Page 8 of Deadly Sacrifice

By the time the weekend rolls around, I’m high-strung and irritable. Asher cornered me after our sign language class and asked me out again. If he’s this tenacious, I may have to give in just to save my constantly overwhelmed mind from imploding.

And as if I wasn’t already tired and stressed enough, Heather came to get me bright and early this morning from my dorm again. It’s move-in weekend, and she so generously offered to help me carry my things. I told her it wouldn’t be necessary, but Heather seems to have selective hearing. Or she just outright ignored me.

With my meager belongings, the two of us walked the ten-minute trek from student dorms to Greek row, and now I’m trying to hold my smile as she all but orders me to set my things down along the back of the large living room she lead me into.

Once my stuff is discarded, Heather wraps an arm around my shoulders and guides me back to the front of the room, in front of rows and rows of white chairs.

“I’ll be making a whole speech once everyone is here, but I’d like to officially welcome you to Alpha Chi Omega personally. I knew the first time I saw your face that I had to keep you close,” she says, her dark brown eyes glittering as she grins at me.

“Thank you,” I tell her, trying to match her enthusiasm. “I’m so excited to be a part of the sisterhood.” Barf. But I keep my grin big and pray my eyes aren’t swimming in dread.

Heather squeals and I have to fight the grimace that tries to take over my face. As the other new members filter into the large living room, she places a hand on my arm and guides me to one of the chairs in the front.

A quiet girl sits next to me, her pale skin a stark contrast to her silky black hair. She focuses her gaze on her lap, fiddling with her bracelet while we wait.

I’m not usually social, or even very friendly, but I have to keep reminding myself of why I’m here doing the college and sorority thing. After a deep breath and slapping a smile on my face, I turn to the girl and say, “Hi, I’m Prudence.”

She blinks over at me and her eyes are almost as dark as her hair. With a soft smile, she says, “Hi. It’s nice to meet you. I’m Annie.”

“Are you a freshman too?” I ask her as the last few sorority members file into the back of the room.

Annie laughs softly, brushing some loose locks behind her ear as she says, “Yeah, that obvious?”

“No, just a lucky guess. I’m glad I’m not the only new college student who made it in to the sorority. Maybe we can figure everything out together,” I offer.

A bit of tension eases out of her shoulders and she sighs, saying, “I’d like that. I don’t know anybody at Blackwood University except my boyfriend.” She pauses, chewing on her bottom lip and seemingly getting lost in thought for a moment. “But,” she adds, turning her attention back to me. “It would be nice not to feel so alone.”

Something about the way she says it, the almost sad lilt to her voice, hits me square in the chest. Without taking even a second to think about it, I say, “How about we room together? Heather was telling me new members get paired up on the first floor.”

Annie scrunches up her face for a moment. “As long as you don’t mind Mark coming over every once in a while. Or, actually, probably often. He’s kind of attached,” she says with a self-deprecating laugh.

I shrug, giving her an easy smile. “It’s not a problem. Maybe he’ll be able to hook me up with one of his friends. It would be nice not to feel so lonely,” I tell her with a joking smile, as if I haven’t been actively avoiding the guy who’s been relentlessly asking me out already. Annie doesn’t need to know about that. Not yet.

Before either of us has the chance to say anything else, Heather, with her sleek brown bob and perfectly manicured nails, walks up to the front of the room and steals everyone’s attention. “Okay,” she says loudly, smiling as she looks at all the fresh faces in the first few rows. “Welcome to our newest members of Alpha Chi Omega. We are so excited to invite you into our sisterhood. There’s so much that we can learn from each other, and so many special memories we’re going to make together. But first, a brief announcement.”

Another older member with golden blonde hair and tight black jeans walks up and stands beside Heather, holding a clipboard and a pen.

“Tradition at Blackwood University, especially in the Greek system, is an important part of everything we do,” Heather explains. “While some of it may seem odd at the time, I trust that each of you will come to appreciate the trials of initiation. Josie, why don’t you explain to our newest members about their most important task?”

