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TWENTY

IMOGEN

Thank God for Frankie’s brilliant flashlight as we make our way down the long, dark tunnel toward the riverbank.

It’s interesting spending time with the siblings. Summer offers Frankie none of the reverence the others do, and it amuses me to hear them bickering.

“Fuck, Frankie, can’t you install electricity down here or something? This place is creepy as fuck.”

We are making our way down the tunnel shrouded in our black hooded robes, the gleaming gold masks hanging from our fingers. It’s a relief not to wear them unless needed and I can’t understand how the guys manage to chase their prey wearing this immovable object.

“I like it this way.” Is his only reply and Summer turns to me and grins, the whites of her teeth gleaming in the darkness.

“So, how long do we have to stay there?” Summer grumbles and Frankie sighs.

“As long as it takes. Just enjoy the peace and quiet; you’ve got the easy job.”

“Unless someone crawls out of the tunnel and falls into the freaking river.”

I laugh softly as Frankie replies, “Then it’s a nice night for a swim.”

“If you imagine I’m going into that cesspool, you’ve got another thing coming.”

“What would we do if somebody does—go in I mean?” I ask, and Frankie shrugs.

“Say a prayer. How do I fucking know?”

“That’s your plan? Seriously, Frankie, God won’t help you. You’re too aligned to the other side to ask for his help.”

I chuckle softly as Frankie sighs in exasperation.

“It’s happened twice since we started running these challenges.

Siri attempted to swim to safety but was injured, so Jack helped her.

Then there was Karen, and Jesse used the boat to bring her to the other side.

She never fell in though, just stood on the riverbank and yelled for help. ”

He adds, “But if you’re worried, there is a lifebelt a few steps away.”

“But the river is wide. How the hell do we throw it that far?”

Summer is ever practical, which is a great character trait of hers.

She plans absolutely everything down to the last detail and Frankie groans.

“Honestly, Summer, I haven’t commissioned a freaking risk assessment for every dumb fuck who falls into the river.

They know the score and wouldn’t be in it if they didn’t want to be claimed.

It’s in the fucking title. The Claiming.

If they find themselves on the edge of the riverbank, they mostly crawl back inside, anyway. You have nothing to worry about.”

“Well, if they do, you’re facing Principal Constable to explain it.”

Summer huffs and it strikes me how long Frankie’s challenge has remained undetected from the teachers. It’s astonishing really because if they were aware of what went on under the tunnels of Rockwell, I’m guessing this challenge would be banned.

We reach the end of the tunnel and I note some trees at the entrance. As we pass through them, I’m amazed to find we are standing a short distance away from the edge of the river.

“Well, fuck me.”

Summer gasps and Frankie hisses, “Can the language, sis. Anyway, my job is done.” He says over his shoulder, “I’ll send Luca to get you when it’s ended. Enjoy an hour or two of conversation. I’m guessing that’s all that will happen, anyway.”

As he leaves, Summer groans. “Just our luck to get the boring job.”

She stares at the mask in her hand. “We should probably put these on. Though why we should is a mystery, because we’re alone out here.”

I stare around me at the darkness and shiver. “But what if someone comes past?”

“They won’t.” Summer shrugs as she pulls on the mask and I must admit it’s intimidating as fuck.

I do the same and we giggle as we regard one another and she points to the bank by the river.

“Let’s make ourselves comfortable. At least I brought supplies.”

She chuckles as she reaches inside her robe and drops a small rucksack onto the ground, and proceeds to pluck two beers from inside.

“A party for two.”

I grin as I hold the beer to my lips, the mask cut away at the mouth, enabling me to drink it.

“This is weird shit.” Summer giggles. “I must admit, I love how powerful I feel in this disguise. I could be anyone.”

“True.”

I agree with her. It’s almost comforting to be anonymous and as we settle down on the ground, she hugs her knees to her chest and says softly, “Tell me about you and Jesse. How’s it going?”

My stomach flips and I’m grateful for the beer.

“Okay, I guess.”

She must sense the reluctance in my voice and say sharply, “What’s he done?”

