Page 84 of Tis the Season to be Bullied

Zachary still has a hand in my hair. His tight grip stings, but the ties around my wrists hurt more.

There’s no way in hell I’m giving up on running out of here because he threatened to smack my bottom. Draw me over his knee? He’ll have to fucking catch me first, won’t he? Do they honestly think I didn’t notice how difficult it was for them to get inside this place?

Especially Reuben.

I’ll be out the door before they make it to the stairs.

Except for Apollo, who’s obviously guarding the door upstairs.

But everyone’s on edge right now. It shows in their eyes. I need them to let down their guard. I do my best not to let Zachary in on the fact I’m watching Reuben pouring alcohol into some mismatched tumblers and glasses.

Let them drink and be fucking merry.

Soon as they’re not paying attention, I’m out of here.

Zachary inhales a huge breath. His eyes haven’t left me once since I tried to run out. And that was my first mistake. I should have waited for the right time. But I’d seen this place, and I’d panicked.

Do they sleep in that mess behind the curtain?

Like…together?

It looks more like the kind of playpen you’d have rowdy sex in than somewhere to sleep. And while there aren’t any rats out here, I wouldn’t be surprised if there were fucking snakes in there.

Zachary tugs at the plastic ties around my wrists, and my eyes dart to him.

Was I staring? I’ve got to keep myself in check. I can’t give them even a hint about what I’m thinking.

“What do you want from me?” I ask, hoping to distract him. Hoping to get some actual answers. They owe me that much after what had nearly happened up there. After what they’d nearly done.

Zachary holds out a hand. Cassius—who’d been busy rolling a weed cigarette on a nearby coffee table—looks up like they’d legit had some kind of telepathic conversation. He moves to the bookshelf separating their man cave from the library and opens a tin.

I almost don’t hold my ground when the lamp’s orange glow bounces off the switchblade he hands Zachary.

This is it.

This is why they brought me here.

They’re a bunch of serial killers, aren’t they? They hide out here and carve their way through whatever student they decide no one will miss.

Holy mother of God.

Is that what happened to all those students who Father Gabriel had told me disappeared in the woods?

I’m shivering. My skin is hot and cold at the same time. Zachary is staring at me, but I can’t take my eyes off the switchblade. He drops his hand and flicks it open like a fucking professional.

My stomach drops straight into hell.

His hand darts out. I can already feel the blade sinking into my stomach. My eyes squeeze shut on instinct, and then flutter open a second later when there’s no immediate pain.

He flicks the blade through my ties, releasing me.

My fingers tremble as I massage life back into my wrist.

Thank the Lord.

This will make it so much easier to escape.

He clicks his fingers as he points at the sofa furthest from the exit. “Sit.”

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