Total pages in book: 187
Estimated words: 184867 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 924(@200wpm)___ 739(@250wpm)___ 616(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 184867 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 924(@200wpm)___ 739(@250wpm)___ 616(@300wpm)
I let her run.
I watched those little feet dash off into the darkness beyond the maze, awakening the violent animal caged inside me.
Something about that soft face with plump cheeks like apples made me want to sink my teeth into her and taste her sweetness.
God, I wanted nothing more than to chase her all the way through the entire fucking maze and make her scream. Become the force of terror everyone sees me as.
Until I saw that smile.
That sweet, innocent pink-lipped smile that could make a man fall to his knees and beg.
I take a sip of my vodka, but the alcohol does nothing to quench my rage.
I’ve never hated anything more in my life …
Until I saw that fucking smile.
No one fucking smiles at me.
Especially not after they just witnessed me kill.
And she fucking smiles?
My fingers dig into the glass so harshly it breaks underneath their strength, shattering into a million pieces onto my lap.
People look at me like I’ve lost my damn mind.
“Are you okay?” Caleb asks. “Dude?”
But I don’t even care if I’m bleeding.
All I can think about is how I’m going to crush that smile … and destroy that girl.
CRYSTAL
Later that week
In class, I can barely focus on what the teacher’s trying to say. I hear his words, but they go in one ear and out the other, and the words on the board in front of me are a jumbled mess in my mind.
I close my eyes to take a breath, but all I see are those piercing gray eyes staring back at me.
I swallow away the lump in my throat and look at my mobile phone to check the time. I feel like I’m a sitting duck, waiting to be hunted and killed.
I can’t stop thinking about what I saw.
Ares saw me. I know he did.
So why didn’t he confront me?
He didn’t even say a word. Even though I know he must’ve seen my guilt-ridden expression when he brushed that droplet of blood off my face.
It’s almost as if he was … taunting me.
They killed those two men like it meant nothing.
And now I can’t help but wonder … what will those boys do to their only witness?
I scroll down on my laptop, taking in all the information I can find on those boys. Blaine Navarro’s whole existence revolves around some kind of dojo. Apparently, he’s a black belt and teaches people next to his college studies, but I don’t know what kind of martial arts or what it even means.
Then there’s Caleb Preston, whose father is a successful businessman, but in every photo, Caleb looks miserable. And his mother is nowhere to be seen.
“Hey, what’s up?”
The sudden intrusion makes me slam my laptop closed real quick.
Brooke, my friend from a different sorority, sits down beside me. “Wait, were you looking at someone’s profile?” Her eyes glitter with interest.
“No one in particular. Just some old friends,” I lie.
Her eyes narrow. “Sure.” She places her hand on my shoulder. “You don’t have to lie to me. I recognized Caleb Preston.”
My eyes widen. “Shhh. Don’t say it out loud.”
“Wait, don’t tell me you have a crush on him?” She makes a concerned face.
Blood drains from my face. “No.”
She giggles. “I won’t tell a soul, promise.”
“I don’t!”
Her smirk only grows bigger. “Want me to introduce you to him?”
“Ladies. Keep it quiet, please,” the librarian calls to us.
Brooke hides her face behind her hand and whispers, “Oops. My fault.”
“Hey guys, care if I study with you?” Kayla asks as she smacks her books down on the table right beside me.
“Sure, no problem,” I reply, hoping it’ll keep Brooke from asking more questions.
“Don’t think we’ve met before,” Brooke says, and they shake hands. “Brooke.”
“Kayla, I’m her friend.”
“Same.” Brooke smiles. “We met at a party during summer break.”
Kayla pulls out a chair. “Oh, so you’re the girl who taught her how to drink.”
“Oh God.” I bury my face in my hands.
“What? That’s a good thing.” Kayla bumps into me with her hips. “You need to relax more.”
“Exactly what I said,” Brooke says, getting up and packing her things. “But anyway, I have a class soon. See you later, okay?”
I wave as she walks off. “See ya!”
Kayla sits down and opens her books. “You know, I heard the Phantom Society is having a party soon.”
I put my laptop away. “So?”
“Wanna go together?”
I sigh. I really don’t want to put myself in more danger.
She smiles and jerks my arm. “C’mon. It’ll be fun.”
When she puts it like that, it’s hard to say no.
“Fine, fine, I’ll come,” I whisper.
“Yay,” she says with a grin. But when she glances over her shoulder and spots an angry librarian ready to kick us out, she says, “Sorry! We’ll be quiet now.”
Caleb
I chuck my bag on the table in the hallway and make my way to the common room. “Man, I’m beat.”