Dylan looked torn. “I know what you mean. It would be cool to check it out, but it does seem really risky at the same time.”
“Don’t get me wrong, Vee,” Cherry said, looking at me again. “I still want to help you with the overall plan. But I think we should stick to safer things. Things we can control more easily. Like the Jennifer thing.”
“Jennifer thing?” Ginny said, head tilting slightly.
Cherry’s eyes widened. “Oh my god, my brain is so scattered today. I completely forgot to tell you guys about this earlier!” she said, gaze whipping around the table. “I found her today. Jennifer Albright!”
“Wait… is that the girl who totally snapped after she got caught in the Selection?” Dylan asked.
“Yeah, that’s the one.”
“You found her already?” I asked, brows shooting up. I’d expected it to take weeks of calling around, not mere days.
“Yup. She’s in Lakeside Psychiatric Center, about thirty minutes north of here. And by the way… I got us in for a visit this Thursday afternoon.” A small, triumphant smile was playing on Cherry’s lips now. “I faked the family angle like we talked about. I had to improvise a whole backstory, but it worked. You and I are now distant cousins visiting from Seattle, Vee. How’s that for commitment to the plan?”
“Oh my god,” I breathed, feeling the small, fierce thrill of forward motion. “That’s amazing.”
“I know, right? I can’t believe I forgot to tell you,” she said. “I guess the whole tunnel thing blew it right out of my brain.”
“Which I’m not done talking about, by the way,” Jeremiah interjected. “If that tunnel really leads to the Dionysus estate like we suspect, then it’s byfarour best shot at figuring out what those guys actually do over there. Way better than visiting some crazy girl in an asylum.”
“Okay, firstly, Jer, that’s super offensive to people with mental health issues,” Cherry said, eyes narrowing. “And secondly, something bad obviously happened to Jennifer afterthose guys hunted her, and that’s what made her develop all these issues. Also, look what happened to Calista! The Dionysus Club is bad fucking news, full stop.”
“I get that.” Jeremiah lifted his hands, backing off a little. “And I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to downplay it all. It’s just… I really think this tunnel thing is our best shot at figuring stuff out.”
“Not if it comes at the expense of our physical and mental health,” Cherry replied, slowly shaking her head. She turned her attention back to me. “I mean, no offense, Vee, but it’s obviously affecting you pretty badly. You’ve only been here a week and a half, and already you’re constantly on edge. Always looking over your shoulder like the Devil himself is stalking you.”
“Okay, nowyou’rethe one being offensive,” Jeremiah said in an acid tone. “Vee is totally fine.”
“Guys, please…” I rubbed my temples. “I really don’t want us to argue like this.”
Cherry drew in a slow breath and reached across the table, resting her hand on mine. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. I’m just worried about you.”
I let out a sigh. “It’s okay. And honestly, you’re not wrong about me being on edge,” I said. “Something actually happened to me a few days ago. I just… didn’t tell you.”
Jeremiah frowned. “What are you talking about?”
Slowly and haltingly, I told them about the message written in blood in my dorm room.
“I only went back to my dorm this morning,” I added, eyes fixed on the table. I couldn’t stand to see their horrified faces. “I’m really sorry I kept it from you. I was just scared something would happen to all of you if I made a big deal out of it and dragged you into it. I guess… I thought if I kept quiet about it, maybe it would stop with me.”
“I knew it,” Cherry whispered, her voice trembling. “Looking into this Dionysus stuff isnotsafe.”
“I totally understand if you guys want to stop,” I said, forcing myself to meet their eyes again. “Not just the tunnel thing. All of it. But… I can’t stop. I need to know what happened to Calista.”
Cherry rubbed her forehead again, letting out a deep sigh. “You’re going to go into that tunnel alone if we don’t go with you, aren’t you?”
I hesitated, then nodded. “Yes.”
“Well, I’m still in,” Jeremiah said quietly. “I’m not letting you deal with this shit alone, Violet.”
“Me neither,” Ginny added, looking at me. “I mean, yeah, it’s dangerous. But I can’t just sit back and let you do it all by yourself.”
Dylan murmured in agreement, and after a long pause, Cherry finally sighed and said, “I’m in too.”
“I thought you said—”
She lifted a hand to cut me off. “I still think it’s insanely risky, but if we’re doing this, we’re doing it together. No way I’m leaving you on your own.”
