Page 24 of Alamort

Crew shrugs unbothered, “Wipe it.” Within a couple of seconds, all articles and websites that have to do with Megan Riley are erased from the internet as if it never happened. Everyone at this school knows the topic of the missing girl has been off limits since Malice had taken an interest in her.

“Was that all?” Crew states. Irritation claws at me. Before I can say something that would test all of our patience, Ben is there to break the tension.

“He means, was there anything else that she’s been doing?”

“Oh, no. Not even a text message. But she did get detention on Saturday with Brian.” Bennett looks at Crew, doing the twintuition thing. Being around them has me in on almost all their looks towards each other. I’m assuming Brian never let them know about Priya, like he was supposed to.

Bennett snickers, “Did you see what Amber did to her?” Crew responds to him by rolling his eyes and picks invisible lint off his crisp white shirt. “Child’s play Ben.”

Ben shrugs. “Yeah, but now there’s a bet on who will sleep with her first. Some guy bet his Bentley Bacalar that it would be him. She’ll be hounded constantly. All because I made sure we ran into each other in front of Amber the morning of her meeting with Brian. Nothing makes that girl jealous than me touching someone else.” He sighs, like it is so hard to be fought over. I know the fucker gets off on that toxic shit.

“And then what?” I question Bennett to see what his plan is.

He shrugs again. “Amber will tear her apart without me having to do much. Just looking at her sends Amber into a rage. If she thinks someone is threatening her spot with me? She’d die for that shit. Not to mention she poisoned the last person she thought was threatening her position in the family.”

“And does she have a spot here, Bennett?” Crew spits. Angry at the thought of being tied to her forever.

“No, of course not. She knows what this is. I’m just not ready to give up the free head any time I want.”

It’s my turn to roll my eyes at him. “You have slept with everyone at this school, teachers included.”

“True, but hear me out. Her head game is on point, fellas. I also can’t help that the cougars love me. What can I say? Look at this face.” He grins, showing off his dimple, giving him a false look of ‘boy-next-door’ when he is more like the serial killer next door. Unaware they’re stuck until they’re too deep in his web.

“Saint, there’s nothing to worry about with the Riley girl. Don’t trip on it. There is no body. So, there is no evidence. Mal took care of it, and if there is one thing we can count on him for, it’s protecting you. Has Priya’s parents texted her at least?” I go to defend that Malice cares about them, in his own twisted way. He doesn’t play well with others, but he has with them.

“Um, no. Nothing.” I touch my lip piercing with my thumb. “Not even a phone call. I have it set up to record her calls. So even if we miss it, we still have it.” He curtly nods his head and signals for Bennett to follow him out.

I sit back in my chair, causing it to creak under my weight. Now that I think about it, it is kind of odd she hasn’t heard from her parents. All the research I did on her prior to her arrival depicts a happy family with two daughters. Dressed up to the nines for charity events, always near her mother, father, or sister, with a smile on her face. Her parents sent her here on a big donation in their name to make sure she had a place. She was a straight-A student all throughout high school, joined tutoring, chess and even the debate team at one point. I look again, seeing more articles on her sister than her. What am I missing?

One Step Closer – LINKIN PARK

Storming out of the house, wanting to turn back to slam the door repeatedly as my times as I can to let the world know how vexed I am. My blood boils underneath my skin, heating me from the inside out. I refrain from it for the same reason. I don’t want everyone to know I’m shaking with uncontrollable rage.

Ever since I was a young boy, venom has coursed through my veins, numbing any warmth within. At first, for no reason at all. It was just who I was. Bennett and I were the perfect opposites as far as twins go. Ben carries an air of contentment, a warm aura that radiates from him, sparking happiness in everyone. I, being skeptical by nature, have remained unconvinced. He thinks it’s because I’m technically older, but that couldn’t be far from the truth. I have always had to shoulder the burden of cleaning up after everyone’s mess. Starting with our mother.

The day she died, I couldn’t help but be relieved that she wouldn’t have to choose between the drugs or her kids. I swallow the guilt that nags in the back of my throat. She chose. All the times I begged her to be better for Ben and she promised she would. Time and time again, I believed her broken promises.Thinking that one day it would get better. Each time, the relapse would be worse than the last until it finally caught up to her. Finding my mother’s dead body fucked me up.

I expected once she was gone, it would be easier for us. I was wrong.

Someone separated Ben and me, which was uncommon for twins. He was sent to some fucked up couple with sick tendencies to harm little vulnerable, defenseless boys. And I went to a foster dad who would rather beat me until I was unconscious, wait until I healed, only to repeat the process. Now and then, Steve would get creative. His favorite punishment outside of his daily beating, was drowning me. Only to bring me back from the brink of death.

Suppressing a shudder at the thought of the grimy bathtub, I close in on Brian’s room tucked behind the school. The building houses most of the teachers on campus. Being the dean means he has the biggest suite. An older building with grey stones, much like the school, completely remodeled inside. I open the double glass doors and head through a carpeted hallway. It smells like old books in here. Showing years of success, pictures of earlier deans' line the wall. Brian’s room is at the end of the long hallway.

Taking a deep breath to lull myself back into the calm I’m known for, I turn the knob. The idiot left it unlocked. Walking in, I’m hit with the musky odor of sex. I know it’s from Lisa, the nurse. I wouldn’t call her a sex worker, but I’m sure the money we offered her had a hand in getting her to agree. Sitting down at the two-person table off to the side of his full-sized kitchen, I wait for the shower to turn off. Checking my pockets, I find what I’m looking for when he steps out of his bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist.

I’m not like Bennett. I don’t have time for the niceties and games he likes to play.

“Sit down, Brian.” I say, emotionless.

He cautiously pulls out a chair across from me with his hands resting on the table. Good, hedoesknow how to listen. He smiles weakly. I don’t like to deal with him. Me coming to his room isn’t a common occurrence. Glowering, I let him see my disappointment before swiftly pulling a narrow knife out of my pocket and stabbing it through the center of his hand. It’s a clean wound, straight through, missing bones and anything else important. Brian’s reaction is delayed a split second before I swiftly bring my other hand over his mouth to smother the scream.

“Shut the fuck up, Brian.” He whimpers behind my hand.

“Were Bennett’s directions too unclear for you?” I scold. Finally, somewhere to put the anger that constantly eats me. He shakes his head underneath my hand.

“Then why am I fucking here?” Slowly removing my hand, I allow him to speak.

“I-I was g-going to tell you! I swear,” he stutters.

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