Page 61 of The Claiming

Siri gasps as I remark, “But that’s some distance away from the dungeon. Do you think she made it to the river and got swept downstream?”

“No.” Jack’s face is like thunder as he growls, “It appears she was dragged there.”

“I don’t understand. How was she dragged and by who?” Siri asks and we stare at Jack expectantly.

He drops down into one of the chairs and leans back with a sigh.

“She’s in a bad way. All I know is she was drugged, apparently dragged through the woods and ended up in the boathouse. She says she didn’t see who it was but they, well–”

He breaks off and I say quickly, “What, Jack?”

“He, well, forced himself on her.”

Siri gasps and I share her concern.

“Oh my God!”

I fall back in my seat as Siri rests her face in her hands and Jack growls, “She blacked out, probably from the trauma and the drug he gave her combined and she woke up in her bed.”

“Wait, what?” Siri looks up in shock. “He knew where she lived; where she slept?”

“Fuck!” I stare at them both in shock. “Somebody who knew her did this? What the actual fuck.”

Jack nods, distaste bitter in his expression.

“She didn’t want to report it. She was too scared, but Kennedy persuaded her to.”

“Thank God for Kennedy.” I am so angry on Abigail’s behalf and snap, “So, who is this guy?”

“Nobody knows.” Jack’s voice is gruff.

“He’s a ghost apparently, and left no clues. She doesn’t remember how she left the tunnel, or how she got to the boathouse. All she remembers is opening her eyes and staring into the mask of a centurion.”

“Fuck, Jack! Oh my God.”

I feel sick and Jack nods, his expression grave.

“Frankie is working hard to discover his identity along with the others. Whoever was behind that mask was either part of the challenge or aware of it.”

What happened to Abigail is bad enough, but facing the possibility it could be someone we know is too much to handle.

Jack says with urgency, “Frankie is on the warpath, along with most of us. From now on, neither of you go anywhere alone.”

I open my mouth to speak and he holds up his hand. “Don’t shoot the messenger, Cassie. You can go together. We’re not saying you must be escorted by one of the guys. Just don’t go it alone.”

“What about Abigail?” Siri asks.

“She’s insisting on staying, but her father is pissing venom. The cops are here under his instruction and it won’t go down well if he learns about The Claiming.”

“He doesn’t know?” I’m surprised about that and Jack nods, a flicker of admiration ghosting his expression.

“She said she won’t tell and that it’s bad enough the entire school knowing what happened to her, but she won’t drag the rest of us down with her.”

“But she’s not the only one who knows about the challenge?”

I don’t see how she can keep this under wraps, and Jack laughs.

“Frankie has let it be known that if anyone says one word about The Claiming, he will deal with them personally.”

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