Page 46 of Rockwell Academy: The Twist

20

LUCA

Afew days have passed since my conversation with Frankie, and we came to an arrangement. He still doesn’t know about my interest in his sister, but he soon will.

Since our date, I have kept my distance from the lady in question. It doesn’t mean I haven’t watched her though and any guy who approaches her is soon made to regret his interest. A dark word in his ear is enough to send him scurrying back to the sidelines with my warning striking fear in his heart. The sooner Summer is known to be my girl, I will have an easier life here.

Tonight I am interested in taking part in the Twist ceremony. I will be dressed as a centurion as I observe from the shadows. Frankie has relaxed enough around me to allow me into his inner circle and, along with Santi and Ali, I am acting as security for the event.

The ceremony is being held in the dungeon. A sinister set of tunnels that runs the entire length of Rockwell Academy underground, which are accessed through an iron door set deep in the woods surrounding the academy. It’s just a good thing I love shit like this.

At eight thirty,we proceed along the route under a blanket of darkness.

As we head inside the dungeon, it’s almost a homecoming. Dark, depressing and threatening. The entire vibe screams horror, and I love it.

Santi whispers as we pass along a corridor, “These cells are where the centurions wait for the challenge to begin. They are locked in and released five minutes after the girls have set off.”

I listen intently because I will be one of those centurions giving chase if everything goes my way and I am impatient to carry out my plan.

We enter a large chamber and Santi heads toward a row of hooks where the cloaks and masks of the centurions are hanging.

“Here.” He tosses one my way and Ali grabs one for himself.

They turn to me and it’s eerie as fuck as they stand shrouded in the dark cloth of a monk’s robe.

The gleaming gold mask rests heavy in my hand and Santi explains, “Ali will take up his usual position by the door and act as a guard, only allowing the participants entry.”

Ali nods. “There are a lot of them tonight. Every single student who took part in the challenge last semester must kneel before Santi, who acts as the master of the ceremony. He will ask them if they wish to stick or twist and they either leave as a couple or leave separately, adding their name to the list for the next set of claiming.”

“It sounds simple.”

My eyes drift to the tunnel set behind the stone altar and Santi grins. “That’s where the challengers set off. They crawl through that tunnel and reach a dead end. There is a loose stonethey must locate and crawl through into another smaller room like this. In there are five tunnels, four of which lead nowhere. The fifth leads to the river and if the challenger wants to escape, they must swim to the other side, unaided to be officially free.”

“Why would anyone do that?” I’m confused. “I mean, surely they entered the challenge to be claimed. It doesn’t make sense.”

“Some back out.” Ali adds. “Reality hits hard when they enter the dungeon and walk past the cells of the silent centurions. It freaks some of the girls out and they want to get the hell out of here.”

“How many backed out?”

I’m interested and Santi shrugs. “Ten, to my knowledge. It’s annoying when it happens because the centurion chasing them is pissed. He came to claim his woman and must move to the back of the line.”

“What if they don’t like their pairing?”

Santi laughs. “It happened—a lot, but under the rules of The Claiming they must make it work. That’s why we have the Twist ceremony. It will be interesting to see who decides to twist tonight.”

I fall silent, my mind working hard. Yes, tonight will be interesting for sure.

My job will beas security, along with Jesse, in the chamber. Frankie and Jack are taking part in the ceremony and I am fascinated by what Frankie created here. It lights a spark in my dark and twisted soul and I imagine pursuing Summer through those tunnels, ripping the head off any guy who tries to get to her before me.

It heats my blood and calls to the animal inside me, and I can’t wait to be the centurion chasing her down. I am beginning to fall in love with Frankie Majerio myself, which causes me to chuckle inside. Who would have thought?

Jesse enters the chamber, and I regard him with interest. He appears on edge and as he grabs his robe from the hook, Santi huffs, “About time, man. Why are you so late?”

“What, are you a teacher now?” he replies with irritation, and Ali chuckles. “You listen a lot to the teachers; don’t you, Jesse?”

“Fuck you.” Jess flips him the bird and Santi shakes his head and groans.

“Please don’t tell me you’re still seeing Miss Sloane.”

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