Within the Walls of Kingsbury Prep

by Grace Davies

  A thought that used to make me the happiest I’ve ever felt is now overrun by utter sadness and heart break.

  Well, you don’t mean anything to me. Not anymore.

  Roman’s words race round in my head, replacing all our good and happy memories. I let out a scream unable to breath, unable to calm myself down. I pull out my phone with shaky hand. I go to my contacts before pausing, my thumb hovering over Roman’s contact. His beautiful face smiling back at me, his emerald eyes filled with light as he laughs at the face I’m making in the photo. I let out a sob before clicking off and dialling Lola’s number.

  “Lo-Lola.” I stutter.

  “Millie, what’s wrong? Where are you?”

  “Tree.”

  “I’m on my way.”

  “Please hurry.” I sob before collapsing onto the ground, closing my eyes.

  Lying here in the cold my mind is taking to a line from my favourite book: I gave him my heart, and he took it and pinched it to death. Never have I felt something so apt. I told him I loved him and he dismissed it. My heart feels clenched under his iron fist. Huddled in a ball, in an attempt to console myself, while I wait for Lola.

  I suddenly feel a pair of strong arms wrap round me pulling me into their body. Warmth fills me as I feel at home, the familiar scent of Roman’s cologne filling my senses. He’s back, he realises he’s wrong. I’m safe. I’m home.

  “Roman?” I ask to make sure. I feel the arms slide from underneath me and just like that he’s gone. He was never even there. The loss is making me hallucinate. I begin to cry again as I hear Lola’s voice calling my name.

  “Millie!” She shouts.

  “Up here.” I croak, my voice hoarse from crying.”

  “Millie.” She wraps me in a warm hug, I shake in her arms.

  “It’s over.” I sob into her shoulder, soaking her t-shirt.

  “What do you mean? What happened with Roman?”

  “He thinks it’s my fault but it isn’t. I never told anyone. Lola, I swear it.”

  “I believe you. Did you tell him it was Charles?”

  “I did but he didn’t believe me. My friend. Why would he do this to me.” I repeat Roman’s words. “But I would apparently. I’ve poisoned his mind.”

  “It’s a very Charles thing to do this. How could he think it was you?”

  “I don’t know but now he hates me. He wanted to hurt me. He never wants to see me again.” I sob even harder.

  “Millie, don’t cry. He’s wrong.”

  “But he’s not. I have just told you. I’m just as bad as he said I was.”

  “Millie, you didn’t tell me. Charles did. You didn’t really confirm it either, I just put two and two together.”

  “He doesn’t care about me anymore. I told him I loved him and he told me to stay away.”

  “You told him what?” Lola asks, shocked. “Did you mean it?”

  “I thought I did, but now I don’t know. I’m just heartbroken.”

  “You can’t be heartbroken if you weren’t in love.”

  “It just hurts so bad Lola.”

  “I know babe, I know.” She whispers into my hair as she gently caresses it.

  We sit there for hours, Lola cradling me in her arms like a baby, giving me the comfort, I need.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  The Society of Opulence

  I’m still hurting from yesterday, part of knows I always will be but at this moment the overbearing emotion I feel is anger. Anger at Roman for believing I could hurt him like that. Anger at him for breaking me. Anger at this evil school and all its the secrets. The secrets which tonight, I will uncover. Tonight, I sneak down the Principal’s corridor.

  I’ve told no one about this, I can’t risk someone finding out. I plan to go while the evening meal is happening as its usually one of the only times Foundry isn’t in his office. I don’t really know what I’m looking for, just answers really. I’m sick of people keeping things from me. Tonight, I will know.

  The bell rings signalling the beginning of the meal. Now’s my chance. I hang round the corner watching out for Foundry, making sure he leaves for dinner. When I know the coast is clear I sneak down the corridor. I keep a close eye on each door as I pass them, my heart hammering in my chest. I reach Foundry’s office and turn the handle. With luck it’s unlocked. I hear footsteps ascending stairs, coming from behind the wooden door to the left of the Principal’s office: the place the teachers are sneaking off to. I quickly enter the office and close the door silently behind me. I daren’t turn on the light so I have to rely on the cracks of light shining through the curtains. I head straight over to the mahogany bookshelf and start pulling books out in hope a secret room will reveal itself. Figures, it doesn’t. I didn’t think Foundry would be so cliché. My fingers do graze against his pristine copy of Pride and Prejudice. I don’t contemplate it; I slip the book into my bag. He won’t miss it.

  After the bookcase is a bust, I move onto his desk. First, I sift through various papers on his desk, but again no luck. I route through the drawers, careful not to disturb the order of things. Alas, I’m in luck. A pull a small binder out of the bottom desk drawer. It doesn’t look suspicious, not in the slightest but I know that the shade of green means something. I open it to find I’m correct. Various pages of paper are stacked filed inside.

  The Society of Opulence: Members

  BF ~ Hiram

  PM ~ Mansi

  AK ~ Thurman

  MP ~ Colt

  RW ~ Drewett

  TP ~ Crane

  OD ~ Chase

  JH ~ Brook

  TA ~ Teivel

  ER ~ Eaden

  MB ~ Malik

  CP ~ Lark

  RK ~ Remus

  CD ~ Lilith ?