Josie, the tall blonde standing beside Heather, smiles, showing off her too-white teeth. “Alright, ladies. This first tradition goes all the way back to the beginning of Greek life on campus. Now it may seem dated to some of you, but I promise it can also be a lot of fun,” she says, and a few of the older girls in the back of the room cheer and whistle.

I lean over and whisper to Annie, “What do you think this is about? Promising our virginities to some Greek goddess in order to get into this sorority?”

Annie snickers, covering her mouth with dainty fingers. “Yeah, right,” she replies quietly. “As if anyone here is still a virgin.”

“Right, duh. Of course not,” I agree quickly, forcing a soft laugh and shifting in my chair.

“Each year, the new members of every sorority on campus get paired up with older members of the fraternities, and vice versa,” Josie continues as the girls behind me snicker and whisper. “This is to ensure a smooth transition into Greek life, and to weed out those who don’t belong. The junior and senior members of the frats will make sure their assigned lady is taken to all the best parties, steered clear of all the creeps at B.U., and if you’re really lucky, some of them will show you their skills under the sheets.” She winks, and Heather fans herself dramatically, both girls sharing a heated, remembering look. I guess they were the lucky ones their year.

“Now,” Heather says once all the rowdy girls control themselves. “The point of this partnership is meant to be fun, above all else. You’ll make lifelong friends, and who knows, a few of you may even find your future husband along the way.” Another round of excited murmurs erupts from the back of the room, and Heather laughs. “But there are a few expectations. Until you initiate at the end of the semester, your membership in A.Chi.O. is probationary. Fair or not, the gentleman you’re paired with does have a say in whether you’re fit to continue in Greek life. If you’re difficult, refuse to tag along every time he invites you somewhere, or cause any unnecessary drama, he’ll be sure to get back to us about it. And ladies, that certainly won’t look good for you.”

A chill creeps up my spine for so many reasons. Not only do I not want to answer to anyone, but a random frat guy that I can’t trust for shit? Yeah, no, I’m not interested in getting roofied at some party for their enjoyment. And even if I get paired with a genuinely nice guy, I can’t have someone looking over my shoulder all semester. I’ve got too much shit to do, and nobody needs to keep tabs on it.

“And two: no reporting anything to the Dean,” Heather adds, her smile fading as she sweeps hard eyes over all the new girls. “Greek life has run smoothly for years because we handle our own shit. If the higher ups knew about half of what truly goes on, we’d have been shut down a long time ago. But we persevere because we’re smart, able people with our own system for issues and punishments. If I catch wind of a single peep getting out beyond the limits of Greek members, I will take swift action and you will regret it. Got it?“ She does another sweep across the first few rows, and I don’t know if I’m imagining it, but it seems like her dark eyes pause on me for a beat too long.

Annie and I share a wary glance. I look around the room, and then turn back to Heather and Josie up front. Cautiously, I raise my hand. “Um, yeah, that sounds grand and all, but what exactly can you do? I-I mean, say I accidentally let something slip? Not that I intend to, but hypothetically. You’d kick me out of A.Chi.O. End of story. We’d all move on.“ I blame my question on my already prickly attitude today, but seriously, does she think she has that much power here?

Josie narrows her eyes at me, stepping forward as if she’s going to answer, but Heather holds out a hand to stop her. Steady as ever in high heels, Heather takes measured steps across the front of the room until she’s right in front of me. “I’m much more imaginative than that, Prudence. You can trust that throwing your ass to the curb will be the last step I take.” Stepping back, she lifts her dark gaze and adds, “If any of you were to threaten our existence here on campus, I wouldn’t kick you out because then what’s stopping you from blabbing some more? No, I’d make sure you suffered justly for risking the happiness and wellbeing of your fellow Greek members.” She looks down at me with an arched brow. “Does that answer your question?” she says cheerfully, a bright smile back on her face, giving me whiplash.

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