I follow after him with Chasm and Parrish on my heels.
As soon as I emerge on the other side, I see Lumen.
She’s alone, dressed in her Whitehall uniform, and pacing a rut in the grass.
She pauses when she hears us, glancing over her shoulder, brown eyes widening. Maxx helps me to my feet as Lumen struggles to control her facial expression, twisting it into something wicked.
“Did you bring your phones?” she snaps, tossing her honeyed hair over one shoulder. “Want to film yourselves kicking my ass? It’d be a nice companion video to the one Veronica made earlier today.”
X actually moves forward like he might retaliate, and I grab onto his bicep.
“We don’t have our phones; you’re safe,” I say as Parrish and Chasm join us. Lumen’s gaze finds Parrish’s right away, and they end up staring at each other for an inordinate amount of time.
“I hear that we’ve been fucking since sophomore year?” Parrish asks with a caustic bite to his voice, and Lumen cringes. “Hilarious, considering we’ve never even kissed.”
“I’m sorry,” she groans, putting her hands over her face. “I’m so sorry. To all of you.” She drops her hands down and looks at me with such a pained expression that my heart breaks. “I didn’t want to do any of this. I didn’t have a choice.”
My breath catches at the rawness in her words … but none of the boys seem convinced.
“Pray tell, what would spur you into beating the shit out of my girlfriend?” Parrish asks dryly as Lumen looks him over like a ghost risen from the grave.
“I can’t believe you’re still alive,” she mumbles, and he grits his teeth.
“Speak up and quick. My patience is running thin.” He crosses his arms and stares her down as she ruffles up her blond hair and sucks in a huge breath.
“I don’t know if I can do this,” Lumen mumbles, looking down at the ground like she’s searching the grass for answers. “Maybe this is a mistake?”
“It will be if you don’t start talking,” X confirms, and Lumen gives him a sharp look in response.
“Just because I’m here, and I feel bad for Dakota, doesn’t mean I’m going to take shit from you. From any of you.” Lumen turns back to me, steeling herself and curling her hands into the fabric of her pleated skirt. “Let’s just say: I’m being blackmailed.”
My blood goes cold, and I wet my lips, taking a small step forward. The boys tense on either side of me, but I don’t plan on getting any closer. I just need Lumen to know that I’m listening.
“By who?” I ask, and she shakes her head.
“I don’t know. All I know is that …” She lifts her head up and glances back in the direction of the academy, its white walls shining in the afternoon sun. Lumen trails off, heaves another sigh, and turns back to me. Her expression is resolute. “I don’t know who the person is, but I do know that they can spy on me through phones or laptops or whatever. That’s why I gave you that note at the party. It was the only way I could think for us to talk without being watched.”
“What did you do to get blackmailed?” Chas drawls, but Lumen ignores him. She wasn’t lying when she said she wasn’t interested in any of the boys, just me.
“At first, the things my blackmailer was asking weren’t so bad. Just a little thing here or there. But his demands are getting bigger and bigger, and I’m learning to hate myself more and more …” Lumen trails off, takes in a deep breath, and lifts her chin. “Before we get any further, I just need to say this: Danyella isn’t involved. I don’t want her involved. And if you get her involved …” She trails off, and the threat in her words is apparent.
Chasm snorts derisively from behind me.
“We won’t involve Danyella,” I agree, crossing my arms and waiting for her to continue. “And I’m pretty sure you know we’re going through the same shit?”
She grimaces, like this is what she suspected, but hoped wasn’t true.
“I figured it out right away, when you told Danyella you’d set the theatre on fire. That isn’t something you’d do unless you had to.” Lumen’s calculating gaze swings over to Chasm, and I can see why they’re battling it out for future valedictorian. “That’s why I figure we’re both being blackmailed by Parrish’s kidnapper.”
I cock a brow at that. I mean, with the information she has, it really is the most logical conclusion to come to.
She turns to him with a stern look on her face.
“Anything you want to add to this that I didn’t already see on the news or hear from Emerald City Murder?” Lumen twists her lips to the side in an expression of complete disbelief. “I feel like you know more than you’re letting on.”
