AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Thankfully, I feel well-prepared for the test, and despite almost being late to class, I do get to leave early.
I feel a thousand pounds lighter now that the test is over.
Now that I’m finally in my tiny slot of scheduled free time, I start making my way toward the gym, but I pull my phone out so I can text Stacie. Last I heard, the locks on our apartment were being replaced today, and I should probably see if she’s heard anything because I haven’t.
I’m surprised to see a couple of notifications of missed texts from Victor, and it takes me a second to remember I changed my mom’s name to that in my phone. The visible message says, “Are you okay?”
Probably because I never responded to her other text, but you’d think she’d know I’m not going to by now. I swipe the screen clear and go to my texts, tapping the text two beneath hers and pulling up my message with Stacie.
“Hey roomie, any update on the locks?”
I keep my phone out to watch for her response, but I don’t hear from her until I’m at the athletic center changing into my workout clothes.
“Locks have been changed, but we need to talk.”
“Okay, I’ve got some time now if you’re free?”
“Not via text. I don’t want to talk at the apartment, either. When is your last class?”
“My humanities seminar ends at four. Is everything okay? You sound… weird.”
“I think it’s kind of weird that you don’t,” she answers.
I frown at the screen, now thoroughly confused. “Are you mad at me or something?”
“No. I’ll meet you on the bench outside the building at four.”
___
Since I didn’t get to do my hair and makeup at Killian’s place this morning, I take advantage of the athletic center showers after my workout. I usually bring a change of clothes, but I don’t like showering in communal spaces, so I would wait until I get back to my apartment for that.
As I’m brushing on a second coat of mascara, the girl at the sink next to me realizes hers is out of soap and asks if I mind her using mine.
“No, of course not.” I move my junk to the side. “Sorry, don’t mind me.”
She flashes me a smile as she brings her hands over to get a little squirt of soap from my dispenser. “I remember you. Brynn, right?”
My eyebrows rise in surprise, then I realize I have seen her before—at Zeta house during rush. “Wow, it’s really the ghosts of rushes past this week, isn’t it?” I murmur.
She frowns, uncomprehending, so I flash her an apologetic smile.
“Sorry, just talking to myself. It’s been a weird day.”
“No kidding,” she says solemnly, shaking her head. “It’s a shame about the Rho Kappas. I couldn’t believe it when I heard. I’ve been to a party at that house before. It’s just crazy.”
The Rho Kappas?
My confusion must be written all over my face because her eyes widen. “You haven’t heard about what happened?”
“No?” I say uncertainly.
She appears scandalized, but there’s also a weird aura of secret excitement that she gets to break the news to someone new. “Oh my god. Let me show you.”
She pulls out her phone, swipes and taps until she has a video pulled up on social media. I lean over to look, and my heart just about drops out of my body at what I see.
Someone can be heard when the video starts saying, “Holy shit,” but the visual speaks for itself.
The Rho Kappa fraternity house, the same one I fled just a few nights ago, is engulfed in flames. Smoke billows up in the dark night sky, and bystanders on the other side of the sidewalk watch as a firehose shoots at the flames without making a discernible difference. On the sidewalk directly in front of the house, a Rho Kappa I recognize from the party sits with his hands on his head, staring up at the horrifying sight before him.
