Page 81 of Dig Your Grave

Chapter 31

The day of my official Howler interview arrived with a swirl of nerves.Kate arranged for a private interview space in the Journalism building, complete with cameras for a video segment.Anubis and I had hammered out what we’d share, decided on a direct, honest approach.Well, as honest as we could be, and also keep it PG.

We walked in to find Kate setting up a small ring light and adjusting a microphone stand.She greeted us with a wide grin.“You ready for your close-up?”

I forced a smile.“As ready as I’ll ever be.”

She directed us to two chairs positioned side by side.The background was a simple black curtain.We’re about to put our faces on record forever, again.And maybe if our story is out there.All the blackmail the Skulls still had on Anubis could be explained away if it ever came to light.

Kate sat across from us, phone in hand.“We’ll do about twenty minutes of recorded interview.I’ll transcribe for the written article, and we’ll keep an edited video version.If you want to stop at any time, just say so.”

Anubis and I exchanged a glance.He threaded his fingers through mine.“Let’s do it,” he murmured.

Kate hit record, smiling warmly.“Hi, I’m Kate from the Howler, here with two central figures in the Edenvane ‘Skulls’ revelations.Thank you both for speaking with me today.Let’s start with introductions.”

The camera whirred softly.My heart hammered, but I pressed forward.“I’m Suede Divore, a scholarship student.My involvement with the Skulls began as soon as I arrived on campus, though I didn’t know it at the time.They… singled me out.”

Anubis took a breath.“I’m Anubis Edenvane.My family’s legacy founded this place, but I discovered the Skulls’ secrets as a kid, then got pulled in fully last semester.It nearly destroyed me, but it also led me to Suede, and we fought back.”

Kate nodded.“Let’s talk about Toccara first—why is her story so important?”

I swallowed, emotion thickening my voice.“She was a bright influencer, my roommate, who uncovered things she shouldn’t have.They threatened her, orchestrated her death, and called it a suicide.No one believed me at first.”I blinked back tears.“But Toccara’s life mattered.She deserved justice.”

Kate’s expression softened.“You found evidence she was murdered.That ended up sparking the entire investigation?”

“Yes.”I gripped Anubis’ hand.“Along with help from the Undercurrent, we leaked logs, videos, and confessions.The watchers who carried out the intimidation have been arrested.The Dean is awaiting trial for her involvement.”

Kate turned to Anubis.“You were effectively a ‘prince’ of Edenvane, set to inherit power.Why risk it all to expose the Skulls?”

He exhaled, voice tight with underlying anger.“Because I saw how they ruined people, pushed them to the river, killed them, forced brandings, manipulated students to do their dirty deeds.When Suede was threatened, that was it.I refused to uphold a system of violence.My family name is worthless if it’s stained with blood.”

The interview went on, Kate asking about the infiltration of library security, the forced sabotage tasks, the brand.We revealed enough details to paint a chilling picture, but not every explicit trauma.By the end, tears shone in Kate’s eyes.She cut the recording, exhaling shakily.

“Thanks,” she whispered, clearing her throat.“That was… intense.”

I wiped my own teary eyes.“We want it out there, so no one else has to go through it.”

She nodded, pulling us into a quick group hug.“We’ll publish next week, front page.The campus, and maybe the country, will read your words.”

The gravity of it struck me anew.We’re truly out in the open now.

That weekend, I found myself pacing my dorm room, nerves gnawing.Anubis and I had plans for dinner, but he’d been vague about the details.I hadn’t even shown him my new outfit, an emerald-green wrap dress, simple but flattering.

He texted:

Anubis:

“Meet me at the caretaker’s cottage site at 8 p.m.Trust me.”

The caretaker’s cottage site?The building itself had been sealed off as evidence, then rumored to be torn down.Why there?

Confusion and anticipation swirled.I grabbed a light jacket, slipping it over my dress, and headed out.The campus was quiet in the twilight, the sky a canvas of oranges and purples.My footsteps echoed on the cobblestone walk leading to the familiar clearing where the caretaker’s cottage once stood.

To my surprise, the building was gone, demolished, leaving a patch of level dirt and caution tape.But a small candlelit table stood in the middle of that patch, draped with a white cloth.Fairy lights twinkled around the perimeter, casting soft glows.

My breath caught.Anubis emerged from behind a tall standing lamp, wearing a tailored black suit, hair neatly brushed back.A pang of emotion stabbed me at seeing him in such a romantic setup.

“Suede,” he greeted softly, stepping forward to guide me to the table.“I know it’s strange, having dinner at a demolition site, but I thought… we made so many memories here, forging our alliance in the caretaker’s cottage.I wanted to say goodbye to it in a better way.”

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