that?” I ask aloud as an arctic chill drips down my spine.
Jules is already on it, typing the location into her phone. Seconds later, she turns the screen toward me and says, “It’s two hours away.”
Two hours away?
I examine the cardstock again. The vibes oozing off of it are absolutely terrible. “The question we should be asking is who sent this?”
It’s obviously not from my sister. She’d made it known if it was. I re-read the short, vague prompt a few more times, racking my brain for who it could possibly be. Nothing, though. I don’t know anyone who lives that far out, and neither does Jules, at least not that I’m aware of.
You’re invited to come fulfill your deepest, darkest desires. What does that even mean? My skin prickles as I process it, stomach churning uncomfortably. Alarm bells blare within my mind, too, and—
“So, are we going?”
My eyes nearly bulge from their sockets. I whip my head toward Jules so fast, I’m surprised it doesn’t snap off my neck clean. “Have you completely lost your mind? I literally just said we don’t even know who sent this! Do you want to die?”
“It’s probably for Rush!” she giggles. “Think about it; Rush starts next week.”
Does she not hear herself?
“Exactly, Jules...next week. Rush is next week, and this,” I hold the invite up to her face, “isn’t part of what they do. How would any of these houses know we’re planning to attend?”
Shrugging, she rises off the couch and ambles over to the small fridge, pulling out two Red Bulls. “They don’t, but maybe they’re trying something new this year to entice more people? Think about it...an early Rush in a different setting might intrigue people who never contemplated the Greek life.”
“They’re not.” I take the proffered Red Bull and pop the top as she drops back down beside me. “Not to mention, a sorority isn’t going to invite us to come fulfill our deepest, darkest desires.”
Jules tilts her head aside, lips curling as she chews on that little tidbit. “I mean, I guess you’re right.”
No, I know I’m right.
There’s not a single sorority on the planet that would do something like this, hell, not even a single school on the planet.
Which brings us right back to square one.
Who sent this...and how do they know who I am?
Chapter Two
Jules
I’m still mentally obsessing over that invite the next day. I shouldn’t be, Kaia’s made it more than clear that we’re not going, but I literally can’t stop thinking about it. She firmly believes it’s the beginning of a horror movie, and maybe she’s right—it is kinda sus. Doesn’t make me any less intrigued, though. I just can’t help but feel like there’s a good reason behind it, a reason for her to go and take me as her plus one. Maybe I’m being naive, or maybe it’s just me thinking it could be fun. Either way, we’ll never find out.
“Earth to Jules!” Winnie belts in my ear, sucking me back into the moment.
Head shaking and all, I glance around our table in one of the on-campus cafes to find everyone looking at me. Winnie, Danny, Tyrone, Viv, Zak... The only one who isn’t here is Kaia. She doesn’t have a break until later in the afternoon on Thursdays. “Sorry, what were you saying?”
Winnie rolls her eyes playfully and flips her platinum blonde hair behind her. “I was asking if you’re ready for Rush.”
Oh. “Yeah, I mean, I think I am.” I shrug. “As ready as I can be.”
“You’re going for Alpha Chi, right?” Viv asks.
Nodding, I check the face of my watch and begin piling all my trash onto my tray. My next class is in twenty minutes. “Yup. It seems like the best fit for me, but Delta Phi sounds pretty bomb, too.”
“Oooh, girl, no.” She crinkles her nose, shaking her dark head adamantly. “Delta Phi is a gloomy goth pit of doom.”
“Ey, don’t rank on the goth chicks. They’re freaks,” Zak chimes. “And I don’t mean regular freaks. They like that kinky shit, and I’m fucking here for it.”
Danny and Tyrone both howl a laugh in tandem, quirking the corners of my lips.
“You’re definitely not part of that crowd Jules,” Winnie states, narrowing her eyes at Zak. “You’ll stick out like a sore thumb.”
“Mhmm, you’re definitely the Alpha Chi type,” Viv agrees.
I don’t know if it’s the slight snarkiness of her tone or just her statement in general, but something about it instantly rubs me the wrong way. “And what