Page 48 of Half Truths (Secret Society 1)
I bookmarked the page and decided I would go back to it after reading legitimate articles about the students who disappeared. Most were girls, but there were a few boys too. It was odd—the last three had been from prestigious families, families you would never think would lose a child and call it quits on their search. I remembered seeing them on the news at one point or another and pausing to offer a small prayer, the only thing I could think to do in a situation like that. One of them had been gone five years and still hadn’t been found. My chest squeezed as I thought about Lana in those terms.
Glancing around the library, my eyes wandered to the window. I jumped in my seat when I caught a glimpse of a cloaked figure staring back at me. I looked at the next window and saw another figure, and the next, and the next. I tore my gaze from the windows to look around the library. Everyone in here was either talking quietly to the people they were with, busy on their laptops, or leafing through pages of whatever book was in front of them. I looked back at the windows again, but they were gone. Just like that. Goosebumps pricked my skin. Were they waiting for me outside? From my peripheral, I saw someone walking toward me and whipped my head in that direction, fully expecting it to be one of them. It was a petite blonde, smiling at me as she approached. I felt my brows furrow slightly. Was she in one of my classes? She dropped a white envelope on the table in front of me.
“They told me to tell you not to be scared.”
“Who?” I looked at the envelope and back at her.
“The cloaks.”
“They just approached you and gave this envelope to you and asked you to give it to me?” I picked up the envelope, still looking at her.
“Pretty much.”
“And you weren’t scared?”
“Not really. Maybe the first day of freshman orientation, but I’m used to them. Besides, I heard they give their members $50,000 just for joining.” She shrugged a shoulder. “Doesn’t sound half bad.”
“Right. Let’s all die for $50,000.” I tore open the envelope in my hand and looked back at her briefly. “Thanks.”
“Sure.” She stayed put. I shot her a can you get out of here look, but she remained.
“Did they also tell you to watch me as I read this?”
“No, but I’m curious to know if you’re going to be one of them. Or are. And like, which society is it? Quill?”
I blinked. She was seriously not going to leave until she got an answer and what was I supposed to say? I didn’t know their names. I didn’t know whether or not I was officially one of them yet. I didn’t know what they looked like. I literally knew as much as she did. I shook my head after a moment.
“Honestly? They’re trying to play a prank on me. I don’t know their names, who they are, what they look like, what they do, so your guess is as good as mine.” I shrugged. “It’s probably Quill though.”
“Oh. Well, they publish their member’s names in the paper, so the cloaks and secretiveness is kind of overkill.” She frowned, looking at the envelope. I nodded my agreement. The cloaks were totally overkill. She hesitated, idling for another beat before shrugging and walking off.
I exhaled, though I didn’t know why I was relieved that she’d left it alone. It wasn’t like I knew what was in this envelope. I stared at my name written on it. Their calligraphy was really on point. I had to give them credit where credit was due.
Amelia,
We trust you have not told anyone where you were last night. For this, you get a point. Two more and you’re in.
X
I stared at the black X. It was long, scripted, and looked as if it had been added quickly to the bottom of the page. I re-read the note again. One point. That was what I’d gotten for being locked in a dungeon and not telling anyone about it, which was what a sane person would have done. I put the note back in the envelope and pushed it aside. I went back to Lana’s computer, which was running out of battery, and of course, I’d left my own computer charger back home so I couldn’t do anything about it.
April 25th—
He invited me to a dinner party. He’s the kind of man that you just don’t say no to. Sex in the car, while driving? Sure, why not? Dinner with senators and mayors who know damn well I am not his wife, but speak to me with respect, as if I’m supposed to be there? Again, yes. These are things I would have never done before discovering this little club. I mean, these are things I still hesitate doing, but every time I hear his voice now, I cave. When I see his name on my texts, I give in. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought I’d be that girl. He’s my friend’s father, for God’s sake. Which is another story all together. He’s onto us and I don’t know what to do about it. I keep denying it, but I wear my heart on my sleeve so it’s hard. Maybe I’ll stop.
