by J. L. Beck
A shiver skates down my spine at the nippy breeze that blows through the trees. It’s much colder here than I’m used to in North Woods, but the fresh air and tranquil landscape make up for it.
Now that I’m up and moving around, I realize that my bladder is pretty full, and I wonder if I should find a tree to relieve myself or wait. Then I think about the bumpy ride and the fact that I really don’t know how much longer it’s going to be.
“Um, I’m going to go pee. Please don’t leave without me,” I joke, well, half-joke. A part of me wonders if he would leave without me.
The driver comes around the vehicle, gas can in hand, and a frown on his face. “Hurry up then,” he snaps. For a moment, I contemplate holding it and climbing back into the seat, but then he continues, “Well, go piss. I’m not stopping again until we arrive at the base.”
I’m not sure why he’s being so rude, but I ignore his nasty tone, spin around, and speed walk out into the forest to find a spot that’s far enough away to be out of sight but not too far that I risk getting lost. Quickly, I undo my jeans and pull them down along with my panties.
Cool air washes over my naked skin as I squat down behind a large tree and relieve myself. When I’m done, I dig an old tissue from my pocket and wipe before straightening back up.
I turn to walk back to the car but freeze before I can take a single step. Not even ten feet behind me is the driver… staring straight at me. A mischievous grin dances on his lips as his gaze darkens. His pants are undone, and his hand is wrapped around his dick, his piss spraying onto the ground.
That pervert was watching me. Fear slithers up my spine like the wind slices through the leaves surrounding us. I’m alone, out in the middle of nowhere, with a man I don’t know. A man who just watched me while I was peeing. He could easily overpower me and take whatever he wanted, and not a single soul would hear my screams. Running enters my mind, but where the fuck do I run to? I have no idea where I am, and there is no way I would survive a night out here on my own.
So I do the only thing I know how to do. I steel my spine, puff out my chest, and look him straight in the eyes. “Was that necessary?”
“What? I had to take a leak too,” he says innocently, tucking himself back into his pants.
My stomach churns, and my breakfast is threatening to make an appearance as the realization sets in that not only did this asshole just see me half naked but I’m also going to have to get back into the Jeep with him. This feels all kinds of wrong, and I wonder how my parents would feel if they knew how messed up the man who’s delivering me to Corium is.
I’m back in the Jeep and buckled up in no time, wishing I had even more clothes on besides the jeans and thick sweater I’m wearing. Then again, it probably wouldn’t matter how much I’m wearing. I’d still feel exposed in his presence.
Fuck. He’s such an asshole for making me feel this way.
I spend the rest of the drive even more uncomfortable than I was before. Now, it’s not only my body that is protesting but my mind as well. All my instincts are telling me to stay away from this man, yet I’m inside this all-terrain Jeep with nowhere else to go. It’s this man or the wilderness, and neither looks like good odds.
After a while, the trees become thinner, and the dirt road becomes a little less bumpy as the terrain opens up. The forest thins out as we get closer to the side of the mountain. The peak is covered in snow, reminding me I’m far away from home.
I know we must be close, but I don’t see the university nestled into the mountain as we approach. Instead, the first thing I see is a large gray wall. The road we are on leads us straight to it, and as far as I can see, there isn’t a way around it.
An enormous metal gate comes into view, and I can’t help but sigh in relief. We’re here, and once I’m out of this car, I never have to see this bastard again.
The tires have barely stopped rolling over the gravel, and he throws the Jeep into park. “Out,” he orders.
Baffled, I stare at him for a long second. “You’re supposed to take me to Corium. This is just…” I wave at the structure in front of us. “A gate.”
“This is as far as I go.” Impatience bleeds through his words. “Trunk is unlocked. Get your shit.”
I have half a mind to tell him to at least get my suitcases out since I gave him a free show earlier, but I bite my tongue, not wanting to poke the bear.