I wonder whether to confide in her about the night the sprinkler activated, but having already discussed it with Drake, I decide to keep it to myself.

“I’m not feeling it, Summer. I hoped The Claiming would bring us closer but it’s not happening, for me anyway.”

She places a sympathetic hand on my arm. “I’m sorry, honey, that sucks.”

“Not everyone is as lucky as you.” I shrug. “It sucks seeing you all so happy, though. The Claiming worked out for all of you, but I can’t find the same happiness with Jesse. Do you think it’s because of his, well, problem?”

We are all aware of Jesse’s fascination for our former teacher, and Summer sighs heavily. “Did you know he is still seeing her?”

“Yes.” I admit sadly and Summer hisses.

“It’s a fucking disgrace. You shouldn’t have to put up with this. He’s gone against the rules and if I were Frankie, I’d toss him in the cells to rot for the duration of the semester.”

I love how defensive she is on my behalf, and yet I only have compassion for Jesse.

“I blame myself if I’m honest.” I admit and she growls, causing me to chuckle softly. “No really. I mean, if I was, well, giving him what she obviously is, he wouldn’t have the need to go there. Perhaps I’m the problem, Summer.”

“No fucking way Imogen, and stop being such a doormat.” She says furiously, “Jesse’s problems are of his own making and nothing to do with you.

If he was fantastic, you would be all over him like a rash.

No. it’s obvious you’re not into him and I don’t blame you.

Leave it with me, I’ll have a word with my brother.

He’ll get you out of it and if he refuses, I’ll slice his balls off in his sleep. ”

“Summer!” I can’t help laughing out loud. “You’re so fierce, he should be very afraid.”

“You know it.”

She chugs some more of her beer and groans. “Do you think they’ve started yet?”

“Doubtful.”

She leans back on the grass, a strange sight in her golden mask and hood.

“This is gonna be a long night.”

“Hey, girls.” Before the final word even registers, the familiar voice is behind us and as I turn, I note the centurion standing close by.

“Jesse.”

I gasp, now concerned that he picked up our conversation, and Summer says quickly, “What are you doing here?”

“I came to spend time with my girl. You can swap with me, Summer.”

“No way. If you believe I’m walking through that tunnel alone, you’re joking, and I’m definitely not haunting the woods like a crazy ghost from the past alone. Anyway, I thought you was on cell duty?”

“Frankie changed his mind, and I decided Imogen was better company than Luca, so if you don’t want to spend time with your guy, I’ll leave you to inform him of that.”

Jesse has said the magic word because the idea of being with Luca is an offer she couldn’t resist if she tried, no matter how close we are as friends.

Jesse adds, “I’ll walk you back through the tunnel and Imogen can wait here for me.”

I’m not certain that’s a good idea knowing what Jesse is being groomed for, but I comfort myself knowing that he would never survive if anything happened to the most protected girl on campus.

If Frankie didn’t get him, Luca surely would.

However, she surprises me by saying roughly, “Fuck off, Jesse. I want to be with Imogen and enjoy some downtime from the guys. It’s only two hours at the most, for christ’s sake, so thanks, but no thanks. ”

Jesse is surprised as he stutters, “But–”

“But nothing. No thank you.”

Summer effectively ends the conversation, and Jesse sighs. “Fine. Have it your way.”

He turns his attention to me and, leaning in, whispers, “We’ll catch up at the party afterwards. Don’t go anywhere. We need to talk.”

I nod, glad of the mask that is covering my face because if he could see behind it, he would know in a heartbeat that a word with him is the last thing I want.

As he heads off, I whisper, “Do you think he heard us talking about him?”

“I’m not sure, but I wasn’t taking any chances.”

“What do you mean?”

She lowers her voice. “After our conversation, I wasn’t going to turn my back and leave you with him.

If he is playing away with Jenna Sloane, he doesn’t get the perks of alone time with you.

He will have to work harder than that on my watch, so honey, drink up because there are plenty more beers where that came from. ”

I laugh out loud as she rummages in her bag and pulls out two more beers and as we settle down for the long wait, I am more than happy it is Summer sitting beside me rather than Jesse.