Page 18

A Lesson About Disobedience

T he dorm is mercifully empty when I return. Belle must still be plotting my demise with her minions somewhere, which gives me time to examine what is on the USB without worry of being caught. I lock the door and push my desk chair against it as an extra precaution. I can't risk anyone walking in on what I'm about to do

I turn on my laptop and plug in the small device, my heart beating faster as it loads. Once the folder appears on my screen, I realize just how much ammunition Professor Austin managed to get me. The USB holds nearly one terabyte of data.

My father's email archive is a digital fortress, meticulously organized into folders with names like "Business," "Personal," and "Board." But it's the one labelled "Special Projects" that draws my attention. My finger hovers over the touchpad, hesitating for just a moment. Once I click this, there's no going back. Whatever I find inside might destroy what little peace I've managed to create at Shark Bay.

But I'm already ruined. I might as well know why.

The folder opens to reveal hundreds of emails, each with cryptic subject lines and attachments bearing only numbers and dates. I scan through them, searching for anything related to Erik, to me, to Shark Bay. Most are discussions about property acquisitions, political donations, and what appears to be coded references to people I don't recognize.

Until I see it: "Re: Stone/Queen Situation: Urgent."

My fingers tremble as I double-click, the email expanding to fill the screen. It's dated just three days ago, and it was addressed to my father.

Sebastian,

The Stone boy has proven more resistant than anticipated. Our observation confirms increasing contact with L despite previous warnings. Intelligence from Bay asset speculates intimate interaction during a recent storm event.

Recommend immediate action before the situation escalates to Level 4 commitment. M-Protocol authorized for both targets if necessary.

I've taken the liberty of sending the Stone boy an invitation to next month's gathering. If he accepts, we can handle both issues simultaneously and turn this liability into an asset.

Awaiting your approval for full extraction team.

D.G.

Below is my father's terse response:

Approved. Prep Stone for special demonstration with L as primary. Make sure he understands the honor being extended. Have Gallagher facilitate introductions at the school level. Timeline: 2 weeks.

S.Q.

The room spins around me as the words burn into my retinas. They're planning to bring Erik to one of their parties. Not just any party—a "gathering," which I know from experience is when they invite new, powerful members into their inner circle. The ones where the drugs are stronger, the guests more dangerous, and the entertainment… God, the entertainment.

Bile rises in my throat as memories flood back—hands holding me down, voices murmuring approval as I struggle to focus through a chemical haze. Special demonstrations. That's what they called it when they wanted to show off their particular brand of control. When they wanted to break someone new, someone who dared to challenge them.

And now they want to do that to Erik. With me as their unwilling accomplice.

I click through more emails in the thread, each one worse than the last. Reports on Erik's movements around campus. Analysis of his vulnerabilities, including his past struggles with addiction and his family's political connections. They even have his medical records—every detail of his overdose, every prescription he's ever filled.

"Stone has shown a lingering weakness for chemical assistance," one email notes. "Propose M-Protocol variant with targeted substance to expedite compliance."

They're planning to drug him. To use his past addictions against him. To make him compliant, just like they’ve done to me all these years, all these parties.

But why? Why target Erik specifically?

The answer comes in another email, this one from Belle's father to mine.

Sebastian,

My daughter reports your L has formed a significant attachment to the Stone boy despite our warnings. Surveillance confirms emotional vulnerability we can exploit. Daughter has gathered sufficient material to ensure cooperation from both sides.

Recommend applying classical conditioning approach: Use L's attachment against her, make her witness Stone's introduction to our circle. The psychological impact of seeing him broken should reestablish control parameters.

Once Stone understands proper service, we gain valuable access to his father's congressional committee. Two birds, one stone—if you'll excuse the pun.

Richard G.

I can barely breathe as the truth slams into me. They're using Erik to control me. And they're using me to control Erik, to get to his father—some congressman I didn't even know about. It's never been about protecting family secrets or keeping me in line. It's always been about power, about extending their reach into every corner of influence they can find.

My hands shake as I scroll through more emails. There are photos attached to some—surveillance pictures of Erik and me on the cliff during our hike, of us during the storm. In one, taken through my dorm window, Erik is holding me as I cry against his chest. The caption reads: "Evidence of emotional dependence. Optimal leverage point identified."

