Page 107 of Boys Who Taint

He winks. “See you at the party.”

He struts off like it’s nobody’s business, leaving me wanting to spout steam from my ears like a kettle boiling over.

Grey

I walkinto the Phantom House with five other initiates. From what I’ve heard, they don’t allow many into their ranks. The other guys seem uneasy. Off. As though they’ve never had to face the dark corners of their own depraved minds, but they’ll know if they’re able to hone them after tonight.

I’ve heard stories about these initiations at previous Phantom parties I attended, and they’re not fucking pretty.

In the hallway, a Phantom Society member awaits us. “Welcome, pledges. My name is Talon Landon. As of today, you will be initiated into the Phantom Society. If you do not follow our protocol, your application will be terminated.”

And your life.

But they don’t say that part out loud.

“Here are some of our ground rules. Whatever happens here tonight, you will repeat to no one.”

I swallow at the warning while another guy begins chewing his nails.

“Obey the house leader. That’s currently Apollo Torres. Phantoms first. That means anywhere, everywhere, all the time. We protect each other at all costs, and no Phantom will ever hurt another Phantom. You do what you’re told, no matter theconsequence. The Phantom Society, in return, will protect you. Our alums are among the country’s most well-known CEOs, as well as many major stars, and they all took part in this same initiation you’re about to endure. Take heed. This is not for the faint-hearted. What you’re about to do may be considered wrong, heinous, illegal.”

A pledge beside me gulps.

“This is your last chance to exit this house and keep your soul. If you continue, your soul joins the Phantoms for life.” Talon smiles, his dark skin glistening in the single light illuminating these halls. “Now choose.”

One of the pledges panics and turns around, bolting through the door.

“Good choice,” Talon muses. “But the rest of you know where you belong.”

Apollo steps down the stairs, clapping his hands and only stopping once he reaches the floor. A bunch more men appear from different rooms to surround us, and in their hands are several ropes and jute bags. “I’m impressed so many of you made it this far.” He claps his hands together and doesn’t let them go. “And now the real fun begins.”

Within a second, a jute bag is pulled over my head and tightened at the neck, while my arms are tightly grasped together and bound. Someone squeals as we’re pushed and shoved out the door and into a van, where we’re all lined up and told to sit.

“Stay quiet.” Apollo slaps the van. “Let’s go!”

The drive feels long, and I have no clue where we’re going, but I can already smell the piss from another pledge. Guess some are no match for whatever it is they want us to experience.

When the van finally stops, we’re dragged out and pushed into a line again.

“Walk inside. Slowly.”

Without sight, it’s hard to orient, so I listen to the sounds around me. We’re guided like prisoners into some kind of hollow space. I can tell because their voices echo.

“Where are we?” a pledge mutters.

“A place no one sees alive unless you’re a goddamn Phantom.” I recognize Apollo’s voice.

The guy in front of me audibly sucks in some air.

“Stop.”

We all stop walking and wait.

Something makes an odd buzzing sound in the back, and then suddenly, an electrical jolt is applied to my back.

I bend over and groan in pain. That felt like someone just sliced me with electricity.

“Stand up straight,” someone barks.

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