Page 5 of Snitches and Serpents

Panic crackles through me like a lightning bolt.

Groceries.

I have forgotten to buy groceries.

There is a fridge and two freezers back at our house, but we don’t share food. We only share the space it is stored in. Everyone buys what they themselves plan on eating.

“You haven’t bought groceries?” Brandi asks, turning to look at me with raised eyebrows.

Coldness spreads through my chest and my stomach turns. Publicly admitting that I failed at something makes me physically ill.

“No,” I manage to press out. “I meant to do that earlier today but I just… forgot.”

“It’s not the end of the world,” Mei says. She’s one of the more senior girls in the sorority, and she gives me a smile as if she truly means what she said.

But she’s wrong. It is the end of the world. A mistake like this will make them all think that I’m irresponsible or lazy or forgetful. Or all of the above. Especially when it happened this early in our new friendship.

“Exactly,” Brandi fills in. “The shops are open for another two hours, so you still have plenty of time for that. You have a car, right?”

“Yes,” I reply, still feeling that panic slither through my stomach like cold snakes.

“And you know where the grocery store is?”

“Yes.”

Mei studies my face with kind eyes. “Do you want me to go with you?”

I force myself to smile while quickly shaking my head. “No, no, it’s quite alright. Please don’t trouble yourself for my sake.” Before either of them can protest, I start walking in the direction of the parking lot while calling, “I’ll just drive over there quickly and then I’ll see you back at the house.”

They call out acknowledgements and goodbyes.

My heart hammers against my ribs as I walk towards the parking lot.

How could I have made such a stupid mistake? I have barely been in this city more than a week, and I have already demonstrated my incompetence to the group of people who will be watching me most closely.

I shake my head at myself as I close the distance to my car.

Perhaps I should make everyone breakfast tomorrow? That way I can hopefully make them forget about this little mishap and create a better first impression.

Reaching into my purse, I pull out my car keys and unlock the car.

Surprise pulses through me when I don’t hear the familiar click of the doors unlocking. But the lights flashed. Which means that I must have forgotten to lock my car this morning.

Dread and panic wash over me like cold water.

God, I have only been here a little over a week and I’m already messing up all the time.

I could’ve sworn that I locked the car, but obviously I didn’t. And I reminded myself to get groceries, but I obviously forgot that too. I really need to pull myself together.

Once more shaking my head at myself, I open the door and slide into the car. After putting my purse on the passenger seat, I buckle my seatbelt and stick the key into the ignition.

Rope flashes before my eyes.

I gasp as it’s suddenly pulled tightly against my throat.

Yanking my hands up, I try to pry it off me or get my fingers between the rope and my skin.

“Don’t,” a dark voice warns from right behind me.

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