I knew they'd been watching us the entire time, but I had no idea just how meticulously they were cataloguing every moment of vulnerability, every instance of genuine connection. And now they're going to use it to destroy us both.

A new email pops up in the inbox as I watch—just sent, with "Update: Stone Acquisition" in the subject line. I click it open, dread pooling in my stomach.

Operation proceeding ahead of schedule. Target has accepted an invitation to next month's gathering. Gallagher girl reports Stone expressed excitement at the networking opportunity. Surveillance confirms that the target discussed the invitation with L, who attempted to dissuade him.

Recommendation: Accelerate timeline. Stone is showing signs of suspicion based on L's reaction. Suggest retrieval within 48 hours.

Awaiting authorization.

D.G.

Attached is a photo of Erik in the courtyard, smiling as he reads what appears to be a formal invitation on heavy cardstock. The same kind my parents send for all their special events.

My world collapses around me as the implications hit. Erik received an invitation. He's excited about it. And according to this, he's already told me, and I tried to stop him.

None of that happened. Which means it's about to happen. They're watching, waiting for Erik to tell me about this amazing opportunity he's received. And when he does, they'll be recording my reaction, making sure I don't warn him about what really awaits him.

Was this message sent on purpose? Do they know I've accessed my father's email account? Do they know I'm going to warn Erik about the danger he's in?

A knock on the door shatters my thoughts. I leap to my feet, spine stiffening. The only thing keeping me from spiraling is focusing on each situation and the course of action I need to take. With forceful steps, I move the chair and unlock the door.

Professor Austin stands in the doorway, two coffee cups in hand, watching me with a mixture of concern and resignation. "Find anything interesting?"

"They're going to hurt him," I say, my voice barely above a whisper. "They're going to use him to get to his father, and they're going to make me watch while they break him."

He walks into the room and sets one of the cups beside my laptop, the scent of expensive coffee wafting up. "Who is 'he'?"

"Erik. Erik Stone. They've sent him an invitation to one of their parties. They're calling it a networking opportunity, but it's not. It's—" I break off, unable to articulate the horrors that await. "I need to warn him. I need to stop this."

Professor Austin studies me for a long moment. "Luna, these people—your parents—they're powerful, connected. Whatever you're thinking of doing… it could be dangerous."

"They're going to drug him," I hear myself saying, the words tumbling out faster than I can control them. "They're going to use his past addiction against him. They're going to make him compliant, like they did to me. Then they'll use him to get to his father, some congressman. They'll record everything, use it as blackmail."

I turn the screen so he can see the emails, the surveillance photos, the cold, clinical discussion of our lives as if we're nothing but chess pieces in their game of power and control.

His face pales as he reads. "Jesus Christ, Luna. This is… this is organized criminal activity. This is a conspiracy to drug someone, potential blackmail of a political figure…"

"Welcome to my family," I say, the bitterness in my voice surprising even me. "This is what they do. This is who they are. And they've been doing it for years."

He scrolls through more emails, eyes widening as he takes in the extent of my parents' operation. "There are names here—judges, CEOs, politicians. This isn't just about you or your friend. This is systematic exploitation on a massive scale."

"I know." I've always known, even if I couldn't admit it to myself. The parties, the connections, the power my father wields—it all comes back to this network of corruption and control.

"We need to go to the authorities," Professor Austin says, already reaching for his phone.

I grab his wrist, stopping him. "No! You don't understand. They are the authorities. Or at least, they own enough of them that it wouldn't matter. The moment you try, they'll know. They'll destroy you, and then they'll accelerate whatever they have planned for Erik."

His mouth flattens into a grim line. "Then what do you suggest?"

"I need to warn Erik. I need to show him this." I gesture at the screen. "We need proof, evidence they can't make disappear."

"That drive I gave you—it has everything from the last six months. Emails, attachments, all of it." Professor Austin takes a deep breath. "But, Luna, this is bigger than just you and Erik. Your parents—they're dangerous. If they find out you've seen this…"

"They'll what? Hurt me? Drug me? Force me to perform for their friends?" I laugh, the sound hollow even to my own ears. "They've been doing that for years. There's nothing they can take from me that they haven't already taken."

Except Erik. They can take Erik. And they will, if I don't stop them.

The realization crystalizes in my mind, focusing my thoughts. For the first time since coming to Shark Bay, I have a clear purpose, a definitive goal. Save Erik. Stop my parents. Break their power once and for all.

