Valemont's Game

Chapter 2-Wakeup Call Part 2

***

I stare at my locker, aimlessly. Examining the metal and recalling what had happened. His words, his touch. I don’t know if I find Isaac attractive, but I can definitely say he flipped a switch. He was kind, he was different and now... I don’t even know. To be honest, I’m too busy to care right now.

“Hello, Haylee” she said it so calmly.

Why does everyone here know my name?

“Hi?”

I turn around to see a brunette, flipping her curls and vaping. At school? She wasn’t even following the dress code. Whereas everyone’s skirt reached their knees, hers reached mid-thigh area and that wasn’t even the half of it. Her hair was colored in a dark brown and her eyes were as green as a rain forest. Spiking with glints of envy and disgust. Everything about her said... b***h, in capital letters.

Her skirt was ripped on the side and the fitted blazer was nowhere to be seen on her. Instead, it looked she wore a pink coat. So, I’m guessing the rules only go for some people. My only question is why the hell she’s talking to me right now.

She focused back on me, as I watched the mint gum pop in and out of her mouth with the smell of strawberry perfume practically dripping off of her. One thing’s for certain, her and my mom would get along wonderfully.

“What can I do for you?” I questioned.

She puffed, “Sebastian told me to give this to you.”

Placed in her palm was a dark red envelope.

A special calligraphy on the top that said It’s Here Bitches, in all caps. An evil smile appeared on her pink stained lips while I grabbed it out of her hand and turned it over in mine. Paper scratching at my fingers when I opened the envelope and read along the lines of an address and some weird saying about Valentine’s day which is this Friday. Probably the reason she’s having the party at all.

“It’s kind of like a pop-up thing so don’t bring a plus-one, okay?”

Her voice was like the sound you get when you’re rubbing Styrofoam together. A squeaky, yet also very deep sound that makes you curious as to why it even exists in the first place. And no, I’m not trying to be a b***h, it just comes naturally.

“You said Sebastian told you to give this to me?”

She shrugged, “I don’t know why so, don’t ask. He just told me to give you an invite. Usually, we only invite people who can hang, but there’s a first time for everything right?”

She stared at me as if she were holding onto a bitchy remark and didn’t want it to slip out of her mouth accidently. What she didn’t know, or maybe she did and just didn’t want to admit it; she had already let one slip.

‘I’ve seen her hanging with Isaac and Sebastian so, I’m guessing she’s their friend.

She walked away before I could argue, shaking her ass to class and letting my rhyme die. I chuckle as the bell splits my ear drums and I jot off into the hall. Thoughts bombarding me and I haven’t even turned the pop quiz over yet. Did I want to go?

It was a realistic question, I wasn’t being a sarcastic b***h, I really wanted to know. Do I want to go? I continued to ask myself, while opening the door to calculus and taking a seat at my desk. My first day was weird. I’m just hoping today goes better, which means whoever the hell Brunette b***h is I don’t want a part in it.

“Pull out your books and read from page 12 to 24 class.”

He said it calmly. Nuzzled in his desk table and pushing up his brown glasses. As I flipped through pages, skimming the book while I thought about Isaac. Why was I so strung out around him? Why couldn’t he tell me what was going to hurt me? How bad could it really be? And why the f**k did Sebastian want me at that b***h’s party?

Not to mention, how in the hell is a private school party going to be such a good time? A pop up, what now? Basically, my mind was full of random questions, all jumbled in one quickly said name.

The f*****g Valemont’s!

My heart started pattering in my chest, not noticing what Mr. Turmon was going on about. I’ve never been good at math, but my lack of knowledge wasn’t the thing that kept me from learning this time. It was Isaac, it was that b***h, it was the guy I spent every waking minute being curious about. He was an asshole. Sebastian or, whatever but for some reason, I can’t get him out of my head.

Before I knew it, my eyes found Anderson. I call him Jock-Head. Mostly, because of his douche with a capital bag, style. He was sitting at his desk, reading before the pop quiz began. He looked almost like he was free. Finally, able to breathe. How you can breathe when you’re reading a calc book is beyond me, but that’s what it seemed like.

He seems infatuated with the book, studying every single problem and succeeding within a second. Impressive, ‘cos I could never but that’s not what got me. It was the three seconds after the bell that got me. The three seconds in which he turned in his test, laughed with the teacher and walked right out of class. I might be really dumb, but I just had an idea. What if I follow him? No, I’m not a stalker but I am curious as to why Isaac wants me to stay away. Maybe, if I follow him, I can find out.

