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“She was in the river… I pulled her out, but it was too late.”
The reality of the situation set in, shock turning to questions turning to grief. Anubis’s embrace was the only thing holding me up.
I left the scene in a daze. Police were searching my dorm. They questioned me and I answered them the best I could. And then I had to leave while they continued searching.
“For a suicide note,” one of them said.
I had nowhere to go. Anubis steered me to the basement of the building. To the laundry room. It was then I realized he was still with me. Laying my head down on the cool wood of the table, I listened to other students clattering in the background.
“There’s been another suicide.”
“The river denial.”
“The pressure around here is just too much.”
“Has to be a murderer.”
“Enough,” Anubis finally shut them up.
When the room cleared out, I raised my head. “Is it true? A suicide river?”
“Happens every year,” he replied, his words hard.
“She didn’t kill herself. She went to California for a party. Pledging to a House, right?”
Shrugging, Anubis had nothing to add. “I didn’t know her. Sorry. And sorry about the party. I thought you knew about it.”
“Pauper’s party? Sick shit.”
“Everyone loves it. All us assholes leave for the long weekend to pledge and all who stay behind take over the Houses.”
“I thought you’d be there. I went looking for you, about my hair,” I said, fighting tears.
“About your hair?” He sounded confused.
“Never mind.”
“I’m so sorry, Suede,” he said, rubbing my back. “Sorry for the party. I had no idea you would get caught up in any trouble. I gave you my pass. The hosts were supposed to make sure no one bothered you.”
I remembered no one even giving me the time of day. His words made too much sense. He leaned in and kissed my forehead and then made his way to my lips. The bad guy was being so sweet and, in my grief and utter shock, I bent into him. I opened my mouth and let him give me one for the books. My hand crawled up into his wet hair as our tongues mingled.
“I’ve got to get to class,” he said into my mouth.
He left me breathless. But I was still suspicious.
“You shouldn’t be alone tonight,” he added as he pulled away.
I lifted my shoulder.
“After class tonight, come out with me. It’s Thursday, and there’s always a party.”
“Another party,” I said, shaking my head.
“This is a proper party. Meet me at the Boat House at dusk.”
I nodded my head but didn’t know if I’d go.
Not able to go back to my dorm, I headed to the library. Margrett had noticeably cut my hours after she saw my green hair, but I still had access to everything. I headed to the top floor to open the school’s archives. It was all on microfiche. I found information on the Skull Society right away. It was no secret, not back in the day, anyway. According to the information, they disbanded in the early 1900s. And there was nothing else. A quick internet search provided nothing as well. But I looked up the rumors about the river.