Getting out, I suck a huge breath of fresh air into my lungs. It seems to have dropped at least twenty degrees since we stopped earlier. My lungs prick as the icy air fills them, making my whole body shudder, the cold temperature seeping into my skin.
I work quickly to get both suitcases and my backpack from the trunk. Not even a second after I close the back does the Jeep take off, reversing down the mountainside before he whips it around and starts back down the mountain. The tires toss dirt up into the air and onto me. Fuck! I cough and bury my face into the crook of my elbow until the billowing cloud of dust settles. It’s like the world hates me and wants to see how much more I can take.
With my backpack slung over my shoulder, I pull my suitcases behind me and walk up to the gate. Only when I’m a foot away do I notice the school crest etched into the metal. The letters C and U for Corium University are on each side, with a skull and a dagger pierced through it. On the top is the word refugium, and below peccatorum.
Lifting my hand, I bring it to the ice-cold metal and run my fingertips over the words.
Refugium peccatorum—Refuge of sinners.
I don’t know who came up with the name, but I can’t think of a more appropriate denomination for this place. We are our parents’ children, after all.
“Name?” A booming voice comes out of nowhere, breaking through the silence forcefully. I’m so startled that I jump back. My heel catches on the bottom of my suitcase, and I go tumbling to the ground.
Dumbfounded, I sit on the freezing gravel and stare up at the gate.
“What’s your name, kid?” The same voice speaks again, and this time, I notice the slight distortion like it’s coming from a speaker. I follow the sound and pinpoint it’s coming from the top corner of the gate. Only then do I notice the small gray camera staring back at me.
“Aspen Mather,” I announce, dusting my hands off on my leggings.
The man on the other side doesn’t answer, but a moment later, a loud buzzing noise fills the space, and the gate slowly swings open.
I scramble to my feet and grab my suitcases. The gate inches open, revealing yet another road. And to make matters worse, it’s all uphill.
Ugh, is this day ever going to end?
Grinding my molars together, I start my hike up the mountain, dragging my heavy suitcases behind. My arms ache with the effort, but at least my butt isn’t sore anymore. After a while, the above-ground part of the university comes into view, which from the outside is nothing more than an old castle.
By the time I finally arrive at the entrance, the sun is setting, and my legs are on fire. I already know I’m going to be sore as hell tomorrow. I basically just ran a marathon, my chest is heaving, and a thin sheen of sweat covers my forehead even in these unruly temperatures. The only plus side is I’m not cold anymore.
The building in front of me has no windows, and there is only one large wooden door. I start looking for some kind of doorbell, but before I can find anything, the door opens on its own. I quickly realize that the wood was only a façade, and the actual door is made out of metal thick enough to stop a semi-truck.
“Took you long enough,” the man who appears on the other side sneers. He’s dressed in military clothing, and I recognize the voice as the same from the gate at the bottom of the hill.
“Sorry, I’ll try to be faster next time,” I say under my breath as I stomp past him.
The space opens up to a great room with a polished floor, the school crest inlaid in the tile. A strange smell lingers in the air, like an old dusty basement mixed with floor wax. At the end of the large s
pace, several statues and very large paintings are displayed. Above, in bold gold letters, it reads FOUNDING MEMBERS.
I recognize one of the faces as Julian Moretti, another of Lucian Black, Adrian Doubeck, Nicolo Diavolo, and then there is Xander Rossi… the picture of him alone sends a shiver running down my spine. Not only is he one of the most ruthless people I know, but he also holds a very personal grudge against my family.
To the right and left of the shrine of powerful criminals are more doors. My escort leads me to the one labeled freshman and sophomores. Through the door, we enter into a long hallway that seems to go on forever. The lighting is dim, making it difficult to see.
We walk for a minute or so before stopping in front of a large elevator. The guy pulls out a folded map and hands it to me. I let go of my suitcase—he never offered me help with—and take the map from him.
