Page 43 of The Claiming

It’s late.Then again, I expected no less. Eleven pm and most of the students are either asleep or at the Royal’s party or skulking in the wood near the entrance to the dungeon. Then there are those on the other side, near the river.

Word has spread and I’m astonished at the line of candles and torches that illuminate the darkened surroundings and Siri gasps, “Wow, Frankie has started something here. Now I know what a gladiator must have felt like on his way to the Coliseum.”

“Don’t you think it’s creepy that nobody is saying a word?”

I glance around me at the huddled bodies lining the route to the dungeon entrance.

“I’m guessing my cousin threatened them. He loves drama, and this is right up his dark alley.”

“Why would they listen to him?” I scoff, and Siri raises her eyes. “I’m going to leave that question hanging, Cass, because it’s probably best you don’t ask. He’s capable of a lot your ordinary guy wouldn’t even think of, and this challenge is evidence of that.”

We continue to walk and I observe a few girls in front making this an almost procession as the silent spectators follow our progress.

Siri whispers, “I understood Kennedy was involved, and it appears that her two sidekicks took up the remaining positions.”

Kennedy, Autumn and Abigail are the three other girls in the challenge and my thoughts turn to who may be waiting for us inside.

“Have you heard who we’re up against?” I ask, knowing that Siri would have investigated their identities already.

“Jack, of course. Amos Sams and Ben Johnson were bragging about being on the list, but otherwise I’m not sure about the last two.”

I shiver because Amos Sams has a creepy edge to him that repels most of the girls on campus, so I’m not surprised he’s signed up because it’s the only way he’ll get a steady girl.

As if she can read my mind, she whispers, “I’m not sure if Frankie’s signed up. He is a twisted soul who may be just playing with us.”

“What do you mean?”

I’m curious and she shrugs. “Knowing him, he’s set this entire charade up just to prove a point and will enjoy watching us play out his fantasies with none of the risks on his part. I wouldn’t put it past him.”

As I think of her cousin, I would stake everything I own that he will be giving chase in that dungeon. There is something almost tangible between us, and I never fail on my instincts. We have unfinished business and from the moment he made my inclusion part of the deal with Siri, I guessed he would be coming for me—just to prove a point.

We reach the huge iron door that is illuminated by two flaming torches on either side of it, creating an almost gothic experience that causes my heart to beat a little faster. Standing guard is a centurion and my mouth dries when I regard the hooded figure, the black cloak effectively disguising his identity, his gold centurion mask gleaming in the fire light.

It’s creepy as fuck and as we approach, he nods slowly and opens the door, handing us two flaming torches of our own with no words necessary as he guides us into hell.

Siri is silent beside me and reaches for my hand as we stand in the dark passageway that didn’t seem anywhere near as scary as it does now, the shadows deeper, more threatening, promising a sinister presence lurking inside.

“Oh my God. What is this place?” She gasps as we step into the passageway to make our way toward the far end and whispers, “This place is creepy as fuck and I’m guessing there’s stuff here I would rather not see crawling beneath our feet.” She shivers. “I bet there are rats, spiders and other unmentionable insects waiting to pounce on us right now.”

“Relax, we have fire.”

I wave my torch at the shadows and she hisses, “Did you see that?”

“What?”

“A fucking cobweb the size of a house. I’m telling you, Cass, this is an extremely bad idea.”

We head to the end where the cells are and I wonder what she’ll make of them.

As we step through, I peer at the first one and my heart almost fails when I spy a figure observing us from behind the bars.

“Fuck, Cassie! What the hell is that?”

Siri clings to me as she sees for herself and shivers at the masked figure silently waiting for us to pass. Like the centurion on the door, this one is shrouded in a black robe with a hood covering his head, only the gold gleaming metal hiding his features behind his battle mask.

“Relax.” I whisper, although I am anything but relaxed myself because as we pass the caged doors, I note a figure behind every single one silently watching us. Their eyes hidden behind their masks and I attempt to still my beating heart by picturing Jack behind every one.

We increase our pace to leave the silent centurions behind and as we reach the iron door, I push it open, once again hating how it creaks and drags against the dirt under our feet.

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