Page 19 of Dig Your Grave

She offered a benign, practiced smile.“I heard about your roommate.Toccara, was it?Such a tragedy.I’m sure you’re struggling, especially since the Dean is so strict about rule infractions.”She paused, letting the sympathy soak in.“But you should know, I can be a friend if you need help.”

My mind whirred with the knowledge that she was more than just the Dean’s daughter.Anubis had let slip that Sophie was an important figure in the Skulls’ initiation this year.Possibly the one orchestrating the humiliations that nearly got me expelled.

I forced a neutral smile.“Thanks.I…really appreciate your concern.”

She lowered her voice, leaning in.“Look, Edenvane isn’t always easy for students from less privileged backgrounds.The way some Houses operate can be cutthroat.If you ever feel alone, like no one understands, I’d be happy to advocate for you, maybe lessen your strikes.We can negotiate.”

That last word,negotiate, made me stiffen.I realized it was the same kind of manipulation the ledger described, offer a hand, then demand loyalty.Her glacial blue eyes stared into mine, unwavering, as if daring me to object.

“I’ll keep that in mind,” I managed, tucking a strand of green hair behind my ear.

She gave a brisk nod, glancing at her phone.“In fact, how about meeting me for coffee tonight?You know the cafe near the art building?We could chat about your future.I suspect you want to stay at Edenvane, maybe ascend into the real circles of influence, yes?”

Her directness stunned me.She was basically offering me a seat at the table, or at least a chance at one, in exchange for some unspoken favor.

The question hung like a noxious cloud.Ascend into the real circles?

My mind flashed to Anubis’ words: “She wants me to fail.”She wanted me out of the picture so she could claim her place beside him.Or maybe she wanted me close to better control me.

I forced a bright, superficial smile.“Coffee sounds great.Text me the time?”

Her lips curved with satisfaction as we exchanged numbers.“You won’t regret it.I’ll see you then.”

She rose and swept off, the click of her heels echoing across the quad.I watched her stride away with the kind of confidence that came from a lifetime of zero consequences.My appetite vanished.

A wave of anxiety coiled in my gut.Here was the Dean’s daughter, a prospective queen of the Skulls, actively courting me.A part of me wanted to run to Anubis and ask what the hell was going on.Another part of me was tempted to play along, see how far this invitation led, maybe glean more intel that could help me unravel the mystery of Toccara’s death.The truth of the skulls.

My phone buzzed, yanking my attention away from Sophie’s retreating form.A text from an unknown number:

Boat House.5 PM.Don’t forget.—A.

I swallowed.Had Anubis gotten my number from Sophie?The day was shaping up to be a twisted dance between two powers that might tear me apart if I wasn’t careful.

My break ended quickly, and I hustled back to the library.When my shift ended I went to class, but I only had two classes this day.Grateful for the free afternoon, I decided to pop by the Howler’s office to check in with Harry.If I was going to wade deeper into this fiasco, I should probably keep him informed, at least partially.

The Howler’s office was tucked in the Journalism building, a space that used to be a janitorial closet judging by its cramped size and lingering smell of bleach.The walls were plastered with front pages from decades past, plus random protest flyers, half of them referencing administrative censorship.A couple of staff writers typed away on battered laptops, ignoring me as I slipped inside.

Harry Hadley’s door was open.I found him hunched over a desk, munching on an energy bar while flipping through proofs.

He glanced up.“Suede,” he said, motioning me in.“You have something for me?”

I gently shut the door behind me.“Maybe.I found references that confirm the Skulls are real and connected to powerful alumni.But it’s…risky.People have died.”

Harry’s eyebrows shot up.“Died?You mean Toccara?”

I nodded.“And others.The official line is always suicide or accident, but…” I trailed off.“I’m not ready to go on record with everything yet.It’s bigger than I realized.”

He pressed his lips together.“You know how major this is, right?We’re not just talking about hazing and secret scary initiations.This is a conspiracy that runs deeper.If you think we can break it?”

“Wait,” I said, heart pounding.“I’m nowhere near ready to break it.These people have infinite resources, Harry.I don’t want to be the next one found floating in that river.”

He grimaced.“I get it.But we’re the Howler.Exposing injustice is our job.Let’s do it carefully.See if you can gather evidence we can publish without naming sources.Enough to force some changes or investigations.Get some whistleblowers who can confirm what you’ve found.”

My mind churned.If I tried to blow the whistle right now, I’d be slamming the door on any potential alliances with Anubis.Also, the Skulls would see me as a direct threat.I remembered Sophie’s chilling calm and how easily she might ruin me.She was the Dean’s daughter.My scholarship could evaporate in a heartbeat.

Harry must have noticed my hesitation.He leaned forward.“Look, Suede, I know it’s scary.But we need at least a draft.By next week, we’re running a feature on ‘Edenvane’s Underbelly.’If you can provide a piece, anonymous if you prefer, touching on the rumored suicides and the clandestine influence, we’ll prime the campus to start asking questions.No direct accusations, but a strong insinuation.Let them feel the heat.”

I swallowed, the weight of it crushing me.A single article could be the spark that sets a wildfire.But if done poorly, it might blow up in my face.“I’ll try,” I said at last.“No guarantees.I’m still not sure I can produce enough proof to avoid it just sounding like tabloid rumors.”

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