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The question slips from the mouth of one of the initiates. Annoyingly, it’s George Williams and not Declan Salaway, the initiate Preston wants gone. That would have been an easy dismissal.
As my eyes meet George’s, I see instant regret and fear in his. “Know your place, neophyte. If that is the order, then you will carry it out.”
Being part of the Elite means you are prepared to do whatever is expected of you, and fifty years ago, the Elite’s president may well have issued that order. But, for the most part, the majority of the Elite aren’t useful untilaftergraduation.
I scan the room, looking everyone in the eye before I speak again. “While I would fully expectanymember here to fulfil any and every order given, this girl will not get such an easy option.”
Finding Gemini at the back of the room, leaning against the door like he’s giving a half-assed effort at making sure no one leaves, I nod. Gemini pulls his phone out of his pocket and taps at the screen. Almost at the same time, the screen behind me changes.
Refusing to look at the image of blonde behind me, I keep my attention on my audience. “Some of you will already recognize this girl. Regardless of any interaction you’ve had with her so far, as of now, it ends. No one is permitted to talk to her unless you’ve been specifically instructed by me. That includes during classes. Her name will never be uttered. And together, we’re going to make her life the living hell that will suitably honor JP’s life.”
A hand shoots up.
I nod at Lenora.
“How far can we go?”
I arch an eyebrow: the first emotion I’ve allowed myself to show since walking in the room. “How far do you want to go?” My question is rhetorical. “When you completed your initiation, you were told that being a member of the Elite earned you so many privileges and opportunities. Most of you will benefit from them after graduation. But one that comes now is protection. We control the cameras, and we control the faculty. Your hard limit is do not kill her. She can’t suffer if she’s dead.”
And if she doesn’t suffer, her brother won’t either.
The previous Elite President, Preston, said once that people would do anything you asked of them provided you give them the right motive.
I told him if you removed the consequence, people would do what was asked and a whole lot more—you wouldn’t need a motive.
It’s time we see if I was right.
XII
Tori
As it turns out, the dining hall manager is looking for new workers, and although she seems dubious when I express my interest, she still hands over a paper job application for me to complete.
To show her I’m serious, I complete it in front of her. Regardless, she says she’ll think it over and get back to me tomorrow. I’m not convinced she will, but I tell her I’ll keep my phone on.
Since my savings took a hit, I do as I told Penny and head to the library. When I was working to pull my GPA up, I frequently had to go into Manhattan to their public libraries, spending most of my weekends studying. The ‘library’ at my high school was probably as big as the janitor’s closet.
Although the libraries in the city are considered some of the best in the world, I was never really taken in by the architecture. It was a warm, quiet place to study.
The library at James Keyingham University is in the center of campus and two stories tall. Regardless of how impressive it is, it’s the last place I plan to spend any unnecessary time in.
Last year, it was renamed the James Patrick Keyingham library, and when I walk in, I’m confronted with an eight-foot memorial statue of the namesake in the center of the entryway.
I’m no stranger to the face of James Patrick. He was a good-looking guy… but seeing him every time I have to come here would be a constant reminder of where Cole is.
Unfortunately, my luck quota is spread thin. While the library does have a copy of almost every book that’s on my reading list, they’re not allowed to be taken from the library. Every book I pick up looks brand new, so I’m confident there’s no student here who will need them, but it means I’ll be spending more time here than I care to.
The second floor has desks at the back of the building, but not a single one of them is occupied. Despite how every student probably has all their required books, I’m sure they’re only empty because it’s the first day of classes. No doubt, as it gets closer to midterms, this place will fill up.
Since one of my classes has already assigned reading today, I take a seat at a desk and pull out a notebook to take notes of the chapter I’ve got to read. Although I have a laptop, I got it the year Cole was arrested. It’s not really that old, but I keep getting a message when it starts up about the health of the battery. The thing lasts about twenty minutes without a power cord these days.
With a quickly depleting savings account, I’m not sure I can afford a new battery, much less a new laptop. But as the blue screen of death has appeared a couple of times, I really don’t want to push my luck with it. For now, the laptop will stay in my room, and I’ll take notes by hand like students used to do back in the old days.
Tonight, I only have a couple of hours of work to do, so when I leave, it’s not that late.
On my way out, I stop at the statue and stare up at the image of JP. I’ve been here nearly two days already, yet I know nothing more than I did before I arrived.
“His name was James Patrick Keyingham. He would have graduated last year.”