“You’re at level C, room 3001. Good luck.” Before I can ask one of the twelve questions on my mind, the guy turns and all but runs away. I let out a defeated sigh. Well, I guess I’m on my own again.
Pushing the elevator button, I wait for it to arrive. The bags in my hand and on my shoulder are becoming increasingly difficult to bear, and I can’t wait to get rid of all of them and finally rest. This has been the longest trip on the face of the earth, and I need a hot shower and some sleep so I can start over tomorrow.
The elevator opens with a bing, and I step into the surprisingly large space. The panel only has four buttons, A, B, C, and T. I press the C and watch the doors slide closed.
I knew that most of this school—including the dorms—were underground, but I didn’t know how far underground until now. The elevator keeps descending until I wonder when we’re going to reach the center of the earth.
Then it stops so abruptly that I’m knocked off balance and have to lean against the wall to steady myself or risk falling over. The doors slide open, and I step out of the elevator and into yet another hallway.
As I look at the map, my room appears to be at the end of the corridor. Which might not be that bad of a thing. I count each step, the only thought on my mind being the bed inside my room and the mattress I’m going to fall into when I get there.
I’m so fucking tired. I don’t even care that my stomach is growling, demanding food. I have to sleep. I’m too tired to even lift a fork, let alone walk around this maze to find the cafeteria.
My legs ache with protest, but I push onward until I’m standing right in front of the supposed door to my dorm. I look up from the polished marble and see three large, bright red letters painted on the wood. The sight of them makes my heart sink into my stomach.
RAT
I should have known there would be no escaping what happened. Everyone knows who I am now. This place is going to be even worse than high school was. There, people just stopped talking to me and stayed out of my way. Avoiding me like I was the plague. The writing on the door tells me I won’t be so easily dismissed here. I shake my head and look down at the door handle.
Pulling the key card from my pocket, I swipe it, and the door clicks open. Hesitantly, I step into the room I’m going to call my home for the next year.
I scan the space, my gaze ping-pongs around the small space. The first thing I notice is the dust and mildew smell. The second is the large brown stain on the ceiling. The third is the bed. I’m grateful to have a place to sleep, but somehow, I feel like this is a joke.
I’m almost certain no one has lived in this room for a while. It’s probably been condemned, looking at its condition, but right now, all I can think about is the bed. How pitiful is it that at this point, I’m willing to sleep anywhere? Pulling my luggage inside, I shut the door behind me and lean my back against it, briefly closing my eyes.
You can do this. A small voice whispers in my mind, giving me enough strength to believe I can do this.
I don’t know how yet, but I will get through this year. Pushing off the door, I start undressing and lay my clothes out over my suitcase. I pull my pajamas out of my backpack and quickly get dressed for bed. The mattress is bare, but a large bag on top of the bed holds a comforter, a pillow, and sheets.
I’m too exhausted from traveling to put any effort into anything else, so I spread the sheets out over the mattress and crawl on top of them. I don’t even bother turning the light off. I simply cover myself with the comforter and tuck the pillow under my head.
I’m out cold the next minute, and all I can think is I hope tomorrow will be a better day.
Spoiler alert—it won’t be.
3
QUINTON
As usual, I’m wide awake by four o’clock even though I didn’t fall asleep until well after midnight. Sleeping a few hours a night isn’t abnormal for me. Ever since I can remember, I’ve had a hard time falling asleep. The events of the past year have only intensified my insomnia.
Rolling out of bed, I ignore the tired feeling lingering at the back of my mind and get dressed in a pair of gym shorts and a black hoodie.
I quietly walk out of the bedroom and into the kitchen, grabbing a bottle of water from the fully stocked fridge. Ren is a light sleeper. I don’t want to wake him because if I do, he’ll follow me, and I don’t need him tailing me everywhere I go.
On silent feet, I leave the small apartment without incident and find my way to the in-house gym. I love mornings because at this hour, everyone is still asleep, and I don’t have to worry about anyone watching me or force myself to put a mask on to cover up the pain. I can just be me.
