Page 16 of Cruel (Brutal Academy)

"Shit," Mary said softly. "I'm so sorry. I'm guessing they did that to most of us, if not all of us. Why do men suck so much?"

"I've often wondered the same thing," I said. I couldn't even say ‘not all men,’ because fuck knows the twins did plenty of similar things. I knew for a fact they'd drugged Abbie at least once. Not for the same reason, but they did it.

"That's why women go to the toilet in pairs. Because too many men can't be trusted. When I get out of this, I'm never going on another date ever again."

"I'm sure you'll find someone nice," I assured her.

We had to get out of this shit first.

CHAPTER7

LILA

The truck slowed to a stop. The rumble of a garage door echoed, the gears grinding it closed behind us. Steel hit concrete with a harsh, resounding clunk.

The truck rolled forward for another minute or two before coming to a full stop. The engine turned off, plunging us into silence.

Mary gripped my arm, trembling fingers pressing into my flesh. We sat like that, huddled together until the back of the truck swung open.

"This is it, ladies," Brutus said cheerfully. "Holiday is over. Time to get out and earn your keep."

Danica sobbed and shuffled away from him, but she had nowhere to go.

None of us did.

Brutus pulled out a gun and waved over several men. They gathered around the back of the truck, each looking more shady as fuck than the last.

"Let's not have any trouble, ladies. Out you get." Brutus waved the gun at us before he stepped back to give us room.

Mary's grip tightened, her nails digging harder into my skin.

"Those aren't police," she whispered.

Brutus aimed the gun at her. "Anything you want to share with the class?"

She shook her head hastily, hair flying this way and that. "No." Her voice trembled as hard as she did.

"Good, then get the fuck out of the truck," he said with a vicious smile. He kept the gun on her until she let go of my arm and scurried out.

I sighed and followed. Instinctively, I kept my eyes down, looking for ways out, while giving the appearance of not making any trouble.

"Do I have to drag you out by your hair?" Brutus snarled as I stepped over near him.

I contained a flinch, but froze until I realised he wasn't addressing me.

A red-eyed Danica was staring back at him. Her cheeks were wet with tears. She didn't bother to wipe them away. She skirted over to the end of the truck, as far from Brutus as she could get, and climbed out.

"Shame, I would have enjoyed that." Brutus laughed. After a moment, the other men joined in.

I forced my eyes back down before I shot daggers at them. Now would not be a good time to provoke Brutus.

"This way ladies." He gestured with his gun.

A wave of panic threatened to wash over me. It lasted until I realised he wasn't referring to the elevator, but the concrete steps beside them. They led up, out of the parking garage.

Cold and dank, they were better than the confined space of an elevator car. Being stuck in one of those with Brutus was ‘worst nightmare’ material.

The men formed a loose semicircle around us, presumably in case we decided to run. Where they thought we’d go, I had no idea. As far as I could see, the only ways in and out were from the garage door, the elevator or the steps.

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