Page 24 of Feel Free to Scream

“Oh, isn’t this interesting?” Cross says, his voice turning so light and sweet. “We have ourselves a little snitch in the house.”

“She didn’t mean it,” Lily promises. “Claire, please delete that. It’s a private house; you can’t film people.”

Oh. I’m shocked, and feel beyond foolish at her reply. I thought she’d be pleased I helped.

“Maybe he should delete that fake picture first,” I grit between my teeth.

“No. I’ll kiss you later,” Lily tells Cross, making it sound like a threat. “Just taking my roommate home. She’s tipsy. The videowillbe deleted. Don’t make a fuss, understood?”

Cross’s eyes slowly leave mine to settle on Lily. “Get her under control or I will.”

My roommate nods. I’m thoroughly confused as she grabs my hand and practically drag me out of the house, as fast as she can.

We’ve not even across the threshold when she turns to face me. “You can’t threaten those people. Don’t eventry. Oh my god, Claire, this could have ended badly for you.” She shakes her head, looking at me like I’ve grown a second head. “They’re all powerful here. Not only in the school; in this town. They can literally make you disappear if they want to. Don’t pissanyoneoff in Thorn Falls. Especially not those who live in these houses.”

“He was going to make you kiss him,” I protest somewhat weakly.

Maybe I was projecting my issues of tonight on her a little, but surely I wasn’t wrong to make him back off?

She sighs deeply. “It’s…a game, all right? And I don’t mind any of it. Come on. I’ll take you home. Damn, you’re lucky Keller likes you,” she mutters as we walk. “I thought Cross would eat you alive on the spot. He likely would have, if he wasn’t reluctant to step on someone else’s territory.”

“I’m not Keller’s territory,” I bite out.

“Right. Just like I’d say I’m not Cross’s if anyone asked. I don’t belong to anyone. But as far as they are concerned, they’ve decided to play with us,” she explains slowly, like she would talk to a child. “And they respect that. None of the other people in those houses will really fuck with you since Keller registered an interest. It’s, like, common courtesy for them. And trust me, it comes in handy. Come on, let’s walk a little faster.”

She is eager to get me away from the house and back to the dorm. A few times, I see her turn, checking if we’re being followed, I think. Finding her entire behavior both worrying and irritating, I redirect my attention to our surroundings.

The long road between the dorm and the private houses of the rich legacy students is paved in smooth gray stone, a sidewalk on both sides of it, wide enough for three or four people to walk side by side. Each house is surrounded by gates, all electric, and I also spot security personnel walking around the buildings. Handsome, well-groomed trees have been planted both behind the houses and in front of them. It occurs to me they obscure the view from the street level to the houses. Most of the windows are tinted; despite seeing lights inside, I can’t really spot anything, not even a shadow from any windows. These places are completely private. It’s a bit of overkill for glorified frat houses.

While the view from the outside is completely blocked by those trees, hedges, and higher, stronger gates, from the private drive, I can see a little. Things like the shape of the buildings; each one seems to have made a point of picking a different style of architecture, colors, vibes, to differentiate themselves from the others.

I’m glancing across the road when something I see that makes me frown. I’m not sure why at first. A girl’s jumping into what seems to be a full-size Olympic pool outdoors. It’s lit up, both in and out, in front of a gorgeous three-story white Regency manor house—one of the most imposing on the drive. They are bigger towards the entrance of the drive.

At first, I can’t tell what’s wrong. It’s just a girl jumping in the pool. Maybe it’s all the drinks I’ve consumed, but it takes me a while to decide why it seems odd.

She’s completely dressed. Why would she jump in with all her clothes? Even her shoes, I think. It’s hard to tell in the distance.

In the time it takes me to ask myself that question, another odd fact hits me.

She’s not surfacing.

Oh my god, she’s not surfacing. I can see the entire pool, and as I scan it more and more frantically as seconds pass, I realize that she’s not coming up.

“Hey, Lily? How long can someone hold their breath underwater?”

“What?” My roommate looks at me like I lost my mind.

“A few seconds, right? Thirty or so.”

“I mean, that depends on the person. A minute max, for a normal person. But people who train for it can hold it much longer. Why do you ask?”

It’s been a lot longer than a minute since I watched her go down. “A girl jumped in that pool,” I say urgently, pointing to the house. “A while ago. She was all dressed. I didn’t see her come up. Oh my god, what if?—”

Lily’s already dashing across the road. Though she made it clear she doesn’t usually party this side of the drive, she doesn’t hesitate at the gate, punching in a code. Moments later, we’re inside.

Immediately, I spot her, all the way at the bottom of the pool.

“Oh my god,” I gasp, thunderstruck and horrified.

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