Page 63 of Quarterback Sneak

We get to our rooms and go our separate ways. “Night, Tessa.”

“Night, Evie.”

I slip inside, still smiling. The smile drops from my face when I see the expression on Sam’s face. I start over towards my bed. “What did you do?”

I raise my eyebrows at the animosity in her voice. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

She crosses her arms and scoffs. “Sure, you don’t.”

“Sam, if this is about Jace, he needs help. He—”

She laughs loudly. “Jace needs help?”

I turn away. “I’m not going to do this with you.”

She laughs again, but this time, something about it sends chills up my spine. I turn back just as something hits the back of my head, and I drop.

____________

I try to open my eyes, but they feel weighted down. I can’t quite place what’s going on, but I feel like I’m going to throw up. I feel...I’m moving. That wakes me right up, and I pry my eyes open. The world is upside down, and I can’t see anything in the pitch dark. I realize somebody is carrying me. I’m draped over somebody’s shoulder. With a cry of alarm, I push myself up. An arm of steel bands around the back of my legs. “Now, now, now, girlfriend of mine. That’s not a good idea.”

I swear every muscle in my body tenses at the sound of that voice. “Jace?” My voice is shaky. Only his dark laugh confirms that it is indeed him. “What are you doing?” I try and fail to keep the panic from my voice.

“Aw, don’t be scared, Little Lamb. I’m just taking you to my boss.”

His words scare me more than I’ve ever been scared in my life. “Your boss?”

“Yeah. He's going to love you.”

The way he says it is not comforting at all, not at all. “Jace, I don’t know what’s going on, but you need to take me back to my dorm right now.” I lift my head but can’t see anything in the dark. I can barely make out dark shapes, like we’re in a forest maybe? Fear takes hold of me and grips me tight. “Right now, Jace.” I make my voice as authoritative as I possibly can. When he only laughs, panic takes hold of me. I feel like I can’t breathe. I try to suck in oxygen and keep the panic at bay, or I’ll never escape. I flop back down on his shoulder like I've given up and then just wait. I don’t know what I’m waiting for, but I find itwhen he has to release his hold on my legs to pull a branch out of the way. I shove off of him and aim a well-placed kick at his lower regions. He stumbles back with a hoarse grunt. I crash to the ground but am up and running a moment later. I slam into something after only a few steps.

“Going somewhere?”

I recognize Sam’s voice instantly. “Sam, you have to help me. Please!”

She laughs, but it’s cold and sends a shiver down my spine. “Yeah, I don’t think that’s going to happen, Evie.”

Hurt and shock courses through me. “Sam?”

“Oh, don’t play the pity card. You had to know I could barely stand you; I was only playing a part. Webothwere playing a part.”

Her words are like glass shards on my soul, but I try not to let them affect me. “What do you mean?” I try but fail to keep the hurt from my voice.

“Oh Evie, come on, did you really think we were friends? I can’t stand you. You’re naive and annoying and way too trusting. Did you ever stop to wonder why you were in a room with a junior when like everybody else in our dorm was a freshman or sophomore?”

I blink my eyes and refuse to cry at her cruel words. “What’s going on?” I’m proud of the fact that my voice doesn’t shake. I very carefully lift my pointer finger to the pocket of my leggings and feel for my cell phone. Thankfully, they didn’t think to take it from me.

“We’re taking you to our Master.”

I take in her words.Okay, that doesn’t sound ominous at all. Time to play up that naive and too trusting facet. “Okay, but he’s not going to like hurt me or anything, right?”

“Sure,” Sam says, and I can hear the smirk in her voice. “Where have you been?” She snaps.

I feel more than see Jace join us. “I’m pretty sure I’m not going to be able to have kids after her kick,” he grunts out in anger.

“Poor baby,” Sam trills.

“Now tie her up and let’s go.”