To Capture a Thorn (The Society 2)

Lucas nodded. “But your father made him believe it was them. I don’t know how Alexander got all the information he has, but we also don’t know the full extent of what he can expose.”

“What?” Gideon asked.

“You heard me. There was a hack within the walls of The Society. Certain files were taken,” Lucas said. “What I tell you cannot leave this room.”

We all nodded.

“In order to become initiated, there are certain tasks that need to be done. You started the process by breaking in a virgin. It’s a very archaic, and to be honest, an irritating pastime, but they enjoy their rules.”

“How does that even help?” Sian asked.

“The whole thing is filmed. There is a file on everyone who has participated. It’s the start. If you try to back out or run, the file gets leaked.”

“That’s such fucking bullshit,” Dante said. “What if there is only one person who wants out?”

“Then the faces of the other participants are blurred out. Privacy is protected.” Lucas took a large drink, and I had to laugh.

“You do realize how crazy that sounds.”

Lucas shrugged. “It’s worked before.”

“You mean a tape has been exposed.”

“Yes. Lives have been ruined. Once you start this journey, expect to be fully immersed or lose everything. Those are the rules.”

“I didn’t have a chance to back out,” I said. “I didn’t want any part of this and I’m still here.”

“Your dad took matters into his own hands.”

“Wait, I thought that was you,” Gideon said, looking at his father. “I told you she wasn’t cooperating.”

“And I went to The Society. There are certain levels of formality. We’re not … monsters. They would have terminated her profile and allowed her to live outside the walls in freedom. The girls get to pick. It’s their choice.”

I rubbed at my temples, feeling the start of a headache brewing. “This is all a little too much for me,” I said. “My dad broke the rules?”

“Yes. We weren’t aware of the rule breaking.” Lucas turned to Gideon.

“I thought you had sent her father to deal with it.” He shoved his hands in his pockets. “I had no idea I had to tell you everything. You told me you were dealing with it.”

“Yes, The Society was in the process of removing Sian when she began to agree.”

“And the moment Halloween night came, I got my lovely tattoo and I’m now in.”

“Yes, which again makes me wonder why your father would go to such extreme levels. You’re in, he’s not,” Lucas said.

“Huh?”

“I know it’s all a little confusing. The arrangement was made for you to have the chance your mother never had. The deal was struck, but Alexander wasn’t a member. He hadn’t done the leg work. Hadn’t done the time. Being part of The Society takes a certain level of finesse, and he doesn’t have it. I think he wanted to be part of it, and now he’s working to bring it down. Coach Bilson worked for him, but he didn’t realize it. He thought he was taking orders from The Society.”

I stopped Lucas by holding my hand up. “Hold on. I thought The Society was supposed to be top secret. No one should talk about it for fear of what they could do.”

“And in most instances, it is completely accurate.”

“But?” I asked.

“But there are those who know who may have tried to be initiated. Coach Bilson comes from a good family. He has good genetics, the making of a champion. The Society goes for all kinds of people, rich and poor. What they have to have is the ability to withstand whatever is thrown at them.”

I frowned as I leaned forward. “You’re telling me that we’re not the only place where The Society is … rife?”

Lucas glanced around the room and took a deep breath. “You can never bring down The Society. It’s everywhere and nowhere. We’re not the only school, or the only people who are part of it. There are different sections, entirely different members. All Saints is one of many places it is inside.”

“Bringing it down isn’t an option?” I asked.

“No. There’s no way to bring it down. What Alexander is doing is going to destroy many lives, and we can’t let that happen. The Society will always be around. It’s not going.”

Sitting back, I folded my arms, amazed. I thought we were the only ones, but that made me a fool. A naïve fool. Of course an organization would be vast and wide.

“Does it go across countries?” I asked.

“Yes.”

“Are all the initiation processes the same?” I had so many questions.

“No.”

“Is The Society the same for everyone?”

“No.”

“Ugh.” I got to my feet and moved toward the window. “You’re talking in riddles.”

“It can’t be the same,” Mateo said. “It would die out, right? It needs to be … different. Ever-changing. Something that big wouldn’t last.”