Page 62 of Kingston
Bitch, get the fuck out before we make
you hurt so bad you’ll regret ever setting
foot in this house
THIRTY-TWO
ELLIOT
This is easilythe creepiest place I’ve ever been in my entire life. All three SUVs pull up outside what can only be described as a godforsaken abandoned house. At one time, it may have been a stately Southern manor, but now it’s a crumbling disaster. It could easily pass for a haunted house with the broken windowpanes and filthy grime coating the exterior.
I glance out the window, not liking what I see. We’re in the middle of nowhere, woods surrounding us. The drive to the house had been up a gravel road that was more like tracks as it’s completely overgrown with weeds. The lawn around the house is much the same. High grass and weeds abound. Vines crawl up the columns of the wraparound porch, its wood steps dilapidated at best, possibly bordering on dangerous. Clearly no one maintains this property anymore. What the hell are we doing here? I feel like I’ve been dropped into an episode of someFear Factor-type reality show.
Because I have no doubt I’m going to be expected to do something inside this freaky place. The only question is what? I can suck it up and deal with most anything—at least I think so. And thanks to Dane, I should be able to pull off staying awake all night. I’ll be fine.
I have to keep reminding myself it’ll be okay or I’m going to wig out.
Kingston eyes me in the rearview mirror from the driver’s seat. “What’s wrong, initiate? Scared?” The gravel in his voice hits me directly in the solar plexus. He hasn’t spoken to me at all since he kissed the shit out of me after my English class Thursday, then warned me from speaking to any other guys. Again. As if I can stop some guy from asking me to get lunch with him.
Nope. I won’t let him make this worse for me. I grit my teeth. “Whatever, Kingston. Let’s get on with it.”
Kingston gives a sharp nod. “You’d be smart to keep that biting attitude going in there, initiate. You’re going to need it.” He opens his door, stepping out of the vehicle to join the others who have already made their way to stand in front of the house.
Cannon turns around and gives Archer a look like he’s supposed to say something to me. Feeling protective again, I guess.
“You’ll be okay.” Archer rubs his thumb over his lower lip. “Yeah, there will be things meant to scare you in there. Keep your head, and you’ll be fine.” He gives me a little smirk and a wink. “I think so, anyway.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence.” I roll my eyes. I’m not feeling particularly like joking around right now.
He sighs. “Aw, come on, Peaches. Don’t make us send you in there on a sour note. You know we’d tell you more if we could.”
“I know. We don’t talk about this stuff. You’re keeping everything about my initiation above board. It’s fine.” I grasp the door handle, give it a tug, then shove the door open forcibly. Sweat trickles down my back. The honest truth is I’m nervous as hell and need to focus on what’s ahead of me.
Kingston stands on the bottom step of the porch, a card, much like the one from last week in his hand, and everyone else waits for him to begin. His eyes are laser-focused on me as I make my way front and center with Bridger and Taggart. The two other initiates don’t spare me a glance.That’s cool. Head in the game. Got it.
Once Cannon and Archer come to stand behind me, Kingston nods his head. “Okay, let’s begin. I’m going to read the card, exactly like I did last time. Like we’ve told you, these are decades-old traditions. One, you’ll be given five minutes to explore the entire house from top to bottom. Two, you’ll be expected to stay inside the house until you hear the blast of the air horn.” He lifts the one in his hand and squeezes the trigger. I jump a mile, my heart skidding around in my chest. He wets his lips, a cocky grin on his face. “That’s your signal for when you’re allowed to exit the house.”
Stuart and Alec snicker behind us. Joel and Zeke outright laugh. I turn to look at Dane, and he’s standing there, stiff as a board. I frown, but he shakes his head, then looks away.
I glance nervously at Tag and Bridger out of the corner of my eye. I’m unsure how bad this will be. I slowly raise my hand. “How will points be distributed?”
“First one out wins three points, second gets two points, and third gets one. If you don’t make it out by sunrise, you get no points at all.”
Bridger huffs. “What’s to stop us from standing at the front door?”
“Did I say you could interrupt me, initiate?” Kingston’s lips twitch as he gives Bridger a hard stare. “Perhaps let me finish reading the card.” He clears his throat and continues. “Three, once initiates have had a chance to get the lay of the land, they’ll be blindfolded and confused.”
“Nowyou tell us.” Taggart groans from beside me.
“Pardon, initiate?” Kingston’s brows lift.
Tag’s eyes go wide. “Sorry. I simply meant I assumed there was a catch. Can we work together?”
“Yes. Or against each other. That said, for safety purposes, there will be multiple brothers in the house at all times. The rest of us will be out here. We’re setting up camp, roasting marshmallows, and whatever else we decide to get into while we wait on you.”
“How long will we be in there?” Bridger shows the first sign he’s at all nervous.
Archer clears his throat from behind me, taking this question. “It won’t matter. Blindfolded, you won’t have a firm grasp on how much time has gone by anyway. Trust me. It’s bizarre how time moves when you can’t see a goddamn thing.”
