Page 39 of Bad Boy Billionaire Protector

The van stopped abruptly and the side panel door was opened. The two other team members told me to come with them to get the next person.

“Sit here and I’ll be right back,” I whispered to Amber, leaving her in the van with the hood on her head. “Don’t make an attempt to talk to the other people in here. I think it’s frowned upon.”

“Okay.”

I jumped out and shut the van door. We headed into another dorm room and abducted another initiate. Again, the abduction went smoothly, the candidate excited about the opportunity to join The Order. He was pushed into the van beside Amber and the other candidate.

We stopped twice more and picked up the final two candidates on our list, then the van headed out towards, what I assumed would be, the same clearing in the woods that I had been taken to for my initiation.

I held on to Amber’s hand and stroked it as she leaned against me. I was furious with Professor Owens. I would have to keep my distance from him, so that I wouldn’t punch him in the face and knock him out.

The van stopped about fifteen minutes into the journey. I helped Amber out of the van, watching where she stepped on the grass. I followed the other two team members and took her down a hilly embankment and towards a clearing in the woods. This was different to the clearing I had been taken to. It was smaller, more intimate. It seemed to be connected with another clearing with a pathway between the two. Various stations had been set up for the games.

There were other candidates there when we arrived, around thirty-five in total. We took our candidates and lined them up behind the other teams of five. The candidates were forced to their knees, but I whispered to Amber to let her know what to do. She went down on her knees and waited.

The other team members stepped back and disappeared into a line of members of The Order. I adjusted my mask and cloak and joined them, my heart beating so fast I thought I might have a heart attack.

Professor Owens stepped forward in his mask. He opened his arms wide.

“Welcome, candidates. Welcome to The Order. The trials you will compete in tonight will determine whether or not you are permitted to join the elite of the university, indeed of the world. For we are many and our power and influence extends beyond that of a mere student society. If you succeed you will be one of the lucky few to become a part of this hallowed society. If you do not succeed, you will return to your homes and never be given the chance to join again. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Don’t lose your chance. Now. Take off your hoods and stand up. Let us have a good look at you.”

The forty candidates all took off their hoods and stood up, looking around at each other and at the members who surrounded them in our cloaks and masks. Amber looked as though she had found a new resolve and was determined to do well, no matter the cost.

I watched them as they were taken through their paces. The first game was a simple test of agility. They were taken through the trees to a second clearing which had been set up with various obstacles to jump over and crawl under. I cheered Amber on as she took off like a horse out of the gate and easily came in the top five candidates. The last five were immediately discarded.

Next, they were taken to the edge of the clearing where a series of puzzle games had been set up. They were placed into teams of five and the winning two teams would continue on. I watched as Amber’s team hurriedly completed each of the puzzles and they came second overall.

Finally, with only ten candidates standing, they were taken to the opposite side of the clearing where a tower had been erected, about 30 feet tall. At the bottom of the tower was a large trampoline. The idea was that they would do a trust fall, backward off the tower and land on the trampoline.

Of the ten candidates, three refused to take part. I was worried about Amber. What if she hurt herself falling backwards off the tower? I couldn’t bear thinking about it. I thought about my promise to Andrew to keep her safe and how I was failing miserably at it. There was nothing I could do though. I couldn’t beg her not to jump.

The first candidate went up to the top of the tower and stood and looked down at us all. Then he turned and jumped. We all yelled and screamed to support him. Luckily he landed on the trampoline, bounced around a few times, then jumped off. He ran around the group getting high fives from masked people.

Amber was up next. She climbed up the tower and appeared at the top, where she was met by someone in a mask. My heart was in my throat and was pumping twice as fast as it should. I didn’t want her to do this. If only there was a way that I could make it all stop.

She looked out over the crowd who were cheering her on. Then she turned her back to us and fell backwards off the tower. She seemed to fall in slow motion and, for a moment, I thought she was going to miss the trampoline. But she hit it, yelled out in triumph, and bounced on it a few more times before jumping off. She was congratulated by everyone. I tried to get close to her, but couldn’t.

Chapter 19 – Amber

Ifeltelated.Myheart was still pumping fast and adrenaline was coursing through my body. The jump had been frightening, but thrilling. And I knew that I hadn’t been in any real danger. At least, that’s what I told myself. When I looked at the height of the jump and the size of the trampoline again, there were so many things that could have gone wrong. I tried not to think about them.

People around me were congratulating me on passing all the trials. I tried to see if I could spot Christos but couldn’t find him in the crowd. I was sure he would find me soon.

Sure enough, I felt a tug at my elbow, turned round, and there he was. He pulled me into a hug and whispered in my ear. “Thank God you’re safe. I was so worried when you were up there.”

“I did it. I made it all the way through. I’m a member like you now.”

“Yes, you are.” He sounded worried. I wished I could take off his mask and kiss him. The adrenaline was still coursing through me and I was pumped up.

“Could the candidates who remain please stand in a line to be initiated into The Order.” Professor Owens opened his arms wide and waited while the seven of us lined up. “Not a bad number, after the cull I must say.”

Seven masked people came out of the crowd holding cloaks and masks. One of them stopped in front of me and bestowed me a cloak which I put on, glad of the extra heat. Then they passed me my mask, which I also put on. Finally, they handed me a ruby ring and slid it onto my finger.

Professor Owens threw his hands in the air. “Welcome to The Order. It’s time to party, I say!”

Everyone cheered and people started coupling up and going into little groups. They began to make out and undress each other until they were wearing only their masks and cloaks. I stood and looked around me in shock until someone came and stood in front of me. I peered through my mask until I could see familiar blue eyes. It was Christos. Relief washed over me.

“It’s another bacchanalia,” he murmured into my ear.

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