Page 52 of Cruel (Brutal Academy)

"If they're outside waiting for us, they won't wait forever," Slade said. "Sooner or later, they'll come in after us. I don't know about you, but I prefer not to be a sitting duck. If we get out of the building, we can get what we need to fight back."

Dane grunted. "Fine, but if you get me or Chloe killed, I'm going to be pissed off with you, Lincoln."

"Right back at you, DiMarco," Slade said. "I don't suppose you have a gun on you?"

"If I did, I wouldn't tell you," Dane said.

Slade paused for a moment. "Yeah, I guess you wouldn't."

We stopped on the threshold.

"I don't like how bright that moonlight is," Hunter said. "If I was waiting to shoot someone, I'd be aiming a gun at that window there." He gestured. "The minute we step out, we'll be visible."

"So we don't step out," Slade said. "We keep down low, stay out of the moonlight and out of sight of anyone outside the window."

"Are you suggesting we crawl?" Parker asked.

"That's exactly what I'm suggesting," Slade said.

"Cool, I thought so," Parker said lightly. "I can get down on my hands and knees."

"We noticed, Park," Hunter said. "You seemed to enjoy it very much"

"I did, Hunt," Parker agreed. He knelt down, pulling me with him. "This would be easier without carrying a tequila bottle."

We kept our heads down and crawled toward the exit.

A glance back showed Hunter and Slade right behind me, Dane and Chloe behind them. She was sticking close to Dane; clearly scared, but I wasn't sure if she was scared of us or whatever the fuck else was going on. Both, perhaps? They were somewhat outnumbered.

I looked away. Right now, I needed to worry about getting myself and my guys out of here in one piece. Chloe and Dane could look after themselves.

We reached the doorway without getting shot or seeing anyone else. Either the other students had left the building, or they were hiding in their rooms, or somewhere else in the building. Wherever they were, we seemed to be the only ones moving around the corridor. What did that mean, if anything? Maybe nothing. Maybe everything.

I couldn't rule out the possibility everyone knew this was coming but us. Until I knew otherwise, I had to assume everyone but me and my guys were the enemy.

A million possibilities tumbled through my brain, none of them good. No one had ever, to my knowledge, attacked Brutham Academy. It never occurred to me before to wonder why that was. Considering who we all were, something like this was inevitable.

Of course it had to fucking happen when I was here.

“The minute we step out, we may become a target," Hunter whispered.

"Can you see anyone out there?" Dane asked. He crawled up beside Hunter and Parker.

"No one, but that doesn't mean they aren't there," Hunter said.

"What if someone goes out first?" Parker suggested.

"Are you volunteering?" Chloe asked him.

"Hell no," Parker replied. "Ladies first. And before you suggest Lila, remember you're the big sister."

"What if the first thing out isn't a person?" I held up the strap on with the bright pink dildo sticking out from the front.

"It's worth a try to see if we get a reaction," Hunter said.

I crawled over closer to the door, drew back my arm and threw the dildo as hard as I could.

CHAPTER20

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