“Oh?”
“It’s probably best you make an appearance. There’s going to be a vote about the leadership of the Club. Courtney’s hoping you guys don’t show up.”
“So Trey and Quinn and Ayaz don’t know about this?”
“Trey knows,” she whispered back. “I think he’s trying to protect you by keeping you away, but I believe you deserve the chance to stick up for yourself.”
I was touched. Nancy had never been one of the worst bullies, but she had laughed along with the others when Trey and Courtney filled my locker with rotting meat and Ayaz had tossed maggots in my breakfast. She was guilty, too, but she seemed to be trying to make amends. I felt a familiar stab at the idea that if I could make my revenge happen, she’d be hurt by it, too.
“Thanks, Nancy.”
“No worries. See you at the bloodbath.”
After class, I grabbed Greg at his locker. “Eldritch Club meeting tonight,” I whispered, casting my eyes around the corridor, hoping Courtney or one of her minions weren’t keeping tabs on us. “Can you tell Andre?”
“If I see him.” Greg stacked his books inside his locker. “He didn’t come back to our room last night.”
“Shit.” He hadn’t sat with us at breakfast or lunch, either. “But wait, I saw him in class today. English Lit.”
Greg nodded. “Yeah. He was in my chemistry lab. But he didn’t say anything to me.”
“He never says anything.”
“You know what I mean.” Greg slammed his locker. Hard. The metal banged, making him jump. “Sorry. I’m still not sleeping well. I’m a little jumpy. I just wish I knew why he’s avoiding us.”
Andre’s disappearances played on my mind as I made my way back to my room after dinner. If he was seeing a girl, that was awesome, but I wished he’d talk to me or Greg about it. Especially Greg – that guy needed one less thing to worry about. I closed my bedroom door, turned around and—
A fist swung out and slammed into my face.
“Ow!” I staggered back, cupping my hand over my nose. I tasted metal.
A figure stepped out of the shadows. The light clicked on, blinding me momentarily. “Hello, gutter whore,” Courtney snarled. Behind her, John Hyde-Jones grinned maniacally.
Shit.
How did they get into my room?
Adrenaline pounded behind my eyes. My fight-or-flight response was permanently set tofight. I swung my fist, whooping with delight at the satisfying thwack it made when I connected with Courtney’s jaw.
Her head snapped back. She staggered and tripped over the bed, going down in a tornado of shrieking and flailing limbs. Unfortunately, that only created space for her goon squad to close in on me.
John leered in my face as he reached out to grab me. I ducked and got one good, solid kick between his legs before someone pinned my arms behind my back.
“Fuck… her… up!” John gasped, dropping to his knees. His face twisted in agony as he cupped his balls.
“With pleasure.” Tillie surged forward, an evil smirk on her face.
I kicked and screamed and struggled with everything I had. My foot slammed into Tillie’s stomach and she doubled over. But there were six of them and one of me, and not a lot of space to move. Derek swiped my legs from under me and slammed me on the floor. My jaw cracked on the bare stone. Stars danced in my vision. My ears rang and for a moment I forgot where I was.
Scritch-scritch-scritch.The rats circled overhead, roused by the smell of blood.
Then the group started kicking me, drawing me back to my body and all the trouble I was. Pain rained down on me – a flurry of feet and fists and foul words that shattered the adrenaline so I felt every blow. My mind struggled to process what was happening, what I should do in this situation. I tried to go for the shard in my sleeve, but someone kicked it out of my hand. Heavy boots crushed my fingers, pinning my wrist to the ground.
As the blows rained down, the god –theirgod – cried in its prison. Vile visions forced their way into my head as it lost another sliver of control, as its power waned and its grip on our world slid even further. I wondered vaguely why the students couldn’t feel it, but then a swift kick to the stomach slammed the air from my lungs and I didn’t wonder about anything.
I curled into a ball, protecting my face with my hands as I tried to lash out with my feet. They grabbed my ankles, held me down. “Spread her legs,” I heard John say. Dimly, I knew this was bad, but I couldn’t force my body to move as fast as I needed to.
“There’s no time,” Courtney leaned over me. She hocked a wad of spit into my face.
