Page 66 of Dig Your Grave

They stepped aside, clearly expecting us to comply.Anubis met my gaze, silent understanding passing between us.We were cornered like frightened foxes in a hound’s trap.We had no choice but to follow.The watchers parted, escorting us out under the thinning night sky.

They marched us across campus, deserted except for flickering lampposts.The horizon stained purple with the first hints of sunrise.My brand throbbed again, as if anticipating the final blow.

At Eden Hall, my old dorm, ironically known as the “slums” of campus, a ring of robed figures stood in the center courtyard under a single lamppost’s glow.More watchers ringed the perimeter, ensuring no interruptions.

One figure stepped forward.The same robed man from the crypt, who had supervised our branding.Next to him stood Sophie’s mother, the Dean, face carved with cold fury.Sophie herself was absent, still recovering, presumably.

The robed man’s voice boomed.“Captain Edenvane.Nubia.You stand accused of subverting Skulls’ interests, of feeding false leads and blocking deeper infiltration at the library, and of fraternizing with outside agitators, like the Howler and the so-called Undercurrent.”

My pulse raced.They had evidence?Maybe watchers or security logs.Or a second infiltration of the library’s systems.

Anubis steadied himself, fists clenched at his sides.“We’ve been loyal, completed tasks as ordered.This is baseless.”

The Dean sneered.“Don’t play coy, son.We know you’ve withheld valuable data.You gave us partial sabotage, not full control.Your casket,” he spat, looking at me, “clearly assisted you in this deception.”

Hearing the Dean call me a “casket”, that demeaning Skulls term for a novice partner, made my blood boil.But I forced composure.“We did everything you asked.It’s not our fault the library system wasn’t fully open to infiltration.”

A murmur of discontent rippled through the circle of robed men and women.The watchers stepped closer, tension crackling in the cold dawn air.

The robed man lifted a hand, silencing them.“Enough.We must decide their fate.”

Anubis shot me a warning glance.We had minimal time or leverage.

Suddenly, a commotion erupted at the courtyard’s edge.Kate emerged from behind a statue, flanked by two masked figures I recognized from the caretaker’s photo collection, older alumni, presumably with the Undercurrent.Security watchers tried to block them, but they refused to retreat.

Kate’s voice rang out, surprisingly bold.“Let them go!We know what you did to Toccara.We have files.”

The robed man roared, “Seize them!This is private business!”

But in that moment’s chaos, alarms beeped from watchers’ phones, some urgent text or online leak.Kate smirked.She’d triggered something.

Anubis grabbed my hand, adrenaline surging.The Dean and the robed man snarled, distracted by the intrusion.A wave of watchers rushed to contain Kate and her companions.Shouts erupted, echoing off the dorm walls.

“Now!”Anubis hissed to me, eyes flashing.We tore free from the circle, sprinting across the courtyard.A few watchers lurched after us, but the scuffle with Kate’s group slowed them.

We bolted down a side path behind Eden Hall, hearts hammering.Orange light bled across the horizon.I heard Kate’s voice shouting, “The truth is out!We have the proof!”The watchers’ shouts mingled with heavy footsteps.

My breath came in ragged gasps.Did the Undercurrent just release our compiled evidence?The text messages, logs, genealogical secrets?Possibly, yes.This was the meltdown moment.The Skulls’ power was about to be challenged in daylight.

Anubis gripped my hand tighter, pulling me onward.“We can’t let them corner us,” he panted.“We have to vanish until the dust settles.”

I nodded, tears stinging.We had no illusions about being safe.The Skulls wouldn’t forgive betrayal.But we had no regrets, Toccara’s justice, our lives, demanded we risk everything.

We dashed around the campus perimeter, merging into the early morning shadows.Sirens wailed in the distance, campus police or ambulance sirens, it was unclear.Possibly the entire campus was about to explode with scandal.

In that breathless run, I clung to Anubis’ hand as though it were the only solid thing in a shifting world.No matter what happens next, we’ve taken our stand.

We collapsed against a low stone wall at the edge of campus, lungs burning.Dawn light bathed the brick buildings in an eerie glow.I fumbled my phone out, expecting furious messages from the Skulls or urgent updates from Kate.Instead, the screen was quiet—no signal or jammed network?

Anubis glanced behind us, scanning for pursuers.“Seems like they’re busy dealing with the Undercurrent’s ambush.”

I nodded, trembling.“Kate might have sacrificed herself to buy us time.”

His eyes darkened with guilt and gratitude.“We’ll find her.Help however we can.”

I brushed a shaky hand over my left shoulder, where the brand still burned beneath the bandage.Bound by blood to a monster of an organization, but we might have helped tear it down from the inside.

“Where do we go now?”I asked, voice quivering with exhaustion.

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