Page 71 of Dig Your Grave

Once logged in, we checked email and various safe channels.I typed a note to Kate, explaining the threat and the dawn meet:

“Kate, they threatened my mom.Must meet them at an old chapel near Boathouse at dawn tomorrow.Possibly new Skulls faction.Send help or lay a trap?Not sure.We need your advice.—Suede.”

I clicked send, praying it went through.Next, we found a contact form for the local police’s tip line.We typed:

“Re: Toccara murder, the Skulls.Urgent meeting at the old chapel behind Edenvane Boathouse, dawn tomorrow.Suggest covert presence.Danger high.Signed, Concerned Students.”

Anubis hovered at my shoulder, nodding.“We’re not giving away our identity, but hopefully the cops might keep an eye out.If they’re serious about investigating.”

We browsed news sites.A wave of shock rippled through me to see headlines referencing “Mystery Group Exposed at Elite College,” “Dean Under Scrutiny Over Famed Student Death.”Some sites used the word “cult.”Others cast doubt.But the conversation was out in the open now, no longer a rumor.

Apparently, Toccara’s millions of Instagram followers had been demanding justice.News outlets were hungry for a story.Being busy infiltrating the skulls, I’d had little time for social media, so it was an angle I hadn’t considered, but was to our great benefit.

Anubis clicked an article from a local paper:

“Police sources confirm arrest of several suspected ‘Skull Society’ members.Dean of Edenvane denies wrongdoing, cites external agitators.Student activists claim to have leaked documents proving the group’s role in sabotage and intimidation.Osiris Edenvane’s whereabouts unknown.”

He exhaled, skimming.“It’s happening.The world knows.My father probably fled the country.”

My throat went dry.“But knowledge alone won’t stop them from retaliating, or from harming my mom.”

We shared a weighted silence.The library’s overhead lights buzzed.At least we weren’t alone in the dark anymore.The Skulls couldn’t hide behind secrecy like before.

I checked my new email again.A reply from Kate:

Kate:

“I can mobilize the Undercurrent.Some detective is open-minded, but not all cops are.If we can’t arrive in time, be cautious.Cameras capturing them meeting you might help.Stay hidden until then.Will try to find your mom’s location to protect her.—K.”

My eyes teared up.“Kate’s trying to keep my mom safe.Thank God.”

Anubis read over my shoulder, then gently squeezed my arm.“That’s something.So maybe they can intercept the watchers or the new faction’s move.”

I typed a brief response, telling her we’d remain in hiding until dawn, then attempt the meet.No immediate response.Enough for now.

We exchanged looks of mutual exhaustion.“We have the rest of the day and tonight,” I said quietly.“We can’t go back to the caretaker’s cottage or the dorm.Another motel?”

Anubis frowned, scanning his phone’s battery.“We have limited cash.My accounts might be frozen if my father is threatened.We can try a cheaper place or crash somewhere else.Maybe we stash ourselves in the city until the morning.”

I nodded, lips pressed together.“Yes.We need to be invisible until dawn.Then we see if the cops or the Undercurrent can help us corner these new-order Skulls.”

Yet a shard of dread whispered:What if no one shows?What if the watchers kill us on sight?But I couldn’t voice it, not when we were so close to possibly freeing ourselves.

We lingered in the library for a while, reading updates, half-dozing in the reading chairs.Eventually, near closing time, we decided to slip out.The cool late-afternoon air greeted us, the sun dipping low in the sky.Another day nearly gone.

Anubis flagged a taxi on the street, and we found a cheap motel deeper in the city.This one was even seedier than Redwood Inn, but it took cash, no ID required.We hunkered in the small room, hearts heavy with anticipation.

The hours crawled.We dozed in shifts, fearful of watchers busting in.My mind reeled with the possibilities of tomorrow’s confrontation.Would the new Skulls faction come armed?Could we actually get out of this unscathed?What about the gene therapy formula?

At some point, we found ourselves sitting on the bed, side by side, the only light coming from the neon motel sign blinking outside the window.I rested my head on Anubis’ shoulder, inhaling his familiar scent.Despite everything, a hush of comfort settled over us.

“It’s almost over,” he murmured, voice rough with fatigue.“One way or another.”

I wrapped an arm around his waist, pressing closer.“I keep thinking about Toccara,” I said softly.“I wish she could see this.I wish I could apologize for not saving her sooner.”

“You tried,” he whispered back.“You exposed the system that killed her.That might be the best justice we can give.”

A tear traced my cheek.“And the brand on my shoulder, the pain, it reminds me I’m not free yet.But maybe soon.With you.”

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