ringing the table in suspicion. I was gonna have to make sure none of them told on me like good little underdogs.
“Yeah of course. I’ll help anyone who wants to go,” Sneak said, a small smile tugging at her mouth.
“Great,” I practically squealed. “Who’s with me then?” I demanded of the rest of the table and they all shrank back into their seats like they wanted to turn to vapour. Squits looked like he was about to live up to his name again. But Bait was frowning like he was considering it.
“Bait?” I pressed and he glanced at me then over to the Night Keepers, worry flashing through his gaze.
“I dunno…”
“Come on.” I reached out to rest a hand on his and he glanced up again in surprise. He smiled awkwardly, pulling his hand free and running it down the back of his neck.
“Well…okay. I’ll do it. I can head to my sister’s place in Oakville,” he breathed and a grin tugged at my mouth, my heart pounding with excitement.
I pointed around at the rest of the table with a glare. “If anyone rats us out, I will gut you. Freaking gut you. Like a tuna. Or a seabass. Got it?” I used my firmest tone, but kept my voice low so no one could hear me beyond our table. The fact that it had been shoved to one corner of the room was actually coming in handy now.
“Got it,” they all agreed and some of them even shared smiles like they were thrilled by the idea of me and Bait getting one over on the Night Keepers.
“Right, we just need a distraction to get the guards out of our way,” I whispered, my brows pulling together as I tried to think of something that could work, adrenaline thrumming through my veins.
“Well, um…” Punch started and I looked up, my lips parting.
“Don’t hold out on me Punch,” I said, my hands curling into fists.
He swiped his napkin up to dab his forehead, breathing heavily. “Well I…I have some firecrackers in my room from my old pranking days.”
I slammed my hand down on the table again and everyone leapt in their seats. “That’s what I’m talking about Punch. You fucking legend. Can you bring them to me?”
A small smile tugged at his lips and he nodded slowly. “Okay, I can do that. When?”
I chewed my lip as I thought about it. I had no idea when the Night Keepers were gonna call me to their side so I had to be flexible. “Give me your number. I’ll text you a time and place when it’s safe.”
“Okay.” He nodded quickly, reaching into his pocket, tapping something on the screen then passing it down the table to me.
I copied his number onto my phone as victory sang in my veins. I was gonna screw the Night Keepers over so hard. I’d be free of this place by next week. And those fuckers would wake up looking for me outside their precious Temple the day after my escape only to find no one waiting there on their knees. Just my laughter calling to them on the wind. Note to self: get Saint’s phone number so I can ring him and laugh manically down his ear until his head blows up with his defeat.
I sat back in my seat and bathed in the glow of the Unspeakables all sharing grins. I could feel how much they wanted to see a blow struck against their masters. And I was more than happy to deliver it.
I was going to run to my dad’s house in the Elmwood Forest, find a way to contact him then run off into the sunset with him like Thelma and Louise. Except we weren’t gonna die like they did, we were going to find a way to clear his name and then we were gonna fucking live.
***
I breezed through classes the following week, not caring when the Night Keepers made me carry their shit or pick up stuff they threw on the floor at my feet. I nodded my head, I bit my tongue, I obeyed. I even turned up at The Temple at six am every day and knelt there like the most pious nun in the world. And I was happy to play the good girl for a little longer because the day had finally come. Tonight, I was gonna escape this hell hole and by tomorrow I’d be far, far away from those ménage à twats. Sneak had told me her mom was gonna arrive at nine pm, so I just had to hold out until then.
When school ended, I headed back towards Beech House with no ass wipes calling my name or demanding I do a single thing. So that meant for the first time in a long time- but for who knew how long - I was free. Saint and the rest of the Powerpuff dicks had been sure to take my phone number pronto though, so they could track me down whenever they wanted to summon me.
I took out my phone, shooting a text to Punch and asking him to meet me around the back of the girls’ accommodation in ten minutes. I hurried up the path towards the door, pausing and openin
g my school bag, pretending to rummage through it as girls filed past me into the dorms. I didn’t want anyone to see me acting shady just in case they called the Night Keepers with a tip off, hoping to win the chance to suck at least one of their royal cocks.
Some of them looked my way and hissed the word Plague, but most of them ignored me like I didn’t even exist. I wasn’t sure which I preferred.