Anderson Rivers.

His father is one of my father’s partners though, they don’t talk much about it. I found out last summer while I was visiting him in New York. Either way, I’ve seen him and Sebastian hanging around each other.

What if he knows what Isaac means when he tells me to stay away?

It’s worth a shot, right?

A leap of f****d-up faith when I ignore Mr. Turmon’s calls and instead, run after Anderson. Leaving the sheet of empty word problems, unanswered and on my desk. He walked from area to area and I walked behind him through it all, that was until I stopped at a halt, turning the corner to find an empty hall. It’s like he disappeared, vanished completely.

“Hey, pretty girl.”

I’m not a puppy, so why the f**k is he talking to me like that?

I didn’t have to see him to know who it was. I swore, a breeze came through when he walked in the room. Not one that makes you feel refreshed either. His breeze isn’t like one you get on a summer day, it’s almost like the calm before a cold storm. The breeze you get when your heart thumps so fast, you start to lose breath.

“I really didn’t think you’d follow, maybe A was right.”

I didn’t bother asking how the hell he knew I was there when he winked at me. Anderson knew I was following him. It was a trap, but I can’t figure out why. Why did he send me that invitation? Why can’t I get him out of my mind? Why does every waking moment feel trapped by a man I’ve only met once?

“You going to the party?” he questioned.

His voice was so demanding and, yet... sensual. I could sense Isaac staring at me with disappointment, but it became real when I swerved my head to find him there. A moment of quiet before Sebastian smiled and something ran through me. Not a shiver, but also not a shudder either.

“I don’t plan on it” I whispered innocently.

It was as if I had witnessed a gang initiation, scared for my life when they caught me watching. He walked around me slowly, observing my body and gazing at the little birthmarks on my skin. With every breath my heart pumped faster and harder.

Pulling me away from reality and into a special kind of frenzy.

“I told you to stay away” Isaac huffed.

I should have, but you’re the one who chose to drive me to school. You’re the one who tried to assault me in that alley way and you’re the one who’s been messing with me since last night. It made me curious as f**k. What was I supposed to do? Just let him do whatever he wants and not ask questions?

Sorry, that’s just who I am.

Still, now they both gaze at me and I regret my decision. Feeling angry, scared, but the curiosity scores it all. I need to know what I have to stay away from. I need to know or I’m gonna go insane.

“What a beautiful body.”

I shivered, shaking out of fear when he skimmed my bare chest with his index finger. His touch was like being stabbed with a knife that had sat in the freezer for a century. Frozen rock solid, until it hits my skin with jagged edges. Breaking flesh and cooling the skin. That breeze suddenly comes back and this time, I can’t escape it. Getting trapped within his red eyes, like roses made of blood.

“What do you say we make another trial Isaac?” he suggests, looking up to his friend.

“Trial?” I muttered.

What the f**k are they talking about? Does this have something to do with whatever the hell Isaac wanted me to stay away from? It has to, right? Theories of what it is get darker by the minute, but I can’t help but think whatever it is, might be dangerous.

“Can I speak with you, Sebastian?” he commanded.

“Of course,” the other answered, grazing down my neck. He seemed cheerful about it, but you could tell that it was just a façade. On the inside, there was sarcasm. A s**t load of anger and maybe, just a little threat in his words.

I swallowed as shivers ran through me like spirits, haunting the blue halls. Looking back to see that we were alone. I was, at least. Alone with three guys that looked at me like the prey of the evening. A snack, a chew toy, a... plaything. I was alone with a cold person, standing behind me and observing my skin. That was until Isaac pulled him away and I was left to stare at Anderson Rivers.

Cynical words were whispered so softly, in the back corner of the hall. The third hall. The one that Charlotte told me to stay away from. It all makes sense. The only thing I don’t understand is why Sebastian Valemont is so out to get me?

I tried to run but my feet stood still. The fear shook me, the possibilities made my heart race and my soul implode. The feeling that he gave me; he was going to make me bleed. As if he would suck the life out of my fear and feast on it like a meal. He was going to leave my veins cold and dry; I just knew it but for some sick f*****g reason, I was okay with that. I wanted to stay to find out when.