  Sacred Ruled of The Society of Opulence

  Members of The Society of Opulence are to be permitted by Hiram and Hiram only

  Each member must perform an initiation before being accepted into the Society of Opulence

  Each member must come up with their own society name for full disclosure

  Only men are permitted to join the Society of Opulence, women are allowed to accompany their husbands but are NOT official members

  Each member must take an oath before entering the Society of Opulence, including the women

  Despite, not being official members women must wear a black veil at all times

  Each member must remember the goal of the Society of Opulence:

  The maintaining of wealth and the eradication of those not fit

  Failure to comply to these rules or purposely break the rules will have serious consequences.

  My heart stops at what I’ve just read. What sick society is this? The maintaining of wealth and the eradication of those not fit. What’s that supposed to mean? Terror ripples through me as I look back through the names to try and decipher who the names are.

  BF, that has to be Kingsbury, no doubt about that. PM and AK, we know who they are. I’m almost positive MP and CP are Lola’s lovely family members. The initials JH spark recognition in my mind but I can’t quite place where I’ve heard them before. My eyes trace down the list once more landing on RK. Roman Kingsbury. My finger glides over his initials as tears form in my eyes. Is this what his father wanted from him? To join this sick society. Would he have done it if we hadn’t broken up? Millions of questions fill my mind as I hear voices outside the door. I quickly shove the binder back where I found it and hide under the desk, thankful that it can conceal me.

  “I’m surprised you came to see me Remus.” A voice says. Foundry.

  “Well, my father was telling all the great things your society does, how could I not want to join?” I know Roman well enough, whether he likes it or not, to know that he is lying. You can hear the strain in his voice as he tries to tell Foundry what he wants to hear.

  My heart hammers, partly out of fear that I’ll be caught, but mostly for hearing his voice.

  “We have very strong and specific goa
ls in The Society of Opulence. Do you think you’ll be able to follow these?”

  “I do, Sir.”

  “I need to know if there will be any... disruption from a certain auburn-haired girl.” My breath hitches.

  “No Sir. That is over. I realised she wasn’t to be trusted, just as you and my father told me. On the upside, getting close to her meant that I could protect the society and know for sure that she is unaware in exists. She has suspicions of course but has no clarity. She won’t find anything out either now as I suspect she’s too heartbroken to care.” Roman laughs.

  I bite my lip to contain my sob. There was no strain in his voice, zero. He’s telling the truth. It’s very clear to me now that he doesn’t care one bit about me. I doubt he ever did. I fight the urge to reveal myself and get the hell out of there.

  Foundry laughs. “Well, I’m glad you can commit without any interruptions. Now if you want to follow me downstairs and we can commence with your initiation and oath.”

  I hear the door close behind them as they leave the room but I don’t move for a few minutes. While part of me is glad I found out the big secret this school is hiding, I really wish I hadn’t heard that conversation. I slip the binder back out of the drawer and look at the list of members again. Remus. My mind is transported back to a conversation Roman and I had a few months ago in English.

  “What’s so good about Harry Potter then?” Roman asks.

  “Are you seriously asking me that?” I laugh before going into a detailed response as to why I love the franchise so much.

  “Well, you’re very passionate.”

  “As always.” I smile at him.

  “So, if you love it so much, you must have a favourite character?”

  “Oh, it’s too difficult to choose but my two favourites would be Remus Lupin and Hermione Granger.”

  He knew Remus was my favourite character, is that why he chose it as his alias? I shake the thought away. Of course not, he made his feelings towards me very clear when he spoke to Foundry. I take a quick picture of the list and the rules before putting binder away and stealthily leaving the room. I notice a man and woman clad in black disappear through the wooden door and down the stairs. Taking my chance while the door is still open, I slip down the stairs behind them, keeping my distance. The basement, almost replicating an old-fashioned brewery, is dark and eerie, the only light emitting from a feel sconces hung on the walls. I hide behind a wall and look in on the scene occurring in the centre of the room. A mass of men stand in a circle around Roman while the women, each covered by a black veil true to the rules, stand together in the far corner. The misogyny of the whole affair is toxic.

  “Fellow brothers and their women, today we have a new member in our mist: Remus.” The men stomp their feet in a caveman like cheer. “Remus, are you prepared for your initiation?”

  “Yes Hiram.” Roman responds, fear flickering in his eyes.

  “Bring in our guest.” Foundry calls as a masked man drags in a dishevelled woman. She’s dressed in what appears to be a dress made from scraps of material, her hair a matted mess, dirt covering her body. The man throws her onto the floor in front of Roman. The woman lets out a whimper as the men peer down at her.

  “Remus, in order to join The Society of Opulence you must kill this foul beggar.” Roman freezes in shock. My hand covers my mouth, forcing my scream back inside me. I can’t make a sound.

  “Kill her?” Roman’s voice trembles.

  “That is the standard initiation for members but we do understand that you are still a child so we have an alternative initiation if you don’t feel prepared to kill.” Roman visibly relaxes.

  “What is the other option Sir?”

