Page 10 of Dig Your Grave

“They raped me,” he admitted, sucking on the scotch like it was a pacifier.

That word rang in my ears.Wobbling, I shut my eyes.While my head was spinning, he mentioned initiation, a word that hung between us like a dark cloud.

Suddenly, a horn sounded in the distance.Anubis’ expression changed, torn between fear and joy.He took my hand, and we were running like our lives depended on it, zooming through the trees.His grip was firm, almost desperate, and I struggled to keep up with his pace.

My heart felt like it would explode from the potent mix of fear and adrenaline streaming through me.We were running like deer, not sure what we were running from, only that we must run.But then, bam, we couldn’t go any further.A group of hooded men surrounded us.Just like the men from my nightmares, the black robes seemed to make their faces disappear.

They handed us shovels with a chilling command.“Dig your grave.”

I dropped the shovel in shock, only for one of them to pick it up and thrust it back into my sweaty hands.Anubis remained silent, his expression unreadable.He started digging.

When he finally spoke, his voice was steady.“Dig.You won’t survive if you don’t.”

My heavy panting echoed in the still night as the icy breeze pricked my skin.The sound of our shovels scraping against the earth was unnervingly rhythmic, each scoop of dirt a step closer to the unknown.Anubis’ face was stoic, his movements mechanical.The moonlight cast eerie shadows over his features, reminding me he was the bad guy.

We barely scratched the surface before uncovering a piece of plywood.Anubis lifted it, exposing a deep grave beneath.Without hesitation, he jumped down, and before I could process what was happening, I was pushed in after him.I landed awkwardly on top of him, the wind knocked out of me.We were in a heap, six feet under.They replaced the plywood slab above us, plunging us into complete darkness.

Trapped in that grave atop Anubis, the certainty of our situation sank in.This wasn’t some nightmare.Panic took over.

But then Anubis’ voice broke through the darkness.“It’s part of the initiation.Trust me.”

“Initiation?”I parroted him.

“I have to,” he insisted, his voice full of resignation.“I have to take your virginity down here.”

“The hell you will,” I challenged automatically, my voice echoing oddly in the confined space.

“It’s the Skull Society,” he whispered, as if the very name could summon them, even down here.“I don’t have a choice.I’ve inherited it but know little about it.You saw that party the other night.Isn’t that the life you want to have?”

His question caught me off guard.The luxury, the recklessness had an allure, undeniably.But at what cost?

“No,” I decided.

“Then why are you here at Edenvane?”

“So, I can get a degree and make a difference in the world,” I shot back, my resolve hardening.

“There’s power to be had as well.More than you can imagine.”

“But why me?Why here?”I pressed, unable to hide the tremor in my voice.

“They’ll check.”

Having my coochie examined by the members of this secret society filled me with dread.

“Listen, I tried to get rid of you,” he said, his tone shifting to one of cold practicality.

“It was you, the hair and the party?My two strikes?”

“Yes.It wasn’t until you mentioned the Skull Society that it was too late.”

“Too late for what?”

“For you to be expelled.Exempt from this.”

Breathing hard, I could barely take it all in.“Why are you doing this to me?”

“Do you really think I want to be tied to you?You’re a nobody.”His words stung, slicing through the darkness with surgical precision.

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