“She needs a good f*****g, don’t you think?”

I heard him whisper from afar. Don’t know what he said, but it made goosebumps run up my arms. A second went by before again, more words were spilled, but they were more like small mumbles.

“I suggest you get your head out of your ass before I break it off.”

“Chill, I’m just ‘fuckin with you. I can’t do anything daddy doesn’t say, remember? He owns us.”

I saw the conversation go from calm words to a harsh form of yelling.

“I’ll make you see red, you f*****g creep!”

Sebastian leaned in, holding his chin deviously. “You’re not getting soft on me are you, brother? You certainly weren’t soft when you took the love of my life away, so I don’t know why you’d be getting soft now?”

 I saw Isaac carve out an angry grin, as Red Eyes stared at him with a cold smile. Brutally cold, like cutting you. Cutting you with a f*****g icepick. Such a chilling feeling when he smirks at his friend.

“So, this trial, how ‘bout rape?”

“How ‘bout you stop running your goddamn mouth!”

Isaac spat something, but I didn’t quite hear what it was. They glared at each other for a long time, without even blinking. The blank anger on both of their faces. Shaped impeccably well and for some reason, that made me shove my head down. As if embarrassed to be looking at them and seeing beautiful inside two dark, lonely, souls.

“Come on, don’t you want to feel how wet she is? Hear those little moans, screaming as we take turns, thrusting into her. We know she’s not a virgin, Isaac. I know you want to do it, or maybe you already have.”

“Walk away, Sebastian. Anderson’s a f*****g i***t and you know it. I’ve already said, Haylee’s not a part of this. I don’t want her to be a part of it; she isn’t f*****g a part of it!”

“I believe I said that once” he remembers, “She wasn’t a part of it. Look where my girl is now? I think this one’s perfect for it. So, what if I don’t want to walk away? What’s gonna happen then, Isaac? What are you gonna do? You gonna punch me? What if I smashed her skull in right here?”

Sebastian walked back towards me, each step causing my curiosity to peak. Fascinated with him, I’m so fascinated I know it’ll hurt me at some point. Though, now that I really know when that last little bit of words was close enough for me to hear. What if I smashed her skull? He can’t be serious, right?

He held my head in place, c*****g his own as if it were a gun, he wanted to shoot his friend with. Ready, aim, fire! He got really close, scanning before skimming my chest, letting his fingers run down the tip of my concealed breasts. It was as if I was the book. He intended on reading page after page. Running down each word from chapter to chapter and causing the book to be so cold,

Its cover, aka my n*****s, felt erect and sore.

White cloth, so see-through but it didn’t seem like he gave a s**t. There’s a passion from this. Almost like all the anger he holds inside of him, he wanted to unleash. Cage me in that hallway and take it all out. His touch became aggressive when he turned me around without so much as a warning.

Taking my breath and holding my neck in the palm of his hand. Like I was a cup and he was ready to drink out of me. How strange, that I didn’t mind his touch there at all. Though, the words were a little intense.

“What if I slammed her head in and watched the blood drip on my father’s newly, built, flooring?”

“Shut it, motherfucker” Isaac snapped, “You touch her and you know I’ll break your f*****g legs.”

Sebastian pushed me against the locker as I mustered up the energy to process that sentence. I know John is his father, but I don’t think he’d be so violent as to say he’d slam my head in and watch the blood. Who the f**k says that, just out of nowhere? It can’t be true, can it? People talk, but that doesn’t mean he’d actually do it, right?

“Watch as I what?” I found the strength to speak, but quickly lost it when his hand wrapped around my waist. As if, he was a snake ready to cut off my breathing and squeeze me to death. He wasn’t taking my air, but it seemed like he wanted me to know that at any moment, he could. I needed to shut up and take it or he would or he would do just that. That’s just my horrible imagination though.

It has to be... right?

“Shh, love. You’re not a part of this.”

Fuck it!

“f**k off and get the f**k off me!” I spat, pushing his hand away and leaning up from the locker. Courage, I found it. I found it and I’m not letting it go.

“I don’t know what this is and I don’t know why you guys are so interested in me, but if you think I won’t report it, you’re obviously out of your f*****g minds! It’s not the first time I’ve dealt with guys like you so I’ll say it one more time just in case you didn’t hear me in the beginning; I’m not and will never be scared of you, Sebastian so just stop, the both of you just need to leave me alone!”

