Page 20 of Terror Tuesday
Oz has moved on to stealing sips from my energy drink on the nightstand like he pays rent. “If you die before me, I’m auctioning off this room. Gonna call it the Cult Cradle.”
“Touch anything in here, and I’ll replace your blood with coolant,” I say, tapping away at the keys.
He grins like that’s a compliment. “Freakin’ love when you talk nerdy.”
Apollo lifts an eyebrow at me. “Get to the meeting and out of this cave. Stretch your legs. Haunt someone in person for once.”
To anyone else, a command from theDeltapresident would stick. But because of who my father is, that role was supposed tobe mine. No way in hell did I want the responsibility. Let alone showing my face… talking to people…
In classes, yes—I’m unmasked. But I never speak. Never stay long. Everywhere else? It’s mask time.
Teachers, staff, the higher-ups, they all know who I am by name. But I keep to myself. Sit in corners. No one notices. Even eradicated my own student ID pictures from the servers. Never to be found again.
I’m a ghost. Just the way I like it. And Apollo understands why.
We both know what we did to get him the presidency so that I could avoid it.He doesn’t have money or a bloodline. It wasn’t pretty. But after our little task, we were bonded for life. Now I do whatever the fuck I want, and my best friend—my only friend—lets it slide.
“I’m busy,” I tell him.
“Busy watching Olivia sleep?”
My hand stills on the keyboard as my tongue finds its way into my cheek.
Oz spins once more. “See?Twitchy.Told you.”
“Jesus,” I mutter. “You guys are the worst.”
Apollo shrugs. “She’sTheta-adjacent. Cardell’s sister. You know that’s useful.”
“I’m not using her.”
“I didn’t sayyou had to feel goodabout it.”
Oz stretches, shirt riding up just enough to show the carved V-line he absolutely knows he has. Typical sophomore—cocky, irreverent, and testing every boundary Apollo sets. “I still think she’s cute. The wholesome ones usually have the freakiest porn searches.”
“I’m ignoring that,” I say as I delete a string of code with extra aggression.
Apollo leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees again. “Just think about what we could do if we broughtThetadown. You’d be saving her.Andcracking the whole fucking hierarchy.”
“You think she’s a Trojan horse.”
“I think she’s already inside the gates. And you’re the only one paying attention.”
I don’t say it out loud, but the idea of Olivia alone in a room with Cardell’s kind makes my stomach twist. If I’m watching, at least I’ll know she’s safe. Or know who to kill. A long beat passes. I don’t look at them. But I grab my mask and slide it on.
“I’ll go.”
Oz whistles again. “Damn. He’s putting on the mask. Shit’s about to get ceremonial.”
Apollo smirks, finishing his protein bar. “Terror Tuesday just got interesting.”
DeltaPi Alpha’ssecluded meeting room smells of cedar and smoke—like old money trying to hide its rot. I adjust the mask, my eyes sweeping across the faces already in place. New initiates. Old families. Power shifting hands with every glance.
I hate this part. My skin itches just sitting near so many people.Brothers.You’d think growing up as the oldest of three brothers and two sisters would make this easier. It doesn’t.
Greek Life at Northview isn’t keg stands and secret handshakes—it’s sacrifice. Blood contracts disguised as tradition.
Delta Pi Alphaisn’t just another fraternity. You join knowing you’ll leave tainted with your hands dirty and scars stitched into your soul. We run espionage ops and handle chaos that the university can’t publicly endorse.
