Page 5 of Such a Bad Girl

She'd be a bad girl for me.

I knew it.

CHAPTER THREE

REBECCA

‘Shh.’Emery giggled as the librarian gave us a look that says shut the fuck up or get out.

Faye lowered her voice, leaning over the textbooks spread on the tabletop like a buffet of knowledge. ‘It’s true!’

‘I’ve never heard of it.’ The librarian gave me another glance, and I shrank back in my seat, hoping the floor-to-ceiling bookshelves would hide me from her scrutinising view. ‘So what, is it just a masked party? Why the need for it to be some big secret?’

‘It’s not just some masked party,’ Faye parroted my words. ‘It’s the Initiation. It happens every year, in a secret location. My brother was invited when he attended.’

‘Sounds a bit culty if you ask me.’ Emerydoodled on her notebook, her eyes rolling at Faye’s obsession with a party that may or may not exist.

‘I guess it is a bit culty. But being involved is a big deal. It gets you access to benefits.’ Faye winced as someone shushed us.

‘What benefits?’ I asked, my curiosity piqued.

‘Well... I mean I don’t know exactly. It’s a secret society thing. My brother said if I can get an invitation, especially as a freshman, then it’s worth it.’

‘Let me guess, they use all the freshmen as bait? And what? We get humiliated for their benefit? Used as sex toys?’ To be fair, it sounded like the kind of party I might enjoy.

‘Everyone wears masks, and it’s apparently the most decadent place you’ll ever see. They full-on go to town.’ Faye’s eyes were sparkling despite the darkness of the library. With the sun long having set, the only lights were the wall sconces that glowed orange with all the vibrancy of a dying fire. The newer campus library, decked out in steel and glass, closed mid-afternoon each day. So students working late had to put up with the towering army of bookshelves, each getting dustier and more ancient the further you ventured from the reception desk. Like a catacomb of forgotten books.

‘I’m going to head back,’ Emery said, closing herbooks and stacking them into her bag. ‘As much fun as discussing a fictional party is, I’ll never make it to the gym in the morning if I don’t get to bed soon. Are you coming?’

Faye’s shoulders dropped a touch as she let out a soft sigh. Clearly the idea of the party had her transfixed. ‘Yeah, I should too.’

‘I’ve still got a bit more to do, this math course is going right over my head half the time.’ Largely because I’m too busy fantasising about my professor bending me over his desk.If only.

‘Make sure you get the campus bus back, it's dead creepy around this part of campus.’ Emery gave a shudder before sliding the strap of her bag over her shoulder.

‘I’ll be okay.’

We exchanged goodnights before I continued mulling over my notes from the day. Far too many gaps where I’d gone off in my head and zoned out. Soon enough, I thought about my new friends. I hadn’t come to Wellum intending to seek out a friend group. I’d never been good at fitting in at high school. Maybe it had less to do with my personality and more with how intensely I focused on my plans. I’d missed parties and invites out too many times in favour of nights spent poring over my computer.Searching, learning, documenting. All to get me to the very point I was now.

I’d reached my dream.Well, almost.I needed to knuckle down and complete it. But I guess I could make room for some friends alongside pursuing my goals. They made the long days far more fun than I’d expected them to be.

By the time I next looked up from my books, the library had emptied. Even the reception desk appeared deserted.

Fuck.

The dank atmosphere coiled around me as I stood, quickly packing my things into my bag. In my hurry, I dropped it, sending my belongings rolling this way and that.

‘Dammit,’ I muttered, my voice echoing despite its low tone.

Scurrying around on the floor, I found all but one item. The silver pen my grandmother had given me. Turning, I hunted for the metallic glint, but saw nothing.

‘It can’t have gone that far,’ I said, reassuring myself. Ducking to check beneath nearby tables, but I still couldn’t see it.

Considering returning in the daylight, I bit my lip. Leaving it made my stomach coil. It would belike abandoning my grandmother. It was the only item of hers I kept.

Each step I took echoed in the cavernous room as I peeked along the first row of mahogany shelves. The hair on my neck stood as I heard a rustling behind me. I turned sharply, but found nothing. Just an empty space between the two giant shelves. Orange light pooled in small circles, only lighting the books and floor closest to them. Inky darkness masked corners and ends.

‘Where the fuck is it?’ I said.

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