“You ready?” Daisy asked, when we’d gotten off the chairlift and skied to the top of the run. My chest clenched.Um, absolutely not.But what was I going to do, walk back down? Wind whipped my hair against my face as I forced myself to gaze down at the steep descent—a sheer icy drop. Taking a deep breath, I nudged the tips of my skis forward.Okay, I can do this. Keep the skis straight.
“Let’s go,” Daisy yelled over the wind. She pushed off, a streak of neon orange disappearing down the steep slope in a flash.
I tentatively tilted my skis forward over the edge and tried to imitate the way she’d done it. And suddenly I was falling, stomach fluttering, skidding down fast. Wind lashed past as my skis bumped over the snow.I’m doing it!I was cutting back and forth through the snow like Daisy, lungs burning with crisp cold air as I bent my knees, absorbing the uneven surface. A rush of adrenalinepumped through me as I soared as fast as I’d ever gone. Pines blurred past. My jacket whistled in the wind.This is what it feels like to fly.
I was also fully aware that at any moment I could hit a chunk of ice and tumble forward into a tangle of skis, poles, and snow…Maybe that was part of the thrill.
“You’re doing great, come on!” Daisy waved at me from where she was waiting at a fork in the run.
I followed as she disappeared down one path—a Black Diamond, the sign read. I grew increasingly uneasy as the trail narrowed, snow thickening, trees springing into our path. Somehow I’d followed Daisy off the main run.
“Where are we going?” I shouted over the wind, but she didn’t turn around.
I stopped to catch my breath, throat raw from the dry cold air. Now the trees blocked the wind, and I only heard the faint creaking of their branches. I grew more anxious as the tiny dot that was Daisy’s orange jacket disappeared into the distance.Shit. Where’d she go?
A branch broke behind me and I whipped around—nothing.
After struggling for another stretch, I stopped. I was going to seriously injure myself if I tried to keep going. My hands were numb as I fumbled with the bindings. Once I managed to get them off, I looked back the way I’d come. I was lost. My face heated with anger.I can’t believe she left me here.
That was when movement in my periphery caught my attention.
I could feel it. Someone was watching me. Orsomething.A branch shuddered overhead, sending snow falling over me. I heard a forced exhale.What the hell was that?
I turned my head. Beady black eyes stared back.
Bracing to run, I squinted into the dense snowfall, heart hammering in my chest. The wind whistled through the treetops as I held my breath, until moments later, two deer emerged from the trees. The first had long antlers, sharp as blades, and steam coming from its nostrils. The animal was muscular and three times my size—only feet away.He could kill me.
He turned his head and we stared at each other, wonderingwhich of us was going to react. I wanted to run, but hadn’t I read somewhere you weren’t supposed to run from animals? That it triggered a chase instinct? Was that for a buck or a bear? But there was also something captivating about him—being so close. Before I could move, he bowed his head and took off. The smaller one followed.
When I was pushing myself to my feet there was a hugeCRACK—a branch had broken behind me, loud as a gunshot, and a heavy weight on my shoulders made my heart stop. I dropped down in the snow, screaming until I heard…laughter?
Daisy’s, Cecily’s, and Kai’s voices. Cecily laughing so hard tears welled in her eyes. And Kai was keeled over, clutching her stomach. My fear was replaced by anger.Jesus Christ.
“You should have seen your face!” Cecily said, wiping a tear from her cheek.
Daisy stifled a laugh and looked at me, concerned. “I’m sorry, don’t be mad.”
“You guys are assholes,” I said, sinking back into the snow as my heart slowed. “You took five years off my life.”
“Sorry. But we came to let you know”—Cecily’s eyes lit up as she reached into her coat, revealing the amber glass vial—“whoever is last down the mountain has to put the drugs in Matthew’s drink.”
I, of course, was the last down the mountain.
By the time we’d gotten settled at the cabin that afternoon, the altitude was really getting to me. I had the start of a low, throbbing headache, and my nose kept bleeding on and off.
—
That night, wemade margaritas and invited everyone over for a party. It was the four of us, Cecily’s boyfriend Theodore, Lila, and other Greystone members and alums pouring in and out of the cabin. The altitude made one drink seem like two…two seem like four…and pretty soon I was drunk in the hot tub between Daisy and Cecily as Afrojack’s “Take Over Control” blared over the speakers.
Needing a break, I went to the room to look for something and saw movement outside the window. Professor DuPont was talking toa few alums, probably trying to get more donations out of them that he could siphon into his personal accounts.
Despite being lightheaded from the alcohol, my anxiety rose as I thought of what I had to do. He was distracted. Now would be a good time.
I filled my drink in the kitchen and returned to the back deck. As the party elevated, people turning into blurred shapes, their voices loud and echoing, I knew this was a terrible idea. Maybe I should try to get out of it. I could come up with an excuse. Say I forgot.
Just as I was thinkingt they’d forgotten about it, Cecily leaned over and whispered in my ear, “Let’s do it now.” And my pulse quickened.
I finished the rest of my drink, hoping it would calm my nerves. Cecily exited the hot tub and wrapped a towel around herself. She gave my shoulder a squeeze and hopped off to find Matthew.
