The Curse of Betrayal (21 page)

“My mentor, Professor O, told me about the attack. Maybe she knows something more,” I offer.

“Perfect. Monday you need to tell her. We need to figure this out.” Ollie reaches over and pulls me into him like he knows how much I need to feel his strength.

“Okay,” I promise.
 

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

it just isn’t working out

January 28
^th

It’s okay to think about her.

I think about your mother every single day.

She was a strong woman.

I remember the day she found out she was pregnant.

We weren’t trying, but you know that already.

We were young and wild but your mother was always the smart one in the group.

She’d make sure that things were done right.

She was a rule follower, that’s for sure.

Anyway, she found out early.
 

She was always in tune with her body and knew something was off.

She came to me asking for advice, what we’d do… that sort of thing.

But it was a no brainer.

I think she was just testing me to make sure I’d stick around.

She’d always give me riddles and weird little tests to make sure I wasn’t losing it.
 

At least, that’s what she said.

We knew you were going to be special.

You see, your mom was very special. She was different from normal girls.

You’ve got that something special that she had.

She told me one day that you were going to change the world.

She said you were going to make things right.

She wasn’t a bad person despite what you think.

I know that she would only leave for a really good reason.

She loved you more than anything in the entire world.

Even more than me.

What has you thinking about her?

Miss you and love you, sweetie.

Daddy

Sent from my iPhone

“How are you feeling?” I ask Kara the next day as she starts to stir. She’s in bed alone. Ollie and Junior left to get breakfast for us a few minutes ago since we don’t want to make Kara go out in public with the huge bruises displayed on her neck.
 

I hear her rustle, so I know she’s awake. I slide out of my bed and climb into hers to make her feel better. This psycho could be targeting her or even girls in general on this campus. I could be the next victim, and that thought scares the living shit out of me.
 

“I’m scared, Ryder,” she admits, turning over so we’re facing each other.

“Me, too, but I’m here for you.” I try to be strong for the both of us.

“I know. Thanks.”

“For what?” I ask her.

“Last night.” She starts trembling beneath her covers. She’s shaking a lot, and I don’t know what to do to make it better.
 

“I’m always here for you,” I tell her, snuggling into her. I hold her tight in my arms as if at any moment she’ll fall through the cracks. We must fall asleep, because I’m shoved awake by Ollie. He nudges me, and when I finally look up, I’ve got three sets of eyes staring down at me. “What?” I look around the room, trying to figure out what’s going on.

“Wake up, already.” Kara laughs from her spot on the bed.

“I’m up. I’m up,” I tell them. I jump off the bed and move into the bathroom. I quickly wash my face and brush my teeth and then head back into the room full of my best friends. Junior and Kara sit on her bed and Ollie’s taken up shop on mine. He catches a glimpse of me staring and lifts up his bagel before pointing to the bag on my desk.

“We can’t tell anyone,” Kara says as I’m buttering my bagel.

“You have to!” Junior yells back at her, making her flinch. “Sorry,” he mutters, realizing he’s done wrong. He places his hand on her lap and rubs soothing circles on her leg.

“I’m going to tell my mentor. We can trust her, I swear,” I tell her, hoping that she’ll listen to me.

“I’m embarrassed,” she admits to us.

“You have nothing to be embarrassed about. Some killer is out there, and we need to stop him. I promise; we’ll figure it out. But Ryder telling Professor Onassis is a good move,” Ollie reassures her.

“Okay,” Kara relents, taking a bite of her bagel. We eat way too fast, and by the time we’re done, it’s time for the boys to go back home.
 

I don’t really know why they’re leaving us, but I figure Ollie has a good reason. He’s rushing out and taking Junior with him, so I try not to object. Ollie and I leave the room first, so Kara and Junior can say goodbye. Ollie wraps me in a hug and holds me while we wait in the hallway.

A few minutes later, Junior joins us in the hall. He looks drained; his eyes bagged and dark. I walk with the boys out to my car. “Take care of her,” Junior whispers into my ear as he hugs me goodbye. I frown at him, because obviously, I’m going to take care of her. She was my friend first.

But instead of starting a fight, I smile and nod. He pulls me into him again, and after he lets me go, I watch as he climbs into the driver’s seat of my car. I walk around to the other side where Ollie is leaning against the passenger side door, his shoulder pressed right up against the window. I walk to him and fold my body into his arms. I fight the urge to cry and yell that I don’t know how to be strong. I’m not good at this stuff.

I’ve never been a capable person. I’ve never been able to hold myself together, and now I’m supposed to protect my roommate when I don’t even understand what she needs protecting from. This is getting too real, and oddly, I feel like these attacks are my fault. “I’ll call you,” he whispers into my hair. I nod but don’t want to let go yet.

“Can you just stay?” I peek up at his baby blues with my tear filled eyes.

“I’m trying to help her. I promise; I’ll come back soon.” He reassures me a tiny bit.

“Okay.” I pout hating that he’s leaving me.

“I love you, Ryder.”
 

“I love you, too.” I lean up and give him a chaste kiss. I hold him for just one fraction of a second longer and then finally let him go. I retreat to my dorm sullenly and stand on the inside of the glass windowed door, watching as my car fades into the distance. I realize that even though I’m on my own, I’m able. I can be strong for Kara, for Ollie, for Junior. I run up the stairs to my room and find Kara curled up on her side in her bed.
 

“What’s wrong?” I rush to her side and turn her over so I can see her face. She’s not crying, but the worry in her eyes is still there. “We have to tell someone now,” I tell her, hoping a teacher will know what’s going on.

“No,” she says. “I don’t trust anyone. It could have been a teacher who attacked me for all we know. I don’t want to tell your mentor. I only nodded so Ollie wouldn’t get mad. Please don’t make me tell her.”
 

