Private (Private 1)

“Well, we were going to have you over tomorrow if you got

Ariana the test,” Kiran said. “But if you’re not interested . . .”

Have me over? As in over to Billings? As in me inside Billings House? In their inner sanctum?

Anticipation gripped my heart as I followed Kiran up the front walk

“No. I’m interested,” I said.

toward Billings House. I stared up at the windows overhead, giddy

“Figured as much,” Noelle replied.

as could be. Any moment now, I was going to see what was behind

“Good,” Ariana said with a small smile. “Kiran will come get

them. Any minute now, I would be privy to the secrets that this you.”

place held. I felt like I was being ushered into some secret society.

All the tension and fear and anger melted away as I was over-

Would I be greeted by girls in white robes and forced to sign some come with hope. They were letting me in. They were finally letting document in blood, swearing I would never repeat what I saw

me in.

within these walls? Somehow that wouldn’t surprise me, especially

“Oh. And you can have this back,” Ariana said, handing me the

after last night.

test. “I don’t even take physics.”

Kiran paused in front of the door and raised one eyebrow. “You

Then they sauntered off together, tossing their laughter back at ready for this?”

me, as I stood in the middle of the dark campus, unable to so much All I could do was nod. She smirked and pushed the door open.

as breathe.

This was it.

I followed Kiran into the lobby and tried not to look too awed or intimidated.

“Here we are,” she s

aid. “Home sweet home.”

“It’s nice,” I said. Understatement of the year. The Billings

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