Torment Her (Rebels At Sterling Prep #5) - Caitlyn Dare
Chapter One
Kennedy
My eyes flutter open, pain radiating through every part of my body. I groan, trying to adjust my eyes to the soft amber glow flickering around the room.
“W-where am I?”
I search my memories for a clue of where I might be. The walls are a light gray, and the furniture is black wood. It’s tidy, clean.
It’s definitely a boy’s room.
My hands fist the sheets, and something pinches in my skin. “W-what?”
“Try to relax,” someone says softly, and I twist my head slowly to find a man standing there. “Hello, Kennedy. I’m Dr. Miles.”
“W-what happened?”
“We’re not sure.” His lips flatten into a grim line. “What can you remember?”
“I-I don’t know.” I close my eyes, willing the memories to surface. There was a New Year’s Eve party at Nate Jenner’s house. He’s captain of the football team at Sterling Heights, my high school. I was with Warren, my boyfriend.
Just the thought of him makes me flinch.
The Jaggers were there. Ace, Cole... and Conner. He tried to talk to me, but then the police arrived, and I ran.
“I don’t remember,” I croak, because after the hazy memories of fleeing the party, there’s nothing.
“Okay, try to relax.” He checks a small machine I’m hooked up to.
“What’s that?”
“It’s monitoring your blood pressure and heart rate.”
“Sorry, but where am—”
The door flies open, and Conner Jagger stands there. My childhood best friend. His face is pale, his bright blue eyes wide and skittish.
“Kenny,” he breathes, “thank fuck.”
“I thought I told you to wait outside.” The doctor gives him a disapproving look.
“I just need to see her, please.”
“Two minutes,” he says. “I need to speak with James.” The doctor turns to me and smiles. “I’ll be right back, okay?”
I nod, because it’s all I can do.
Conner is here and I’m... I’m at the Jaggers’ house. I don’t know how I know, but I do.
But not only am I at their house… I’m in Conner’s bedroom.
It’s the only explanation that makes sense.
The doctor leaves us and Conner approaches the bed. “What the fuck happened, Kenny? Because I’m trying really hard to figure out an explanation for this,” he motions to me lying in his bed, battered and bruised, “that doesn’t end with me driving to the Heights and—“
“Stop.” The word falls from my lips, and Conner halts, a heavy frown falling over his face.
“Kenny?” God, the vulnerability in his voice guts me. Conner and I have history. We were childhood friends... the kind of friendship that you think will never fade.
But it did.
It faded.
And now we’re no one to each other.
So why the fuck am I here?
“What are you doing, Conner? Why am I here?”
“He brought you here... you don’t remember?” His eyes narrow.
“He?” Fear trickles down my spine as my fingers twist tighter into the sheet.
“Jayden.”
“Jayden?” I balk. He plays on the team with Nate. I know him from school, but we’re not friends.
He is friends with Conner and his twin brother, Cole, though.
A memory floods my mind.
Shouting.
Pain.
Someone cradling me against their body and reassuring me that everything was going to be okay.
“Kenny?” Conner’s voice is a quiet whisper as tears roll down my cheeks.
“You need to go.”
His expression hardens. “What?”
“Please. I need you to go.”
The memories come thick and fast now, slamming into me like a wrecking ball.
Warren’s cruel words, his callous touch. His bitter breath fanning my face as he...
I screw my eyes closed and focus on my breathing.
“Kennedy, please—”
“JUST GO!” I scream, pain ripping through every inch of me.
The blood drains from Conner’s face and his lips part to say something, but the door opens again.
“Everything okay in here?” a girl I vaguely recognize asks.
“I need him to leave,” I say to her, hoping she might understand.
“I’m not going, Remi. You can’t—“
“Conner.” She reaches for his arm, gently touching him there. “Let’s give Kennedy some space. She’s been through a lot.”
“I...” He glances back at me. “You really want me to leave?”
I nod, blinking away the tears.
Conner runs a hand down his face, letting out a small hiss. “Fine, but this isn’t over, Kenny.” He barges past the girl and disappears into the hall.
She doesn’t leave, though. Closing the door, she gives me a weak smile. “How are you feeling?”
“Confused, sore...”
“I’m Remi, by the way. We didn’t get introduced at the party.”
I’ve heard her name around school. She’s the girl who tamed the infamous Ace Jagger, Conner’s older brother. He was kind of a big deal before the three of them left Sterling Heights and moved to the Bay.