“I was wondering why you didn’t rush this summer.”
As in sorority rush? “Never really thought about it.”
“I’m not trying to be stalker-y, but I heard you’re a varsity athlete, and you’re obviously committed to your classes. We’re always looking for cute girls with good grades and athletics. But especially the good grades, so our chapter doesn’t get put on probation!” She laughed. “You should consider the spring rush.”
“Yeah. I’ll give it some thought.” I figured I wasn’t exactly sorority material, and it might interfere with my archery “practice” (which consisted of me showing up and acting like I couldn’t hit the bull’s-eye every time). But if one friend was good, an entire pledge class would be even better.
Candy said, “There’s a rager Saturday at the lacrosse team’s house. You want to go with me?”
Be cool, be cool! “Yeah, that sounds fun.”
_______________
Three hours ago
“Chug, chug!” everybody around the table chanted.
All eyes were on me as I downed my Solo cup. My partner, Brian, the captain of the lacrosse team, and I were crushing it in beer pong. Was there ever an easier target? I’d forced myself to miss a shot, losing control of the table, but I’d get it back now.
After gulping the last swig, I grinned at Candy on the sidelines. She smiled back with a little less enthusiasm than earlier.
When we’d first gotten to the party, she’d introduced me to everyone like I was her new best friend, telling them I’d be rushing.
The Moon had been over the moon.
Candy had grown less possessive when I’d started cutting up with the lacrosse players like I was each one’s long-lost girlfriend.
I got the sense that she’d wanted me to shine—just not this much.
But I was the Moon. Shining was what I did.
Then Brian, her secret crush, had paid all this attention to me. Who could blame him? I was wearing a black slinky number I’d ordered from a posh catalog. But I was more interested in having a friend. I could get a date once I’d locked Candy down.
I’d tried to get Brian to partner with her in this game, but he’d insisted on me.
I studied her expression. Was I about to lose my first line on a friend? I elbowed Brian. “Candy looks hot tonight, doesn’t she?” She must’ve heard me; she tilted her head, a hopeful look on her face. “She’s a total babe.”
He frowned. “Who? You’re the only babe I’m interested in,” he slurred.
Shit! “I have a boyfriend,” I hastily said. “But I bet I could get Candy’s digits for you.”
“Your guy’s not here, is he?” Brian said. “When the cat’s away, the mice will play, right?” He leaned in to kiss me, but I turned my face.
Candy flounced off just as the pong ball plopped into one of our cups. Brian handed the drink to me. “I’ll give you the honors since you’ve got a lot of catching up to do.”
“Yeah. Sure thing.” I put the cup to my lips.
“Chug, chug!”
_______________
An hour or so ago
“I don’t feel s’good,” I told Brian. My legs didn’t want to work right. I hadn’t drunk more than three cups of beer, so why was I this weakened?
Was this part of my Arcana transformation? Were more powers coming online?
The room blurred. Faces were fuzzy.
I wanted to find Candy, but Brian had his fist clamped around my left arm and was steering me away from the crowd.
My tongue didn’t seem to fit in my mouth as I asked, “Where’re we heading?”
“Don’t you want to see my room?”
Was it just me or did he sound way less drunk than he had before? “Nooo. Wanna find Candy.”
“Your friend’s hooking up with somebody else.” His grip tightened. “Come on, we want to show you something upstairs.”
We? I managed to crane my head around. Three of his teammates had joined us, one of them taking my other arm.
I was the Huntress, but the way these guys looked at me gave me chills. . . . All of a sudden, I felt like the prey. “Not going upstairs!” I flung away, using all my strength, but they just laughed.
One of them said, “We caught a wildcat tonight.”
I’d tracked wildcats through dense forests. Right now, I was nothing like them. I had as much bite as a newborn kitten.
Realization dawned. These guys . . . they’d drugged me.
I’d expected treachery from other Arcana. Not from humans.
We passed wasted partiers. I tried to signal for help, but no one paid any attention to me. The four players steered me to another hallway. My stomach dropped when I saw a stairway ahead. I couldn’t let them force me up those steps—
Candy! My eyes went wide. She was in the hall making out with some guy! “Candy!” I screamed, but it came out like a slurred murmur.
I tried to reach for her, but those guys had my arms. “Help me!” I had never in all my life said those words.
She drew back from the guy. She would see what was wrong with me! She would know what these assholes had done.
She looked me up and down. With a smirk, she muttered, “What a total slut”—then went back to kissing that guy.
Tears pricked my eyes. I wanted to sob. My first friend.
At the foot of the stairs, I attempted a last show of resistance, but only managed to collapse.
Brian caught me, laughing. “Oops-a-daisy!” He wrapped an arm around me, hauling me up against his side. “There she goes.” With another laugh, he told the others, “Have you ever noticed they never make it to the stairs?”