  “No need for Sir here, we’re all friends.”

  “Sorry, Hiram.”

  “Your alternate initiation is to taunt this beggar with the thing she craves most.”

  “Is that all?”

  “Of course not, that would be far too easy. Any of the women could do that.” Foundry sneers at the women in the corner. “After taunting her, you must... how do I put this? Take advantage of her.” I have to get out of here.

  I run up the stairs and swing open the door, hearing it slam behind me as I run down the corridor. A muffled gunshot pierces through my heart as I get to the end of the corridor. He did it. I rush outside, throwing up on the grass. A sharp pain throbbing in my head. I hear a ruckus from inside the school, Foundry’s voice booming above the noise. I run as fast as I can, down the drive and out of the school gates. I need to get to safety. I need to get away. You need to talk to Roman; my subconscious tells me. I really don’t want to but know I need to. Back to Kingsbury Manor I go.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  The female initiation

  I run all the way to Kingsbury Manor, my face bright red as I arrive. My breath ragged, heart hammering. I stop just outside the door and pause to catch my breath before lightly knocking on the door. The door cracks open, Candice’s head peeps through the gap.

  “Hi Millicent dear, is everything okay?”

  “Yeah, I just came to see Roman.”

  “He’s not in at the moment dear.” I know he’s killing people to get into a society. “You’re welcome to wait inside though.”

  “That’s kind of you,” I smile at her with gratitude. I follow her into the house and follow her to the laundry room.

  “I was just doing some ironing; I hope you don’t mind.”

  “Not at all. How long have you worked for the Kingsbury’s?”

  “Oh, many years now. I used to be the housekeeper for Mr Kingsbury’s father when he was younger. I started working for him when I was in my twenties and was transferred to Kingsbury Manor when I was in my late forties. I’ve been working for the Kingsbury family for almost 40 years now. My what a long time.” She laughs.

  “So, you must know a lot about the family then?”

  “Oh no dear. Mr Kingsbury is very private with his affairs, just as his father was.”

  “So, you’ve never heard anything unusual?”

  “One hears many unusual things.”

  “Anything of a society, perhaps?” I tread lightly on the subject, careful to not seem nosy.

  “I can’t say I have dear.”

  “That’s a shame. I’ll be waiting for Roman in his room. If you could please tell him to come up when he returns home.”

  “I will my love. I presume you remember the way.”

  “I do, thank you Candice.”

  I leave the laundry room and ascend the spiral staircase to the first floor of the house. I pass by the master bedroom where I had a meal with the Kingsbury’s.

  “Millie?” Marissa calls.

  I stick my head round the open door. “Hi, Mrs Kingsbury. How are you feeling?”

  “So so. What are you doing here?”

  “I came to see Roman. Candice said it was okay to wait in his room until he returns home.”

  “Yes of course.” She has a look of confusion on her face. “I don’t want to pry but didn’t you and Roman- ” She pauses.

  “Break up? Yes. That’s why I came to talk to him, it was just so unlike him.”

  “Don’t you think you better go home Millicent?”

  “What do you mean ma’am?”

  “It’s dangerous for you here. I think you’re wonderful and you made my darling boy incredibly happy, that’s every mothers dream but-”

  “Your husband?” I finish for her.

  “Yes, my husband. He has made his feelings about you very clear and I’m sure you know what he’s capable of.” She gestures to her injuries.

  “Yes, I know well what he’s capable of. But I’m not scared of him.”

  “Millicent you should be. You only know the half of what he does to people who anger him. I’m in to deep, I couldn’t get out if I tried but you can.”

  “Marissa, I care deeply for your son and now for you too. I will not let you both be bullied and abused by that monster. I will h
elp you get out, help you get away from him, even if it kills you.”

  “That’s very kind of you Millie but that’s just it. It will kill you.”

  “Well, I’m prepared to take the risk. I want to discover what these men are hiding. What evil acts their society commit. Your husband is close with Foundry and I dislike that man intently. I’m not sure what but he has something over my mother and I’ll be damned if I let her be hurt by a group of men who believe they have the power to disregard anyone who isn’t like them.”

  “I can see I won’t be changing your mind. Just please be careful Millie. You mean a lot to my son and if something happened to you it would kill him.”

  “I don’t believe that anymore but I will be careful.” She sits up in her bed and opens her arms wide. I lean down to hug her, careful not to hurt her fragile body.

  I slip out of her room and head up the second flight of stairs to Roman’s room. Upon entering his room, my heart swells as I smell his cologne. His bed is unmade, various pieces of clothing create stepping stones across his room. His Midnight Ball suit is hung on the outside of his wardrobe, the jacket slipping off the hanger. Typical boy. I almost laugh before remembering what’s happened. I pick his clothes up off the floor and place them in the laundry basket before hanging his jacket properly on the hanger. I next make his bed. It might seem odd but it’s calming my anxious mind. Lifting up his pillows I find a copy of Wuthering Heights hidden beneath them. My mind flits back to the night he read it to me, in this very bed. I hold the book to my chest. I flick through the pages and see lines of yellow dusted throughout the pages. A few in particular catching my eye: