Page 89 of Triumphant Kings

Grabbing my phone out of my pocket, I quickly call the group chat. Both Collin and Grayson pick up.

“Hey, baby. What's up?” Collin asks as I hold the phone to my ear.

Spinning around, I try to find the person and freak out inwardly when I see no one. Nothing.

“Please, for the love of god, tell me you're hiding somewhere in a Ghostface mask. Or Grayson.”

“What?” Grayson says, and I let out a whimper because he sounds confused. Maybe he’s just playing along?

“Sadie. What are you talking about?” Collin asks in a panicked voice.

“Where are you both?”

“I’m at home,” Grayson says, “Playing video games. Sadie, what's going on?”

“Collin?”

“Fuck.” Collin shouts. “Sadie, where the fuck are you? Because wherever it is, I’m not there.”

“I’m going to die.” I laugh, but not because it’s funny. It’s either I laugh, or I freak the fuck out. “This is how I go. Murdered in the middle of the night.”

“I’m on my way!” Collin shouts. “Where are you, Sadie, for fucks sake!?”

“I-I-I’m almost to the tower.” I run a hand over my hair, looking around in panic.

“Okay, I want you to turn around and run back home. Don’t stop for anyone, okay?”

“Okay,” I say, nodding. “God, I'm so stupid. Why did I do this?”

“It’s probably nothing,” Grayson says, trying to convince himself more than me. “It’s Mayhem night, remember? It’s probably some student being an asshole, trying to scare people. It’s what the night is all about anyways.”

“Fucking hell, that’s tonight?” I curse. Way to go, Sadie. Picking the one night of the year when the students let loose and have some fucked up fun.

It’s some stupid night kids made up like twenty years ago to let off some steam towards the end of the school year when students start to get restless with it being so close to summer but not quite there yet.

I’ve never participated, and neither have my friends. It’s not even talked about much, like this big secret society event. Normally, it’s something the Host Club puts on, with a big after-party around midnight. But my guys opted out of it this year.

“Sadie. Go home. Now!” Collin demands. “I’m not taking any chances. I’m calling Preston to get his fucking ass over there.”

“Okay. Okay. I’m going.” I turn around, ready to run, but let out a scream of horror, dropping my phone to the ground when I see the figure is back. And it’s closer. Not only that, it has something in its hand.

Lifting their hand, the moonlight shines off a very big knife. Pointing right at me.

“Sadie!” shouts sound from my phone, but I’m too frozen in terror to say anything, to do anything.

Then, when they start to charge forward, my survival instincts finally decide to kick in.

Turning around, I take off running towards the tower, regretting not grabbing my phone instantly.

“Help!” I scream, my throat hurting as I shout for help. “Anyone, please!”

As I run, I keep screaming, hoping someone, anyone, will hear me.

Will they believe someone is in danger, or think it’s part of a game?

For a moment, I wondered if it’s Bradly, but the person was smaller, skinnier.

Then I wonder, is it Lionel? Did he come back to shut me up for good? I told the guys I was thinking about testifying against him along with the other girls. Did he find out, and now he wants to shut me up?