It was like the room had flipped upside down.

Anderson had disappeared in thin air and I was only left with the two, fighting, shitheads. Absolute dipshits, but it seemed as if they were shocked with me. Sebastian’s smile was priceless and I couldn’t help but analyze his lips. Pondering the way, they move, which also made me wonder how they kissed. For some reason, I’m so interested in him.

Yes, I do always go for the raging assholes but something tells me he’s not just a raging asshole.

There’s something so calming yet, intensifying with his touch. Colder than most as it throws your entire body into a childlike trance. You get giddy and I’ve never been... giddy. Everything about him is so hard to explain. It gives you a whole new way of thinking, not to mention the heat that incaves inside you when his hands find yours. I don’t know what it is, but something tells me I won’t be able to escape once I find out.

“Did she just stand up for herself?” he questions, “She really is perfect.”

Isaac looked at his friend, as if completely in agreement. Agreement about what? What does he mean when he says that I’m perfect? I, so desperately want to ask, but before I can Isaac continues to speak. I feel as if I’ve been trapped under piles of snow for centuries, unable to move. Frozen in between lands and highly confused.

“Are you gonna back off?”

His friend didn’t look defeated, more like he was... stalling. Waiting for something bigger, maybe the party this Friday. Which means if I go, Sebastian will get what he desires. What does he desire? What does he want from me? No, I’m so confused I’m making up odd stories. He doesn’t want anything and even if he does, I won’t be giving into it. Done enough of that to last a f*****g lifetime.

“Hmm, I’ll back off. You’ll go back to being the perfect son before I know it. Daddy can’t lose his favorite; it’ll f**k up his entire operation. You won’t do it and he won’t want that. Play in fantasy-land, all you want. You can’t escape father’s wishes, Isaac. You know what’ll happen in the end.”

What will happen?

Isaac nodded in what looked like, resentment before his friend walked back down the hall. The way he walks is a conundrum. Everything about him is a conundrum. His smile, his movement; it’s all been planned out like a puzzle. Or, at least that’s what it seems.

Just like that and I was left with Isaac. When he keeled his head down, putting a hand to his forehead. Shaking his head in utter disappointment. I could feel his eyes roll back into his head. One motherfucking movement to show me how completely stupid I was. Me, rolling my eyes and scowling in complete anger.

“Did he just threaten to kill me?” I blurt. It’s what I’ve been wondering but I didn’t dare ask when he was still around. By the look on Isaac’s face, it seemed serious. No, it’s not serious; it can’t be.

“Shut up” he ignored, as if my question didn’t even matter.

“No, Isaac! Not then and not now. Was that a threat? Did he threaten me? What is it, you’re so afraid to show me? What is so f*****g bad about this school; why can’t you tell me?”

He laughed in response, walking towards me in fast steps. He looked sad; his expression was thinned and broken down. His eyes were full of regret and the veins, popping out of his forehead, told me he was feeling stressed. He was, indeed, sad. As if his daughter had died, his words had been crushed.

I looked back, but yet again... the halls were empty. Anderson and Sebastian are like vampires. For some reason I feel as if they’re worse. I don’t know why; it just seems that way.

“Why can’t you just f*****g stay out of it?” he gritted.

“Oh, so it’s my fault?! You’ve got some nerve, Isaac. It’s not my fault that you and your f****d-up friends took a liking to me. I don’t know why this is happening and if I did, I’d find a way to stop it. You tell me to stay away, but then show up at my house. You tell me Sebastian’s a bad person, but then try and get it on with me in some alley! f*****g choose already. Do I stay away or do I...?”

Without warning he slammed his fist into the lockers. Shocking me into utter silence as I jumped in place. Shivers ran down my frame and memories of what happened this morning came back to me.

“Shut the f**k up for once, Haylee. You’re so in the dark; you don’t know how much blood is on your f*****g hands. I thought I could have you, I thought you were perfect but if I do it, Sebastian will want you too and that’ll f**k up your life more than you know. So, here’s the thing, I’m a sick f**k, my family is, even my depraved sister is. So, how about we end it here? I tried to be with you; I liked you. I actually liked you, Haylee but now that he knows you exist, you are f****d if you stay.

