Page 81 of Hide and Seek

MYLES

My phone pingswith a text notification. I pause walking and move to the side of the path so I’m out of the way. It takes a few seconds and some careful balancing, but I’m able to pull my phone out of my pocket without dropping the pile of books and coffee I’m carrying.

Cipher: Happy Birthday!

Smiling, I type out a reply one-handed.

Phoenix: thanks :)

Cipher: I was going to get you a present but decided that renewing our friendship subscription is the perfect gift for a literal billionaire

Phoenix: best present ever

Phoenix: and I’m not a billionaire, my parents are

Cipher: said the guy at a fancy pants college for billionaire kids

Phoenix: point taken

Cipher: I’m just fucking with you. Not about renewing our friendship subscription as your bday gift because I’m broke as fuck, but the $ thing

Cipher: see you online later?

Phoenix: yup

Cipher: hope your day doesn’t suck too hard

Phoenix: here’s hoping

I wait to see if he has more to say, but my screen goes dark without another text.

“Don’t move,” a voice barks from my left.

I freeze, my heart jumping into my throat as fear and panic replace my earlier distraction.

A guard in a gray uniform and holding a shiny assault rifle steps in front of me. His expression is hard, and the eager gleam in his eye makes my stomach drop.

My first thought when I heard the loud command was that it was one of the Kings or someone who works for them, and I was about to get the shit kicked out of me or abducted in broad daylight in the middle of campus.

The guard in front of me works for Belmont House, and that’s really not much better.

I was so distracted by the text from Cipher and my all-around shitty day that I didn’t notice I stopped right in front of the gate of Belmont House.

“What do you think you’re doing?” he demands, his finger already on the trigger of his shiny black rifle.

The guards at Belmont House have a reputation for being assholes who love to go on power trips, and they especially enjoy harassing male students who walk by the gates.

I’ve never been stopped by them before, but I’ve seen other students get harassed and usually make a point to avoid Belmont House if I can help it. Of fucking course this happens on the one day I don’t bother taking the longer route to my class.

“Walking,” I say stupidly, my eyes on how he keeps tapping on the trigger with his finger.

“ID.” He holds out one hand. “And don’t make any sudden moves.”

Slowly, I start to lower my coffee cup to the ground so I’ll have a free hand to get my ID.

“Don’t move,” he snaps and grips his rifle with both hands again.

I stare at him for a few beats. How the hell am I supposed to get my ID out of my pocket if I’m not allowed to move?