Page 177 of Deviant

“Well, I love her. Best get used to her.”

But just as the words leave her mouth, it dawns on Rowen that I don’t have to get used to anyone. Because maybe in a week or two, Harper might not even be alive.

“Hey, why don’t we find a quiet corner and make out a little. I bet you never did that in high school,” I tease, needing her to think about anything other than the impending death of our friends.

She gives me a noncommittal nod and lets me grab her hand to pull her inside. Her mind is still troubled when we hear Harper call out to us from the back of the large room.

“Guys! Over here! Come check this out!”

I give Rowen’s hand a little squeeze as I lead her to where Andy, Harper, and Abigail are all staring at a large wall full of golden plaques.

“What is it?” Abigail asks curiously, running her fingers over one of the plaques in the first row.

1931 – Duncan Wilson – Chosen

Abigail reads the curious description aloud. “I wonder what it means?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” Harper claps in excitement. “We just found the records of every person who ever wonThe Scourge.It just has to be.”

“I think you’re right, babe. Look,” Andy says before pointing to one of the plaques further down the line.

2022 – Lewis Clarkson – Chosen

“We all know that Lewis must have won that year because his whole family just up and left town in the middle of the night. You only do that if one of your family members winsThe Scourge.That’s the only way anyone can leave Blackwater Falls,” Andy adds, just as excited. “This must be The Scourge’s Winner’s Wall.”

“Something isn’t adding up, though.” Harper chews on her lip suspiciously.

“What do you mean?” Rowen asks, sounding just as interested as our friends are with the wall.

“Look for yourself,” Harper says, pointing to the name a few rows down from Duncan Wilson.

1937 – Patrick Murdoch – Volunteer

Rowen’s back visibly stiffens while Harper starts reading row after row of names, all with the word volunteer attached to them.

“It continues like this until the early nineteen-fifties, each name tagged as avolunteer,and then suddenly it stops, and the wordchosenbegins to pop up again. From what I can see, not many volunteers show up after that,” Harper muses, her eyes glued to each plaque.

“Does that mean that people actually volunteered forThe Scourge?”Abigail asks, confused, obviously trying to piece the puzzle together like Andy and Harper are doing. “Why would someone willingly put themselves through that?”

“Who knows why people do what they do?” Harper shrugs as she continues to read each plaque on the wall. “Greed. Desperation. Boredom. Your guess is as good as mine.” But just as she gets to the last few rows, she stops. “Shit.”

“What? What is it, babe?” Andy asks her as Harper quickly turns her back to the wall, covering it from our view.

“Nothing. On second thought, maybe it’s time that we left. Seven is bound to catch on sooner or later that her key has gone missing. Best not to be here when she starts looking for it.”

“You’re acting weird,” Abigail utters what we are all thinking.

“Am I? Must be the heat. Are you guys hot? It’s boiling in here, isn’t it? We should really talk to Henry about that. I mean, it is October, for crying out loud.”

“Babe, you’re starting to freak me out.” Andy frowns worriedly.

But while all of us stare at Harper like she’s lost her marbles, Rowen doesn’t look at all surprised.

“You’re hiding something,” she says, eyeing her friend suspiciously. “Something that you saw on those plaques spooked you. Am I right? What did you see? Tell us.”

“Rowen,” Harper pleads. “Remember that time you told me that ignorance is bliss? Trust me when I tell you it is. You don’t want to see this. Just trust me, okay?”

When I see Rowen wavering, preferring to trust that her friend has her best interest in mind, I step in the way.

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