Page 32 of Cruel Crypts

“No, I don’t think I will. There’s a free seat next to your girlfriend, look.” I pointed helpfully towards Chelsea, who narrowed her eyes at me and then waved at Tristan.

“Tristan, come and sit next to me.” Her voice lowered, and she slowly and deliberately licked her lips. “I’ll make it worth your while.”

He flashed her a wide grin. “Yeah? How can I turn down an opportunity like that?” Turning back to Knox, he muttered, “The little thief’s all yours.” Knox remained silent, staring at me with a stony expression.

Thief? Knox must’ve told him about catching me in his room on Saturday. That would explain his hostility, at least. But I was still at a loss with Knox.

Professor Fletcher entered the room at that point, breaking the tension. “Everyone, take a seat, please! There’s time to gossip later. Mr. Ashcroft, stop looming over Miss Greenwood and sit down.”

Knox threw himself into the chair next to mine, yanking his books from his bag, and then he paused. I heard him exhale, long and slow, and then he gently placed them down on his desk.

Tilting my head towards him, I studied his profile. “Did you take a vow of silence? Or is this special treatment just for me?”

He finally turned to me, and the look in his eyes sent ice trickling through my veins. So cold. So callous. I thought I’d seen hate from him before, but it was nothing compared to the way he was looking at me now.

“Knox?” I whispered, cursing the shake in my voice.

“Don’t speak to me. Don’t even look at me,” he gritted out. “As far as I’m concerned, you don’t exist.”

Now I was really confused. What could have possibly changed in the period between yesterday and this morning? After school, I’d had back-to-back driving lessons that had left me so mentally tired I’d fallen asleep in my bedroom watching a film, and so I hadn’t seen him come back to the house, but I couldn’t think of anything that had changed between yesterday and today.

I was drawing a blank.

“Can you tell me what I supposedly did to deserve the silent treatment?”

No response.

“Fine. If that’s how you want to play it. As far as I’m concerned, you don’t exist either.” I hated that I was stooping to his level, but even more, I hated the tiny part of me that felt hurt by his words and actions. Why should I care what he thought? I was here for one reason, and one reason only. Soon—or so I hoped—I’d be away from here and getting on with my life.

Whatever that life looked like.

* * *

Later that night, when I stumbled, exhausted, into my bedroom, I blinked, trying to make sense of what I was seeing. My brain was so tired after three hours of driving lessons, followed by my first four-hour shift at the country club, washing glassware and cleaning tables, that it took a moment for me to register what I was looking at.

Someone had been in my room.

On my bed lay four books, shiny and new, with no creases on the spines.

They were all driving guides.Learning to Drive.Theory Test Made Easy.The Highway Code.Pass Your Driving Test.

Carefully, I picked up the books and placed them in a neat pile on the little table next to my bed, trying and failing to stop the smile that was spreading over my face.

Surely these could only be from one person?

When I climbed into bed, my smile still hadn’t faded, and I both hated and loved the warm feeling that went through me every time I looked at the books. I flipped on the lamp next to me and picked up the book on the top of the pile. Might as well get started.

I’d only managed to get through a few pages when my phone chimed. Swiping it from the table, I glanced at the screen.

A stuttered gasp fell from my lips, and my heart began pounding so fast I had to take several deep breaths just to get myself back under control.

The message blinked up at me.

Four words on a screen.

Individually, they were nothing. Innocuous. Meaningless, even.

But together…they meant that everything was about to change.

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