The sound of my Nikes bounces off the walls of the corridor. Ahead, a single girl who keeps her head low enough that I can’t see her face scurries past me, turning into one of the rooms on the left.
The building houses all three hundred students attending this school. Guys and girls are not separated here by dorms. I guess when the parents are a bunch of criminals, the school administration doesn’t worry about the students’ virtues. Not that separation would stop sex regardless. I suppose it might help, though.
I turn the corner at the end of the corridor and locate the gym. Using my key card, I wait for the door to open automatically, and I step inside. I half expect to find someone as dedicated to their fitness as me at this hour but am pleasantly surprised to find the space unoccupied.
Wasting no time, I hop on a treadmill and start my four-mile run. I use the time to clear my head and focus on my tasks for the day. Here, the tasks are limited to attending classes, but after that, who knows what could happen. I’m only here to get away from my father, not to train, or because I need knowledge on what my parents do or who they are. This place is more or less a babysitter for me until I decide I’m ready to face what happened. And honestly, I’m not fucking sure when that will be.
By the time I’m finished with my run, beads of sweat are dripping down my face.
My heartbeat is pulsing in my ears, and the burning in my muscles is invigorating. Running gives me a high that carries me through the day. I move on from running and onto weights and then pull-ups. My muscles are burning, and I feel rejuvenated as I pull my shirt off and use it to wipe away the sweat from my face.
I check my phone and realize I’ve been gone for two hours. I’m sure Ren could figure out where I’d run off to if he wakes up, so I’m not in a hurry to get back to the room.
Chugging the rest of my water, I toss the bottle in the garbage and leave the gym.
I’ve studied the map, but the best way to get acquainted with your surroundings is to become familiar with them, which means walking every inch of this place.
The long corridor is mostly empty except for a few people who keep their heads low. I bet it’s because they don’t want to start trouble, or they want to go unnoticed by me. Little do they know, I notice everything and everyone. Ducking your head and pretending you don’t exist isn’t going to protect you. Let’s be honest: people always go for the quiet ones first.
My steps come to a screeching halt when I reach the last door at the en
d of the hallway. Large red letters are painted into the wood, spelling out the word: RAT. It doesn’t even take me a fraction of a second to figure out who resides inside that room.
Aspen Mather.
The thought of her name makes me clench my fists, and in the back of my mind, a memory sprouts.
All eyes are on us as we enter the large banquet hall. As always, when my father enters a crowd, people move out of the way, making room for us to walk through without anyone being too close. He’s like a king to all these people.
Like a flock of birds, my sister and I trail a step behind him on either side and behind us are two more guards. I glance over at Adela, who is walking with her head slightly bowed, her eyes on the ground, just like she is supposed to do when we’re in public.
Very few people know that my sisters have my father wrapped around their little fingers, and when we are in the safety of our home, they are anything but meek and obedient. This is for show and nothing more.
As the head of the Rossi empire, my father has a certain image to uphold, one that shows no mercy. He is known to be ruthless and cruel—which he is with his enemies—but never with his wife and children. Showing in public that he has a soft spot for his daughters would be seen by many as a weakness because, in our world, women are still only seen as a means to an end.
Maybe that will change in our generation, but in my father’s reign, we have to play by the rules of the kingdom.
“Xander, it’s good to see you, old friend.” A man I don’t know steps up to greet us.
“Clyde, it’s been a few years.” My father stops to shake the man’s hand, and I take my place right next to him, my sister on the other side. Someday, this will be us, shaking hands, making deals, and spilling blood.
“You remember my son, Quinton,” he introduces me, but not Adela.
“Of course, yes.” He gives me a nod, swallowing as he looks at me. I’m only sixteen, but I’m already taller than most people here. “I brought my daughter as well. Aspen, say hello to my friend, Xander.”
