Page 17 of That's Too Pucking Bad

I blink, glancing at Maya. “What the actual fuck is this?”

Maya’s grinning like a cat who’s caught a mouse. “The Reapers is a... club, of sorts. Power, wealth, connections. Every guy on campus wants in, but not everyone gets to join.”

I look back at the men on the stairs, my mind racing. “Who the hell are the guys in the masks?”

Maya zips her lips and winks. “Can’t tell you that. But don’t worry. Just enjoy the show.”

The guy in the red mask continues speaking, something about tradition and honor, but I’m barely listening. My mind’s too busy trying to make sense of all this. Is this some kind of secret society?

The music kicks back in, and the room springs to life again. People start dancing, laughing, like the whole masked man thing didn’t just happen. I stand there, sipping my champagne and trying to process.

Maya nudges me, a mischievous look on her face. “What do you think?”

“I think this is insane,” I admit, still glancing around the room like I’m waiting for something even crazier to happen.

“Welcome to Blackridge,” she says with a grin, clinking her glass against mine. “Things are only going to get weirder from here.”

I take another sip of champagne, letting the bubbles fizz against my tongue. “You’re loving this, aren’t you?”

Maya shrugs. “Maybe. But come on, admit it. You’re a little intrigued.”

I glance back at the staircase, where the masked men have now disappeared into the crowd. “I don’t know. Maybe a little.”

We move further into the room, mingling with the crowd. Maya’s right at home, chatting up people like she knows them, while I hang back, still trying to get a read on the situation.

At some point, Maya grabs my arm and pulls me toward the dance floor. “Come on, you can’t just stand there all night!”

I laugh, letting her drag me into the mass of people. The music is loud, the bass vibrating through the floor. I sway awkwardly at first, but then I start to loosen up, the champagne and the bizarre atmosphere working its magic.

“This is crazy,” I yell over the music, and Maya laughs, spinning me around.

“Isn’t it great?”

I’m starting to enjoy myself, caught up in the strange energy of the party. The dancing, the lights, the music—it’s all so different from anything I’ve ever experienced.

But there’s still this nagging feeling at the back of my mind. Who are the guys in the masks? And why does it feel like there’s more to this party than meets the eye?

Maya’s been cagey all night, and while I trust her, I can’t shake the feeling that there’s something she’s not telling me. Something important.

As I spin around, I catch a glimpse of someone watching me from the edge of the dance floor. He’s tall, dressed in black, and though he’s not wearing a mask, there’s something about him that gives me pause.

Before I can get a better look, Maya pulls me back into the center of the floor, laughing and dancing like we don’t have a care in the world.

And for now, maybe that’s okay.

The music is pulsing through the room, and everyone’s moving to the beat. Lights are flashing, bodies are grinding. It’s chaotic, but in that electrifying way that makes you want to stay lost in it. Maya’s totally into it, laughing as she sways. That’s when the guy in the black mask walks over, like he owns the place, and he grabs her waist.

“Hey beautiful,” he says, spinning her to face him.

“Heyyou.”Maya replies. They start dancing, and for a second, I just watch. The way they move is erotic. He is pulling her against him, one of his hands on the back of her neck.

Maya’s hands are fisting the lapels of his coat.

I watch for a good three minutes then I feel a bit out of place. The party is wild, and it’s like everyone’s in on some secret but me. I lean in closer, “Maya, I think I’m going to get some air.”

She’s distracted, eyes on Black Mask Guy as he pulls her in tighter. Caleb’s voice, unmistakable, slips out from beneath the mask, “Don’t worry,Little Remy.I’m thinking of taking Maya upstairs. You can find us in twenty.”

Maya stops and pulls away slightly. “No, I don’t want to leave Remy alone.”

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