I waited until there was no one around before darting behind the brick building, following a dirt path around to the back of it and leaning against the wall as I waited for Punch.
I kept checking my phone; he’d seen the message but there was no reply. My foot tapped anxiously as I waited, the time ticking onto ten minutes then slipping on by.
“Come on, Punch. Pull through for me you big pussy.” I muttered to myself.
I shot him another message, grinding my jaw as I begged him to show up.
The sound of breaking twigs and a hulking beast moving through the trees around the corner caught my ear. I breathed in deep, certain that only three things were big enough to make that noise. Punch, a Night Keeper or a freaking T-rex.
Punch rounded the corner in a black hoody and sunglasses - like, was he for real?
“Dude, I could tell it’s you even if I only saw your shadow. You’re pretty distinguishable.” The guy must have been nearly seven foot and was as wide as a damn bus. Gah, I wished I could have seen him punching Blake. I bet he hit the ground. But what the hell did Blake do in retaliation to this dinosaur to break his Jurassic spirit?
Punch shrugged, taking off the glasses and pushing back the hood. He glanced around like he expected the birds to rat on him and I rolled my eyes as I strode over to him.
“Do you have them?” I asked hopefully.
He reached into his pocket and held out a handful of firecrackers and a lighter. I near enough jumped for joy as I took them, because this was better than any Redwood Rattlesnakes ticket I’d ever held in my hand. This was my ticket to honest-to-shit freedom.
I lunged at Punch before I could stop myself, wrapping my arms around his huge frame and squeezing him tight. This week had been awful. Scrap that, it had been unbearable. And Punch was helping me to escape, something I couldn’t even begin to express my gratitude for. Especially after being shunned by nearly everyone else in the school. It almost brought me to freaking tears. “Thank you.”
He pressed me back with a serious look on his face, dabbing at his forehead as he got that sweaty look again. “Get out of here, Tatum Rivers,” he whispered, his eyes searing into my soul. “Get as far away from those guys as possible. Because if you don’t…no one will be able to save you from them.”
My throat thickened at his words, fear trickling into my blood. I nodded firmly, promising it to him, myself. “Come with us,” I urged, but he shook his head.
“I’ve got nowhere to go,” he said, tugging at his collar as if he was too hot. “My dad’s in Cabo for the rest of the year. Besides, I’m not exactly built for stealth.”
I snorted a laugh and he cracked an actual grin.
“Plague! Get your fine ass out here in the next ten seconds!” Kyan’s voice sounded from the front of the building, sending a bolt of adrenaline into my veins. Holy fucking shit!
“Go that way.” I shoved Punch toward the trees and he lumbered off into them at the quickest pace I’d ever seen him move.
“Ten - nine - eight!” I heard all three of them start counting and cursed my damn luck.
I dropped down to the ground in a panic, digging a hole and shoving the firecrackers and lighter into it before pushing some leaves over it and poking a stick into the ground beside it. It was inconspicuous at a glance and it would have to fucking do.
I wiped my hands on the inside of my blazer as their counting filled my ears and made my lungs labour.
I had no excuse. Nothing which could cover me being back here. My brain worked to come up with something, anything to explain my whereabouts.
“Three – two-”
I ran around the edge of the building, stumbling to a halt in front of them and they took me in with dark frowns.
“Why the fuck were you back there?” Blake demanded, folding his muscular arms across his chest. I had a momentary flashback of being crushed in those arms while his mouth chased mine for kisses and my body reacted before I could help it. His usually clean look had been replaced by a line of stubble and a darkness in his eyes which just made me…gah.
Stop eye-fucking the asshole, Tatum.
I cleared my throat, twisting a lock of hair between my fingers as I shrugged innocently. “I went for a walk, is that a crime?”
Saint’s eyes narrowed like he didn’t buy it and he strode forward, snatching hold of my hands and turning them over. I’d gotten most of the mud off of them, but not enough for the Lord of Cleanliness not to notice.
“Been playing in the dirt, have we Barbie?” he asked, ice dripping through his voice.
“I fell,” I said, forcing a blush and I damn well managed it too. Kyan’s eyes dropped to my knees and I glanced down, finding them muddy as hell and seriously helping out my case.
Thank you universe!
Kyan snarled, stepping forward. “Either that or you’ve been on all fours for someone in the woods.”
