Page 187 of Knox Academy Omnibus
Dressed in the ridiculous rabbit outfit Kalen provided, I head out to the meet spot. I’m careful to make sure no one is lingering around; I haven’t been out alone in a while and who knows what could be waiting for me in the dark. I stand at the edge of the woods and realise I’m a tad late. In my defence, abs and puppy pictures distracted me for almost an hour. Again. Totally worth it though.
“We meet again.”
“What in the fuck? You creepy bastard! I almost pissed my pants.” I feel between my legs to make sure. The last time we met like this he was dressed in a 1920’s outfit. Tonight it’s a different one and I laugh.
His tight white pants and bright red jacket are not something I would ever picture Baxter wearing.
“What are you supposed to be?”
He lifts a top hat and bows to me.
“I’m the Ringmaster and I’m here to lure you into the woods.”
“Who did you owe a favour to? Because this is so unlike you I know there’s no way you’d wear it, unless you were under duress. It was Kalen, wasn’t it?”
“I may have lost a bet, but I did come down here to warn you.”
“Why would you warn me?” I demand, crossing my hands over my chest.
“You don’t understand all of this,” he says waving an arm around, cigarette in hand.
“I don’t understand what? Standing in the dark on the edge of the woods trying to get to a party?” I snap.
“Don’t play dumb, Amelie. This world isn’t for you, run away and don’t look back.”
“I can’t do that.”
“Why not?” he questions.
“Because I need answers!” I whisper-yell at him. “What’s with the tattoos? Why do I have this necklace? Is Laura involved? How am I involved?Whyam I involved? What does the book say and what the hell was with the Debbie clue?” I pause, panting hard to catch my breath. I’ve worked myself up into quite a state. As all of the questions come flying out of my mind I realise several things at once: I’ve missed having Baxter around; he’s the only one I truly trust to give me answers; I’ve been letting myself get distracted by the guys again.
“Will you tell me everything I want to know?” I stare at Baxter and wait for his reply, but the only thing cutting through the silence between us is his icy glare. “I didn’t think so.”
I go to storm past him, but he reaches out and grabs my arm.
“It’s not because I don’t want to tell you.”
“It’s because you can’t,” I mimic. “Yeah, I’ve heard that one before, Baxter. I want answers and I plan to get them one way or another. Them being evasive and you being cryptic is no damn help.”
“They will suck dry everything good about you, Amelie. Please, run away with me. I can keep you safe.” I snatch my arm back from his grip.
“Just stop, you won’t change my mind.” I storm off in a huff, the crunching of twigs behind me the only indication Baxter is following behind me. I wonder what has gotten into him. Run away with me? Is he crazy? Something tells me that, even if I wanted to, I couldn’t hide from the Knox boys if I tried.
I stop abruptly when I'm cut off by two guys dressed as traditional magicians, appearing in front of a huge striped tent. Whoa, where didthatcome from?
“You need to wait there,” one says and points to a tree. Baxter appears out of nowhere. Each magician holds up one red card and one black one. They start off a spiel about picking correctly,intending to do some kind of magic trick I guess, but Baxter snatches the red card from the first guy’s grip.
He licks it and slips it in his pocket.
Huh, I wonder what that was about?
Onyx comes from inside the massive circus tent, dressed as a strongman. Except, he looks creepy as fuck with his fake handlebar moustache, but also insanely hot at the same time with his muscles on show. Topless and in tight white pants,nothingis left to the imagination. I lick my lips.
“You’re late,” he says. I giggle, but he’s stoic, just standing there. I mean, how can you be late to a party anyway?
“Spray her,” he demands. The magicians both pull spray bottles out of thin air – magic – and before I can blink, I'm covered in something that smells kind of sweet but bitter.
“What the fuck was that?” I complain, but Onyx just drags me inside the tent. I stop and look around at the party inside. ‘Jungle’ byX Ambassadorsis playing, the base radiates through my chest. Bodies are grinding against each other and the air smells of sex and a good time.