So, instead you’re gonna listen to me. You’re going to stop with this f*****g curiosity; your curiosity’s gonna get you killed. You’re gonna tell your mom to f**k off. I won’t be driving you anymore. You’re not going to that party ‘cos if you do, someone will hurt you. You’ll go home; you’ll keep your head down and you won’t make friends with my friends. Do you understand me?”

What could be so bad?

“I’m not a little girl, Isaac. I don’t need your protection; I know the risks.”

But, do I? He said my curiosity’s gonna get me killed. Sebastian threatened me. Do I really know the risks? I don’t even know what’s going on, if I’m honest. What is going on? It seems dangerous and I don’t think I want to know what I have to stay away from anymore. I’m starting to get scared.

“No, Haylee. You don’t f*****g know the risks” he snapped.

Well, that confirms that!

“If you go to that party, I’ll drug you.”

My heart thumped out of my chest, practically palpitating in unison with his words. Anger, sadness; it was interrupting my thoughts. Confusion and curiosity; taking me to a place I was starting to feel helpless in. With every theory, the walls kept closing in. Brick and dust shattering in front of me. I tried to say something, but my mouth sealed shut. Aggression, losing me in between the lines.

I need to get out of this hallway.

“You hear me?” he repeated, I nodded.

“I’ll drug you. I’ll drug you and I’ll take you back to my bed and if it’s not me, then it’ll be some other f**k. Haylee, you don’t know okay? You don’t know what you’re getting into and if I tell you, you’ll be s**t out of luck. So, stay away. Stay the f**k away and I’ll handle the rest on my own.”

It was a warning, like he was worried. Speaking dreadfully, coming at a stop after one sentence. I couldn’t help but let the tears from my watery eyes drip onto my cheeks. Sending one to his shoulder. What’s going on here? It’s a question that’s starting to haunt me. Feeling trapped in one miserable walkway.

What is going on here?

How dark could it really be?

“T-They’ll hurt you, Haylee. I’ll have to hurt you.”

“What is so wrong with this school, Isaac? I don’t get it!”

He looked at me. Estranged and confused.

Something is definitely off here; something’s wrong with this school. I don’t know what, but I have to find out. It’s driving me nuts and one question keeps popping up in my mind. What if it has something to do with my sister? What if Zoe went through this? Another question. If it does, what does that mean?

“There’s just bad people here, alright?”

“It’s more than that; there’s something you’re not telling me. There is something you’re hiding, Isaac. What the f**k are you hiding?” I huffed, “Why does everyone here know my name?”

He looked up at me, ready to scream. It’s been a topic I’ve wondered for a long time. It started with CC and then, Sebastian knew. Isaac knew, not only my name but where I f*****g lived. Everyone knew and I couldn’t figure out why. They excused it by saying they saw my schedule, but CC never went in with me. Everything happened before and Sebastian drug her off into some random room.

So, that begs the question, how? How did they know my name?

How did he know my address? Why is he saying I have so much f*****g blood on my hands? That doesn’t even make sense. Not to me, but it seems like it does to him. Do I know them? Did I, did I do something wrong to them? I made a lot of wrongs back in my druggy days. It’s not hard to believe, but for some reason it feels like more than that. I’m so f*****g confused!

“Don’t ever ask that question again, okay?”

“No” I grit, “It’s not f*****g okay. How do you know my name? Answer me, Isaac. No more beating around the bush! The only explanation is that I met you and forgot or, what? Are you guys f*****g killers?...”

He slapped his hand over my mouth immediately. A reactionary thing to do, he wasn’t trying to hurt me. It was like he knew there were people listening and they’d f**k me up if I said the full thing. I can’t be right? They’re teenagers, seniors in f*****g high school. I’m not right, am I? No.

No way!

“Shut up!”

“What?” I whispered.

“This was a test. Sebastian’s listening and if he catches you saying that you’re dead. Don’t come to that party, Haylee. In all honestly, I would tell you if I could but my father watches me. Day in and day out. Tell your mom that Prep’s not a good school for you ‘cos I guarantee, you’d be right.”

He faded away. Disappearing like ghost and I get the feeling that Prep’s his haunted house. I could only hope it was just a prank. New students get them all the time, but no one was ending it. No one was calling it out and I couldn’t just wait for that to happen. Even if it means never-ending torture, I have to know what he wants me to stay away from. It might be detrimental.

So, I have to go to that party.