My lips parted and a dark laugh fell from my lips. “Careful Kyan, for a minute there you almost sounded jealous.”
“He has a right to be,” Saint hissed, swerving his head into my line of sight to make me look at him. “You’re ours. You’re not allowed to touch anyone else and no one is allowed to touch you. So if you’ve broken the rules I’ll-”
“I fell,” I snapped, unblinking. “Everyone in this school has been ignoring me on your orders, who do you think would risk taking me out into the woods to fuck me, huh?”
A beat of silence passed as they all gazed at me, a hungry look in their eyes telling me they’d all be more than happy to volunteer for that position.
“Apart from all of you, apparently,” I taunted, unable to help myself.
“Shut your mouth,” Saint hissed. “If I find out you’ve been so much as dry humping a tree, I’ll make you regret it.”
“Wow, you really know how to sap the fun out of life, don’t you devil boy? Tree humping is my favourite activity,” I deadpanned and Kyan snorted a laugh, earning him sharp glares from Saint and Blake.
“What? That shit’s funny.” He shrugged, a smirk dancing around his mouth and I couldn’t help but return it.
Saint caught my chin, forcing me to look at him again and his frozen touch cut a path through my flesh. “You’ve got work to do, Barbie doll. Move.”
He caught my hand, turning and tugging me along behind him. His fingers locked around mine like a vice and I wondered if he’d ever held hands with someone before – discounting any dead bodies he’d dragged along to their graves.
I didn’t argue. I needed to keep up the obedience act for the rest of the day. Hope burned in my heart like a beacon at knowing I only had a few more hours before I could make it out of here with Sneak and Bait. I just had to hold out a little longer.
Saint led me down the path ahead of the other guys, taking a right turn as we walked along by the lake. From a distance, we probably could have been mistaken for a couple taking a leisurely stroll. But up close, you’d see the murder in Saint’s eyes and the tension in my posture. There was certainly no romance here. Unless you counted Saint’s ongoing love affair with cruelty.
He turned suddenly to the left, making me stumble as he took me down a small track onto the narrow lakeshore. The stones shifted beneath my feet as he dragged me along then paused at the water’s edge. A shiver ran down my spine as I remembered the other night and my fingers involuntarily tightened around Saint’s hand.
He turned to me with a vicious smile, releasing my hand in an instant. “Scared, Barbie?”
“No,” I said immediately, my spine straightening as I felt Blake and Kyan closing in behind me. You should nev
er turn your back on a wild animal, and right now, it felt like I was about to be pounced on and torn limb from limb by two of them.
Saint laughed hollowly then reached into his blazer pocket, taking out a deck of cards. He slid them out of the pack, shuffling them between his fingers and I swallowed as I waited for him to explain what we were doing here. He liked to torture me with menial, bullshit tasks, and I suspected I was about to be faced with another one.
Blake’s breath fluttered against the back of my neck and the heat of it sent a wave of warmth rushing down my spine.
I wanted to step forward to gain some distance from him, but I knew doing so would reveal how much he was affecting me. And I couldn’t let that happen.
“You’re going to play a game,” Saint said and I folded my arms as I waited for him to go on, my heart clenching tightly in my chest. “It’s called fifty two pick up.” He turned to the water, holding the edges of the pack between his fingers until the deck bent and the cards exploded from his hand, over half of them scattering in the water. They immediately started floating away and for a second my lungs wouldn’t work.
“Pick them all up and return the pack to me at dinner,” Saint snarled, invading my personal space and lowering his head so he was nose to nose with me. I could almost smell the charred lump of coal that took the place of his heart. “If even one is missing, you’ll be punished. And I’m not beyond putting you over my knee in front of the entire school, Plague. Remember that.” He shouldered past me, making me stumble back into Blake who immediately shoved me forward again, and I slipped on the wet stones and crashed to my knees. My skin split in several places and I hissed as pain spiked across my shins.
A thousand curse words wrapped around my tongue and I battled with all the might of an army to stop them from spilling out.
Keep quiet. Obey. Buy your chance at freedom!
I heard them walking away and glanced over my shoulder as they made it up to the path. Saint straightened his blazer as he headed off and his two lapdogs followed.
Kings of Quarantine: A Dark High School Bully Romance (Brutal Boys of Everlake Prep Book 1) Page 22