The tunnel had been blocked up.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
This can’t be a coincidence.
I felt around the edges of the tunnel, but whoever had bricked it up had done an excellent job. It wasn’t moving. I couldn’t wiggle any of the stones free.
With nothing else to do, I re-emerged into the pleasure garden. The twisted statues mocked me from their plinths –she will die down there because of you.
Our one chance was slipping away. I couldn’t let that happen.
I raced back to the school. I didn’t need to check the doors to know they’d be all locked up. They didn’t want me to escape this time. Quinn had said there were at least two other passages into the school, but he’d never shown them to me, and even if I did know where they were, I had no way of knowing if they were bricked up, too. I counted windows along the dormitory block, stopping beneath Quinn’s. I tossed pebbles at his window, but no one stirred. I peered into the dining hall and many classrooms, but they were all deserted.During the day? What’s going on?
I clambered back up the tree and tried to peer into Trey’s window. But the room beyond was cast in darkness. I couldn’t see a thing. I rapped on the glass but no one came to the window.
Where are they? What are they doing to my boys?
The Eldritch Club cars were still in the parking lot. I briefly considered hotwiring one and taking off. But I couldn’t abandon Zehra, or Greg and Andre, or Trey or Quinn or Ayaz. For someone who swore she’d never trust another human being again, I sure had a lot of reasons tying me down to this demented place.
I circled the building, hoping by chance there would be a first-floor window open. I even tried the lock on the maintenance shed so I could find some tools to dig out the stone. No such luck. The thought started to nag at me, that maybe I’d reacted too hastily. What if Zehra wasn’t trapped inside, but it had just taken her longer than expected to make it to the cave? What if she was waiting formewhile I was running around out here?
So I dragged my broken, tired body back to that freezing cave and waited. I waited until the sun fell below the horizon, and then I kept waiting through the long and bitter dark night. I sheltered under the ledge, hugging my knees and biting my lip to keep my teeth from chattering. Nightmares tugged on the edge of my consciousness, but I refused to give over to them. Not here. Not so close to the god’s subterranean prison.
From the cave, the oppressive darkness watched me, waiting for its chance to strike. I refused to give it that chance.
Zehra never showed up.
Sick with cold and worry, I waited until the sun rose high enough that I could see a fraction inside the cave. I felt around for the metal box the guys kept there and shoved the soap molds inside. Then I trudged back through the trees, heading to the school.
The bell rang just as I limped toward the main entrance. Shit. Mid-year exams started today. I hadn’t studied. I hadn’t showered. I didn’t even know what my first exam would be. But I needed to find the guys, so I joined the crowd of students pouring into the dining hall, which had been converted into an examination room. I searched the crowd for one of my friends, but couldn’t see any of them.
Something was wrong. Nothing was adding up. What had the Eldritch Club done to them?
Numb with worry, I took a seat at one of the desks. At the front of the room, Dr. Halsey barked instructions, but I didn’t hear a word. All around me, students whispered about my torn clothes and disheveled appearance.
Finally, I saw two figures I recognized – Greg and Andre were escorted in by Professor Atwood and deposited at the front of the room. Within moments, Greg had two spitballs stuck to the back of his chair. I turned around and scanned every face. Neither Quinn, Ayaz or Trey were anywhere in the room. There were no spare desks.
Where are they?Quinn, I could almost understand skipping class. But Trey wouldnevermiss an exam.
And when I thought about it, Ayaz had been missing ever since he’d gone off with Ms. West. A knife twisted in my stomach.They’re in trouble. I know they are.
“Hazel, eyes to the front of the room,” Dr. Halsey said, not unkindly. Professor Atwood handed her a note. She unfolded it, pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose. When she looked at me again, her gaze was hard.
“Hazel Waite, report to the headmistress’ office.”
Chapter Thirty-Eight
I thought about running as soon as I exited the dining hall, but Ms. West must have anticipated that, because she’d sent Professor Atwood. Mr. Dexter waited in the corridor to escort me as well. The two of them flanked me as I trudged across the quad and through the atrium to the headmistress’ door.
I dragged my feet, rubbing mud into her plush carpet. The headmistress sat behind her desk, her fingers steepled together in a pyramid in front of her. Atwood and Dexter moved to the back of the room, talking in low voices to a man I didn’t recognize. Behind Ms. West, one arm leaning casually against the fireplace, a pair of icicle eyes stared at me with the detached fascination of a serial killer. Vincent Bloomberg.
“Miss Waite, please, have a seat.” Ms. West shuffled some papers.
“Why have I been pulled out of my exam?” I demanded.
“There’s no need to take that tone with me. After your behavior in my office yesterday and then absenting yourself from the dorms last night, this disciplinary matter demanded immediate attention. We’re concerned about you.” She peered down her nose at my uniform. “I see you spent the night camping in the forest like an animal. Students caught sleeping outside their own rooms receive an immediate 20 point demerit.”
“Since you didn’t catch me sleeping, I guess we’re fine.” I slammed one shoe against the rug, digging the heel into the deep pile. It squelched. Ms. West’s mouth puckered.