I try to think of someone she trusts. The truth of the matter is; we’re only teens. I don’t know why someone’s trying to kill us, but it’s not fun and games anymore. We have to tell someone.
 

“What about Ari?” Despite our avoidance of each other, I know he would never betray me, and I want to include him. He’s a teacher; he may be able to help us despite Ollie’s refusal to involve him.

“I don’t know…” She’s hesitant, but I think she might budge.

“We have to stop this from happening again.” My voice is harsh, but she needs to understand that we have to be safe, and keeping this between us isn’t going to work, because I’m not going to be there all the time.

“I’d rather not.”
 

“Kara, we have to tell someone—a teacher or adult. So you pick.” I’m stern, but it feels like I have to be. Ollie told me to be strong, so that’s what I’ll do. I’ll be strong for us all.
 

“Fine,” she relents. All I know is that we have to do it now. I go through the motions with no emotion. I get her dressed, in a scarf and hat to cover the bruises. It’s still morning, and the sun is out, so I throw some sunglasses over her swollen eyes as well.
 

If someone we know saw her, they wouldn't even recognize her. I put on a hoodie and my boots, and then we try to sneak out of the dorms. It’s Saturday, so the grounds are pretty empty. People are most likely recovering from last night’s activities.

As we walk down the stairs to the front door, I spy Megan sitting in the front room. I quickly throw my hand up to stop Kara from walking and turn us around. I don’t even look back, praying that she didn’t see me. I lead us out a back entrance, and when I see the walkway is clear, we both sprint to Ari’s house at full speed.

The lights are off in his high-peaked home, so instead of barging in, I knock on the front door. I can’t shake the feeling that someone is watching us, so as we stand on the front stoop, I keep glancing around, left to right, making sure we’re alone. Ari doesn’t answer, so I knock a few more times until I’m sure he’s really not home.

Right as I’m about to suggest we just leave and find Professor Onassis, the door swings open, but it’s not Ari. It’s Magdelina.

“What do you want?” Her voice has a depressing twinge to it like she’s annoyed with us.
 

“Where is he?” I’m about to lunge for her throat, but Kara clings to my arm, holding me back. She shoots me a glance that I know means to calm myself, but my heart beats out of my chest in anger.

“He’s a bit indisposed at the moment.” She gives me this knowing smile. She quirks her head to the side, and her little pointed fingers tap on the door frame.
 

I study her, looking up and down, and she doesn’t look like she just had sex. She has on a sweater and some blue leggings. The way the tight clothing hugs her body makes her look like a goddess—which I guess she is. But not a goddess who just got it on.

“I need him. Now.” I refuse to move from my spot.

“Sorry. I’ll have him call you later.” She attempts to shut the door, but I’m not giving up. I reach out and hold it open so she can’t shut it. She pushes against me, but I don’t budge—even a centimeter. Apparently, I’m stronger, because she gives up and moves aside so I can walk inside. I look behind me and grab Kara’s hand, bringing her in with me.

“Ari!” I yell out into the house. I hear a bang upstairs and then his feet clomping down the stairs, so I know he’s coming. His beautiful face comes into my view, but I’m not even noticing that. He’s not wearing a shirt at all. Around his waist, a loose towel hangs low—that doesn’t leave much to the imagination. I openly stare at him, because slowly, with each step he takes towards me, he stomps all over my heart.

“What are you doing here, Eury?” He approaches me but I don’t want his touch. I step back and gain a confused look.

“I just need a second of your time,” I tell him, trying to act businesslike. I know if I let my emotions take over, I’ll completely collapse, and with Kara and Magdelina here, I don’t want that. So I put up my wall and pretend I don’t care what Ari does.

“What’s going on?” Ari looks between all three of us.

“Can we talk alone?” I ask him, gesturing to go into the living room.

“Of course,” he says and then leads Kara and me into the room. “Hold on.” We’re left alone as he exits the way we came in. Kara leans her head on my shoulder and wraps one of her arms around me. I don’t know whether she’s doing it so she can feel comfort or for me, but it doesn’t matter. It makes me feel better just knowing that she’s supporting me.

Ari, fully dressed, comes back in the room, but his demeanor is broken. He sits on the couch across from Kara and me and then waits for me to talk.
 

“Kara was attacked last night. He went for her neck like the other girl who was killed. I think it’s related.” I reach for Kara and pull her scarf off so Ari can see the bruises.

“Holy shit,” Ari exclaims. He reaches over and lightly touches them before running his hand through his hair. “Who knows about this?” Ari’s eyes drill into my very soul.
 

“Nobody. We don’t trust anyone.” I make sure not to say we trust him, because right now, I don’t know what to think.
 

“Good.” He pauses to think. “Where did this happen?”
 

“The woods. We were having a bonfire last night and then she went missing. Ollie, Junior, and I were in my dorm room, and she just came in, not remembering anything. It was like she was brainwashed or something,” I add in Ollie’s name hoping to get a reaction from Ari, but if he has one, he doesn’t broadcast it.

“Damn it, Eury.” He jumps up and starts pacing the house. “You can’t just go out in the middle of the night like that. It’s not safe.”
 

“Well, you never said that. I don’t know what’s going on.”
 

“We don’t even know why the attacks are happening. Just stay inside and obey the damn curfew,” he huffs out.
 

“Whatever. This was a mistake.” I stand and start to leave. I bend down to help Kara back up so we can leave. Ari’s of no help, and Kara needs support right now. I refasten the scarf around her neck and then we turn to leave. Ari stops me at the front door and grabs my wrist from behind. “Get off me!” I yell at him.