Total pages in book: 187
Estimated words: 184867 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 924(@200wpm)___ 739(@250wpm)___ 616(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 184867 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 924(@200wpm)___ 739(@250wpm)___ 616(@300wpm)
I take another deep breath when I finally reach the grave at the top of the small hill. The flowers from last time have already wilted.
I go to my knees, remove them from the glass vase, and put in the new ones. A few I plucked from the field beyond the college and one additional bright red rose. Just like the rose he always gave to me.
I place it on the grave, separately from the other flowers, and then close my eyes.
“I brought you some new flowers,” I mutter into the wind.
The wind blows into my ear, brushing past my hair.
“I miss you, Daddy,” I whisper.
The faint sound of the wind pushing through the leaves of the trees above almost makes them sound like they’re whistling, and somehow, the tune puts me at ease.
It’s almost like he’s actually here with me.
Tears form in my eyes, and I let them run.
I need him.
I need him so desperately I can’t breathe.
But he isn’t here anymore, and nothing I do will bring him back.
But his soul… still lingers. I can feel it. And it gives me all the strength I need to push on.
Fight, Crystal. Don’t ever give up.
Flashes of a symbol with bones on it flicker in front of my eyes, and I look up at the building at the end of the graveyard. But the symbol vanishes.
It only exists in my memories. Just like my father.
I swallow and make the tears stop.
“I will make it right,” I say, placing my hand on the grave. “I promise on my life.”
An hour later
“How are your studies coming along?” my mother asks.
I was drinking my coffee, but I pause halfway through, swallowing after a while. “Oh, I’m doing fine.”
I don’t want to lie to her.
It’s not going well.
But if I told her the truth about my latest issues with a couple of boys, she’d have a heart attack, for sure.
“I heard that the university has been having some problems with certain individuals making a whole scene and the police being involved. Have you heard anything about that?”
“Um, no, not particularly.” I take another quick sip.
That’s also a lie.
I did hear about it from Penelope because there was a huge fight between the Skull & Serpent Society and the Phantom Society. Supposedly involving the previous dean of Spine Ridge. But I don’t know the full gist of it, and I don’t think I want to. I just know that it’s over now, so I don’t want my mother to worry about it.
“I just wonder if Spine Ridge University is still a safe place,” she mutters.
“Of course. It was probably just a one-time thing, and the cops handled it. The school itself is fine,” I say. “Besides, it’s not like I’m gonna change now that I’m already in my second year there.”
“It’s always a possibility.” She reaches out for my hand and gently rubs it. “You know you’re always allowed to quit.”
“I know.” Never happening.
She smiles at me. “You’re always welcome back home.”
My heart fills with warmth. “Thanks.”
My eyes flutter out the window to a peculiar car parked outside Fi’s Cups and Cakes. It’s an Aston Martin, the same model some of the rich guys at school have, but for some reason, I feel like I recognize this one. The license plate on it looks familiar.
“Well, better eat this cake before it’s dry,” Mom says, pulling me from my thoughts.
I take a forkful of my cake and shove it in my mouth. “Delicious.”
“Oh my God, you’re right,” Mom says, grinning as she swallows her piece. “Why didn’t we come here sooner?”
“I don’t know, actually. Penelope recommended it to me last year,” I reply. “I don’t think I can ever go anywhere else now that I’ve tasted their cakes and pies.”
The bell at the top of the door rings as more customers come in. The place is so busy there’s a line at the counter, but no one seems to mind because they know the wait is worth it.
But as I take another bite from my cake, a man with neatly combed dark blond hair in a suit standing in line catches my attention because next to him stands an equally dark blond-haired guy with tattoos all over his arms, hands, and neck. And all the hairs on my body stand up straight.
“Crystal?” Mom mutters, but I can barely hear her over the sound of my own breathing as it picks up.
I swallow my piece of cake but almost choke on it, and I knock over my coffee.
“Oh God!” my mom says, swiftly grabbing my mug so it doesn’t spill over more.
I cough a little and look up at the guy whose eyes are locked on mine like a missile ready to strike. His piercings rise and fall with each of his steady breaths, but the one in his eyebrow twitches.