"I need to save these emails," I say, reaching for another USB drive to make sure I have more than enough copies. "Then I need to find Erik before they do."

Professor Austin nods, taking the seat next to me. "I'll help you keep at least one copy safe. But, Luna… be careful. Whatever you do next, don't underestimate how far they'll go to protect their interests."

"Oh, I know exactly how far they'll go," I reply, plugging in the drive. "That's why they've never seen how far I'm willing to go to stop them."

We work in silence, copying every incriminating email we can find. By the time we're done, I have enough evidence to bury my parents and their entire network—if I can figure out how to use it without getting caught.

"There's one more email you should see," Professor Austin says quietly as I'm about to leave. "It might explain why they've been so focused on controlling you specifically."

He pulls up a message from several months ago, around the time I was sent to Shark Bay. The subject line reads: "Re: L's Future Value."

The girl has proven increasingly difficult to manage, my father writes. Recent incident with boy at previous school demonstrates dangerous tendency toward independence. Recommend immediate separation and recalibration.

Despite these concerns, L remains our most valuable asset for client entertainment. Her genetic profile remains optimal for eventual reproduction program. At 18, she is approaching peak value window. Suggest accelerating marriage arrangements with prominent family to ensure bloodline improvement and asset consolidation.

Shipment to Shark Bay will provide a cooling-off period while marriage negotiations proceed. Several families have expressed interest in using connection to expand their political influence. Suggest next month's ceremony for maximum impact.

The words blur before my eyes as understanding dawns. They've been planning to marry me off to some random person who, as far as I know, could be three times my age. I'm not just a daughter to them—I'm a genetic asset, a bargaining chip in their quest for greater power and influence.

"Marriage arrangements," I whisper, the words tasting like poison on my tongue. "They were going to marry me off like I'm livestock."

Professor Austin's expression is a mixture of disgust and pity. "Luna?—"

"Don't." I cut him off, unable to bear his sympathy. "It doesn't matter. None of it matters except stopping them before they get to Erik."

I gather up my things, the USB drive now safely tucked away in my bra. Before I go, I turn back to look at Professor Austin, studying him in the dim light of my dorm room. He's not the man I thought he was when I first decided to seduce him. There's a strength beneath his academic exterior, a capacity for righteous anger that I hadn't expected.

"Thank you," I say, the words unfamiliar on my tongue. "For helping me. For… not being one of them."

He nods, something like respect in his eyes. "Find your friend. Warn him. And, Luna—be careful. Don't face these people alone."

I slip out of my room, my mind already racing ahead to what comes next. The boys’ dorm, Erik's room, somewhere I can show him what I've found without Belle or her minions seeing us. I need to move fast, before my parents know for sure that their system has been breached.

The hallway stretches before me, its marble floors gleaming in the late afternoon light. Every step feels like a countdown, time slipping away as I race against my parents' plans. The weight of the USB drive against my skin is a reminder of what's at stake—not just Erik's freedom, but my own.

For years, I've been caught in their web, fighting for scraps of control while they manipulated every aspect of my life. But now, armed with their secrets, I have a chance to break free. To take back my life, my future, my body from those who sought to use me as nothing more than a pawn in their game of power.

As I rush toward the dormitories, a strange sense of clarity washes over me. I've spent so long believing I needed to protect myself by pushing everyone away, by maintaining my isolation. But the truth, hidden in those emails, reveals the opposite: My parents were terrified of my connections, of my capacity to form bonds that might challenge their control.

Erik isn't my weakness—he's my strength. The proof is in how desperately they want to break him, to use him to break me in turn. They fear what we might become together more than they fear either of us alone.

And for the first time since I can remember, that knowledge gives me hope.

The boys’ dormitories loom ahead, the gothic windows reflecting the setting sun. Somewhere inside, Erik is going about his day, unaware of the danger circling closer with every passing minute. Unaware that he's been marked, targeted, and set up to be destroyed by people who view him as nothing more than leverage.

But I know. And this time, I won't let them win.

I pick up my pace, my heart pounding against my ribs. Time is running out. Erik needs to understand what he's walking into before it's too late. Before my parents can sink their claws into another person I care about.

Because that's the truth I can't deny anymore: I care about Erik Stone. Enough to risk everything to keep him safe.

And that's exactly what I'm going to do.