‘What the fuck are you doing here, Gia?’
My stomach knots as I turn and meet the terror of a mask … one of the masks I made earlier. The skull face is twisted and the deep red chrome paint only makes it look meaner.
It’s Renny. His eyes are barely visible and he’s clothed in black, the hood from his sweatshirt drawn over his dark hair.
‘I … well, I …’Shit. WhatamI doing?
I wanted to find a little trouble, but saying that out loud sounds so stupid. He’s going to judge me and think I’m a stupid kid. Maybe I am. The annoying younger sister of his friend.
He cocks his head, letting his question hang in the space between us.
Screw it.
‘I wanted to join.’ I lift my chin and steel my spine, staring into the blackness where his eyes should be. It’s intimidatingto say the least. I have no idea what he’s thinking. ‘You guys always have so much fun. So I wanted to see.’
After a beat he shrugs a shoulder and nods his head. ‘É nóis.’
‘What does that mean?’ I frown, looking up at him.
‘It means “it’s us”.’ He looks down so the darkness of his eyes meet mine, and even through the mask, I can see them shimmer with that glow I’ve been longing for. ‘We got you. We got this. So, let’s go a little fucking crazy.’
He turns and I follow, half jogging to keep up with his long strides. I can’t help the massive grin that pulls at the corners of my mouth. ‘You’ll really let me come with you guys?’
‘You’re already here. Who am I to stop you?’
We approach a corner of the building. Renny glances around first, checking if it’s clear. He steps out and continues to scan the area.
‘Why is Tyler in the car?’ I ask. ‘Where are the other guys?’
‘I was waiting for them, but they’re taking too long.’ He pulls something from his pocket. ‘You better put this on. It’s only a respirator from the shop, but it’ll do.’
He hands me a black face mask. My fingers run over the carbon fibre mouthpiece. I slip the straps over my head and adjust the mask in place. My breath warms the skin across my face.
Renny gives an approving nod. ‘Now you’re one of us.’
‘Get back here!’ a voice booms across the grounds, making us jump.
Our heads snap up simultaneously to watch the action unfolding beside us. Two ECU students chase after two masked men carrying a huge statue of a hawk. They’re all sprinting toward us. Both guys are dressed in black, likeRenny, but the guy in the silver mask carries the hawk’s head while the one in the black mask grasps the base of the statue.
‘Is that—’ My words end on a whoosh of air from my lungs as Renny grabs my arm and rushes us back to the cars.
I can barely keep up and stumble a few times, but his grip is strong and he hauls me to my feet. It feels as though I’m gliding across the lawn. He rushes to the rear door of his WRX, opening it widely.
I stand back as the masked men approach, gasping for air. They dump the ECU statue onto the back seat with a thud. Tyler starts the car, now wearing the hockey-style mask.
‘What the fuck is she doing here?’ Jace screams through his silver chrome skull mask.
Renny laughs wildly before adjusting the statue to slam the door shut. ‘She wanted to fuck around and find out.’ His mirror-black eyes give me a wink through the depths of his mask before he rushes to the passenger door.
Jace points at his Mustang. ‘Get in the car!’ he screams.
My feet falter for a second, a second I don’t have. I don’t even comprehend what’s happening before hands grip my shoulders from behind, holding me in place.
Shit. This is actually happening.
‘Got her! Lex, hurry up!’ My assailant screams at the blond guy catching up. I crane my neck around and see the same face that was hurting Chuckie yesterday. Erik.
My pulse races as I writhe against Erik’s hold. Pushing, pulling and twisting, anything I can to break free, but he’s so strong.
