It basically talks about how the academy is dusting stuff under the rug due to the fact that the students who attend the academy are from wealthy families. What really snags my attention is that the reporter who wrote the article interviewed someone who wanted to remain anonymous. And they were quoted talking about how a secret society hazed them, and it started with someone writing a message on their door. They don’t quote what the message said, but reading this sends a chill through me.
Perhaps if I can get a hold of the reporter, I can persuade them to tell me what the message was—if they know, anyway. But the reporter who wrote the article is labeled as anonymous, too. However, the online journal that published it is listed there—The Golden Crown Royalty News.
“I wonder if Wren knows anyone who works there.” Do I feel comfortable enough to ask her?
I’m not sure.
And I’m not even positive the message on my door was for me. It could’ve been for Lily. Either way, I want to know the truth. Because if I’ve learned anything from northside, it’s that the more facts you know, the safer you are.
I lie down on my bed and hug my pillow against my chest. When I decided to accept my scholarship to the academy, I thought I’d be safe here. But I don’t know now. And that makes me question if I’ll ever feel safe.
CHAPTER 19
MADDISON
Somewhere between researchingthe school and attempting to return to doing my schoolwork, I fall asleep and stay that way the entire night. I’m woken up by the alarm I set on my phone screeching like a banshee on crack.
I blink my eyes open and, with a groan, fumble around on the nightstand until my fingers brush my phone. Then I crack my eyes open and silence the alarm. I almost fall back asleep but force myself to sit up. I rub my eyes with the heels of my hands before throwing the covers off of me.
It’s complicated to get up, slip on a pair of running shorts, a tank top, and my sneakers, but I manage. I pull on a pair of sweats over my shorts, put on my sneakers, pull up my hair into a high ponytail, grab a hoodie, and endeavor into the living room with an empty water bottle.
It’s dark in the room, so I flip on a lamp and pad softly over to the sink, not wanting to wake Lily up. Once my water bottle is full, I toss it and my phone into a bag and head out of the room.
The hallway is eerily silent, and through the windows, the sky is lingering with hints of nighttime, only a pale trickle of sunlight is visible as it creeps over the hill line.
“God, River, you’re nuts,” I mumble to myself as I make a turn toward the exit doors?—
And I crash into someone with so much force I stumble back.
“Shit,” the person curses. “Are you okay?”
When I lift my gaze, I discover the person I ran into is none other than Finn. He’s wearing a green T-shirt and gym shorts, along with sneakers, and his eyes look less bloodshot today.
“Yeah, I’m just peachy.” I adjust the handle of my bag. “Sorry about that. I’m not used to functioning this early in the morning, so I’m basically running in zombie mode.”
He laughs. “Well, at least you’re still amusing in zombie mode.”
“Am I?” I question with an arch of my brow.
He grins, but that morphs into confusion. “Why are you awake so early?”
“Why are you?”
“I’m heading to football practice. I was just heading back to my room because I forgot my water bottle.”
“Well, I’m heading to practice, too, but for running.”
“Really? I didn’t know that happened this early.”
“It doesn’t. I’m just doing a run with your brother.”
“River?” He gapes at me. “Seriously?”
“Yeah, seriously. I don’t know why you’re so surprised by this. I think it’s been made pretty known around this school that him and I are spending time today.” I make a mocking gasp. “Which is scandalous, at least with the way everyone is acting.”
“It sort of is,” he reminds me. “Remember, my brother is betrothed.”
“So? We’re not dating. Hell, we’re not even friends.”
