Page 94 of Shadows Within

I walk over to the steel table and lean against it.I need to find her. I swear to God if they’ve hurt her.My thoughts spiral.

“Fuck!” I yell and throw the table across the room.

I can’t be here anymore.I run upstairs and outside. All the other pledges have already left. I pull my phone out of my pocket and call the only person I know will help.

“Hey Callum, I’m just with some of the other guys can I—”

“They took her.”

Silence. I don’t need to tell him who, he already knows.

“I need your help.”

“What do you need me to do?”

“Can you go look around campus? And around the houses of some of the Highers? Harrison, I can’t lose her.” My vision fogs.

“Okay. I’ll let you know if I find anything.” I hang up and get into my car.

I call her—there’s no answer. I already knew there wasn’t going to be anyone on the other side of the line. I listen to her voicemail.

“Hey, you’ve reached Scarlett. I missed your call but leave a message and I’ll get back to you.”

I replay it as I back out of the driveway.

“Hey, you’ve reached Scarlett. I missed your call but leave a message and I’ll get back to you.”

I call three more times just to hear her voice.

I drive down Main Street, unable to concentrate. I think about that first time I saw her, years ago, at the Burger Bar. I remember the way her hair fell to one side when she brushed it out of her eyes, and the way that she pursed and parted her lips when she concentrated on the book she was reading. It’s fucking crazy how I fell for her the moment I saw her. I made her mine, and she still is mine—she always will be.I need to fight for her harder now than ever.

It wasn’t long after the first time I saw her that I started fighting. God, I’d do anything to make someone bleed right now. Someone who deserves to pay, anyone but her. I call him instead.

“Hello, Callum.”

“Did you do this?”

“You’ll need to be more specific,” Father responds. He’s probably sitting in his office, sipping on a drink without a care in the world.

“Scarlett. Where is she?” I’m about to lose my fucking temper.

“She’s safe, Callum… as long as you complete your initiation.”

“You can listen to me now. I’ve played the part and became the person you’ve pushed me to become. I’ve fucking killed for you, and I’ve given up my life, for you. But to takeher—you’ve gone too far.”

His laugh fills my car. “You think that I’m proud of the person you are? You think anyone would choose to haveyouas their son? You’ve never been loyal to our family, and you’ve made that clear to everyone. You must be bribed to carry out your duties, and even then, you’re sloppy. Look at the mess you’ve made. You want someone to blame? Look in the mirror, Callum.”

His words give me the final push I need to let go.

“No,Dad. This will be on you.”

I end the call and think about what he just said. I was supposed to keep Scarlett safe, but I knew she needed a night with Sophia. She needed some normal within this chaos, but it was a matter of time before they got to her.

I made the wrong decision and chose to let my feelings get in the way of her safety. That’s something I’ll never be able to forgive myself for.

Ineedto find her.

Eternity