Total pages in book: 177
Estimated words: 178117 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 891(@200wpm)___ 712(@250wpm)___ 594(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 178117 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 891(@200wpm)___ 712(@250wpm)___ 594(@300wpm)
So I will stop it now.
This bonfire near The Edge will be the last night spent at this godforsaken university for me.
I love you, sis.
And whatever you do, don’t ever get involved with those boys of the Skull & Serpent Society.
xoxo
Eve
The Edge. A set of gloomy rocky cliffs just beyond Priory Forest with a huge, beautiful waterfall cascading into the deep.
Or so I’ve been told.
I’ve never been here until today, but the scene matches my sister's description.
Before her texts turned eerily dark.
What happened to her? Before she came to the university, she was the prime example of a happy student. And now … these texts she’s been sending me lately are riddled with pessimism and hopelessness.
God, I hope she’s okay.
Laughter erupts from the bonfire area, and I tuck my phone back into my pocket.
The guys of that Skull & Serpent Society chug a whole flask of liquor with ease, sharing it among one another.
One girl lunges at Dylan and hugs him tightly around the neck, throwing her boobs into his face while also twirling her fingers through his platinum-blond hair like he’s a plaything. Another girl tickles Alistair’s bulky arm, making him look at her while he’s trying to tell the rest of his story.
But the worst of all is Felix and the girl on his lap, playfully toying with his short hair while he looks like he wants to kill her.
I’m not sure he’d pass up the opportunity if given the chance.
I push through the sea of trees, moving farther and farther away from the party. The more distance that’s created, the quieter it gets, until nothing but the sound of the waves softly hitting the cliffs is heard. Beyond the horizon, there’s only water and a moon shining brightly above.
I pass the last line of trees and come to an abrupt halt, grabbing one of the trunks as my breath falters.
There, on the edge, my sister stands with her arms wide open.
Her eyes turn to me, the glossiness in them heart-shattering.
A single tear trickles down her cheeks.
And then she jumps.
PENELOPE
Weeks later
“Are you sure about this?” my mother asks as my father sets my bags on my bed.
“Definitely,” I reply.
Mom throws me a concerned look. “But you know the history of this university…”
I know what she's getting at. But she won’t say it out loud.
This was my sister’s university. The place she once called home.
And now it’ll be my home too for the time being.
Mom suddenly gives me a big hug. “I just want you to be okay.”
“I know,” I reply.
“It’s not too late to change your mind,” she adds.
“I’m not gonna change my mind,” I reply, glancing at my dad, who’s been awfully quiet.
She used to let me leave so easily, but now? It’s like she’s sticking on me like tape.
Finally, she pulls away, allowing me to breathe again.
“And if you need us, call, okay?” Mom adds, grabbing my shoulders.
“Yeah,” I reply. “I’m fine. I’m fine. I just need to get used to this place, that’s all. Piece of cake.”
She sighs out loud and kisses me on the cheek.
“C’mon,” my dad says, and he tugs at her arm to get her to move. “Let’s go so she can get settled in.”
“If anything happens, text me,” Mom reiterates. “Immediately.”
She must be panicking that I might do the same as my sister, and I get that. “Don’t worry, I will.”
I nod as Dad physically drags her out of the room and shuts the door. “Good luck, Penelope,” he yells. “You know I’m just one call away.”
I grin and shake my head. Obviously, my mother’s been having a difficult time knowing I wanted to go to Spine Ridge. After what my sister went through, this should have been the last university on my list.
But I'm not here just to study.
I'm here for revenge.
I grab my sister’s diary and open it up, sifting through the pages, picking apart all the names, the images, the text she wrote alongside their faces. I’ve imprinted everything in my brain to remember everyone who ever harmed her.
I will fucking find them. And when I do, there's gonna be hell to pay.
Noise across the street distracts me, and I walk up to the window. A bunch of guys throw beer at each other outside a dorm. One of them stumbles over the puddle and falls on his ass, and they all pour their beer over his face, then laugh.
What a ridiculous ritual. Obviously only something a fraternity could come up with.
I roll my eyes and turn to unpack instead.
Suddenly, my door swings open, and a girl walks in, dragging her suitcases behind her. Her curly black hair whips over her shoulders, sweat dripping down her forehead as she plops the bags down onto the second bed in the room.
“Hi!” she says. “Sorry for the rude entry. Jesus, this building has one too many staircases.” An awkward laugh ensues.