Page 108 of Caged
“You were branded?!” I gasp. “We kind of heard about this from Kasey’s roommate, who said she accidentally saw Kasey’s brand when she was changing one day, but it’s just so hard to believe!”
“Trust me, it gets worse,” Monroe laments. “But I understand what you mean. We’re in college. C-o-l-l-e-g-e,” she says, drawing out the word'college'with slow emphasis. “How the fuck does a secret society like this exist at an Ivy League school like Dornell and no one is the wiser? How do three fucking girls go missing and authorities write off their disappearances as suicides? How are spoiled, rich private school boys who’ve never had to get their hands dirty a day in their prissy, privileged lives pulling off the murder heist of a century? And why? These are the answers I don’t have but intend to find out.”
“Okay, so getting back on track,” I say, “we need to know where Kasey’s body was buried, or dumped, I guess.”
“Right,” Monroe confirms. “And we need to connect Sigma to Kasey’s death.”
“How do we do that?” I ask.
“The brand. We have to get the brand, which is going to be the most difficult part of this plan, because the brand is Kieren’s ring.”
“That hideous black and gold ring I saw on his pinky finger is a brand?”
Monroe nods. “I don’t know how it works, but I’m sure we can figure it out when we get our hands on the ring. The top of the ring is not the same design as the brand, but Jace told me Kieren’s ring is the brand, so I have to imagine it comes apart in some way.”
“Jace told you that?” I ask curiously.
“I don’t know if he was supposed to, but he let it slip one night when walking me back to Kieren’s room after the Ceremony.”
“I fucking hate him,” I seethe. “He broke into my room this morning through the window over the fire escape,” I huff, managing another bite of my protein bar.
“Holy shit!” Monroe gasps, eyes wide with shock. “I was certain after he wasn’t waiting for you last night that you were in the clear. What happened?”
“Just the usual. He threatened me, like he’s been doing this entire semester, telling me to stay away from Sigma or else. I was so mad, I told him about the video, so… he knows now. Yay,” I feign, still upset with myself.
“Wow,” Monroe says as she slowly nods. “Actually, this is good for us, because there’s only one person who could have recorded that video and sent it to you.”
“I know you think it’s Kieren,” I say.
“Gabi! Kieren is a snake. He’s a narcissist. He obviously sent that video to you so you would break up with Jace, and Kieren could get his number one lackey back. That man is calculated, and we’ve all played right into his plans foryears. Jace will know it was Kieren, and maybe it’s the catalyst we need to create a rift between them.”
“Maybe,” I say halfheartedly. “How are we going to get the ring, and get Barrett or Harrison to tell us Kasey’s location?”
“Torture them,” Monroe deadpans, and I can’t help but laugh.
“No, seriously,” I say.
“I’m serious,” Monroe confirms. “Why do you think I have guns and knives and shit? Because I’m a collector? Gabi, this is where things get serious. I am going to hunt them down when they are isolated and least expecting it. I’ve been studying theirschedules. And as for the ring? Break into Sigma, or better yet, walk in through the front door. Kieren is the only person with a gun, as far as I know.”
“Kieren has a gun?” I gape.
“I didn’t tell you? Thought I did. Well, in any manner. Yes. Kieren has a gun, and he held me at gunpoint multiple times, which is how he forced me into a dog cage.”
“Oh my God,” I sigh, feeling my stomach twist with nerves.
“If you’re not up for this, it’s totally fine. I don’t expect you to help. You’d be crazy to get involved, and this is my mess, not yours. But unfortunately, we don’t have much time. The next Full Moon Ceremony is in nine days – two Saturdays from now. This is the time to strike. I won’t let another woman be killed on my watch by these sick fucks.”
“But do you think a body and Kieren’s ring are enough for an indictment against Sigma? You said yourself that the police are in on it, and even if we get outside resources involved, these agencies move at a snail’s pace.”
“I know,” Monroe admits. “I need to steal Kieren’s computer. I know he has emails between him and the elders because I accidentally saw them once. But you’re right. None of it will happen fast enough, which is why I plan to burn Sigma to the fucking ground.”
50
MONROE
Present Day
Gabi gives me a slight nod as she exits the back seat of the car my step-cousins let me keep for helping them out this summer. I return the nod and pull away like a nameless, faceless Uber driver dropping off another passenger. Unless she changes her mind, I’ll see her again tomorrow morning.
