Chapter 2 THE DROWNING

When I regained consciousness, I was sitting on a chair, my hands tied behind me, my feet tied to the legs of the chair.

Pain radiated from the back of my skull where Jeffery had hit me. The world swam in and out of focus. Candles still flickered around the room, casting dancing shadows on stone walls.

The altar was empty now. The woman's body was gone. Just dark stains remained.

"About time you wake up, bitch."

The voice came from my left. Then pain exploded across my face as Jeffery's fist connected with my cheek.

My head snapped to the side. I tried to scream but couldn't. Something was stuffed in my mouth. Cloth. Gagging me.

"What were you doing sneaking around?" Another slap, this one harder. My vision blurred with tears.

I tried to plead with my eyes. Tried to make him see me as human. As someone he knew. We'd been at the same parties. Sat in the same classes. Smiled at each other in passing.

But his eyes were empty. Cold.

He hit me again. And again. Each blow landed with precision. My face. My ribs. My shoulders.

I couldn't scream. Couldn't speak. Could only take it.

"That's enough, Jeffery."

Mr. Parker's voice cut through the room. Calm. Authoritative. The voice of a man used to dishing out orders.

"She ruined our ceremony!" Jeffery shouted, but he stopped hitting me.

"I said enough." Mr. Parker stepped into my limited field of vision. Still wearing those dark robes. Still holding himself like this was all perfectly normal. "We handle this properly."

He moved closer. Reached down and yanked the gag from my mouth.

I gasped for air. Tasted blood.

"So, Gwen." Mr. Parker studied me like I was an interesting specimen. "What were you doing back in the woods?"

My voice came out small. Shaky. Broken.

"I'm so sorry, sir. I didn't know you were holding a ceremony. I was bored at the party. Decided to take a walk. Get some fresh air. I swear I didn't mean to interrupt anything."

The words tumbled out. Desperate. Pleading.

Mr. Parker tilted his head. "A walk. How unfortunate for you."

He turned to the others. Jeffery, Ryan, Chad, Ethan, Kyle, Felix. All of them were standing there. Watching, waiting for orders.

"Untie her," Mr. Parker barked.

Ryan moved forward. His hands worked on the ropes binding my wrists. The same hands that had been pleasuring himself while a woman died on that altar.

The ropes fell away. My arms screamed as blood rushed back into them.

I stood on shaky legs. Every part of me hurt, but I could move. Could run.

The door was right there. Twenty feet away. Maybe less.

I bolted.

Made it three steps before hands shoved me from behind.

I fell hard. My head cracked against the stone floor. New pain exploded through my skull, adding to the throbbing from before.

"Please, Mr. Parker." I tried to crawl toward the door. "I promise to leave and never say a word. I'll just get Diane and go. Please. I won't tell anyone. I swear."

Silence.

Then Mr. Parker's voice, cold and final: "Undress her."

My heart stopped.

No. No no no.

"What? Why?" The words ripped from my throat. "Please, I said I wouldn't tell. Please!"

Hands grabbed me. Too many hands. Pulling me up. Holding me still.

They tore at my clothes. Ripped my shirt. Yanked at my jeans. I fought, but there were six of them and one of me, and I was already hurt and weak.

"Stop! Please stop!"

But they didn't stop.

My clothes came off in pieces. Hands groped at my exposed skin. Someone grabbed my breast, squeezed hard enough to bruise. Laughter echoed around me.

"Not bad for a scholarship girl," one of them said. Chad maybe. Or Felix. Their voices blurred together.

They dragged me to a post in the corner. The same kind of post the woman had been tied to. The rope bit into my wrists as they secured me. Arms above my head. Unable to move. Unable to cover myself.

Then the beating began again.

Fists. Open palms. Something hard. Maybe a belt. I lost track—lost count. Pain became the only reality.

They hit my ribs. My stomach. My thighs. My back. Anywhere that wouldn't kill me quickly but would hurt. Would break.

"Please," I begged between blows. "Please stop. I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

"Maybe we should rape her." Ethan's voice is thoughtful. Considering. "I'd love to taste that pussy."

They all laughed.

Terror flooded through me, sharper than any physical pain.

Mr. Parker's voice cut through the laughter. "It's a shame we'll have to kill her. We'll need to find someone else to replace her for the next sacrifice."

The words penetrated through my pain-fogged brain.

Next sacrifice.

That woman on the altar. She'd been a sacrifice. Part of some ritual. Some ceremony.

And I was supposed to be the next one.

Oh god.

My mother's face floated up through the haze of pain. Mom is waiting for me at home. Making my favorite breakfast for tomorrow and planning my graduation party.

The kids I taught swimming to at the community center. Their excited faces when I showed them a new stroke.

Diane. My best friend. She had no idea what her boyfriend's father was. What her boyfriend was.

All the people who depended on me. Trusted me. Loved me.

I couldn't let them just kill me like this.

But what could I do?

"Please, Mr. Parker." I forced the words out through split lips. "I promise I'll never speak a word of this to anybody. Please. I just want to go home."

He walked over to me. Looked me up and down like I was meat. Less than meat. Nothing.

"Your promises don't mean a thing." His voice was almost kind. Almost gentle. That made it worse. "Nobody will ever believe a poor scholarship girl over the Parkers. The richest, most powerful family in all of Coastal Haven."

He reached out. Traced a finger down my bruised cheek. I flinched.

"You see, my dear, you were already chosen to be the next sacrifice in our ceremony. And now you went and spoiled our fun tonight just when it was getting good." His hand dropped lower. To my throat. Squeezed lightly. "I could decide to fuck you all tied up like this. Let the boys take their turn. Make up for the interruption before I kill you."

I couldn't breathe. Couldn't think.

"But while your tight little pussy would be really good to fuck, I need to be done with this quickly." He released my throat. Stepped back. "Boys, wrap this up and get it over with."

He walked out. Just like that. Leaving me to them.

The beating started again.

Harder this time. Vicious. They weren't holding back anymore.

I felt my ribs crack. Tasted blood. The world went gray at the edges.

When they were certain I wouldn't survive even if someone found me, they cut me down.

I collapsed to the stone floor. Couldn't move. Could barely breathe.

Plastic bit into my wrists. Zip ties. My ankles next. Something heavy clipped to my waist. A weight belt. The kind for scuba diving.

They were going to drown me.

Through my swollen eyes, I saw them lift me. Carry me. The night air hit my naked, broken body.

We were outside. On the cliff edge. I could hear the Pacific crashing against rocks far below.

Jeffery leaned close. Even in the dark, I could see his eyes. Empty. Like I was nothing.

"Should've stayed in your lane, scholarship girl."

They lifted me onto the railing.

Below, the Pacific waited. Black. Infinite. Hungry.

I tried to scream but everything hurt. My voice came out as barely a whimper.

They pushed.

I fell.

Straight into the ocean.