Gregory Girls Gone Wild - Chapter 21: Chapter 21

Rainey tensed up. Danika immediately straightened out her legs and placed her left arm in front of Rainey's body, shielding her from Ethan.
"Step back," Danika ordered him. "Right there."
She laid out her array of weapons on the ledge of the truck. Rainey was impressed, despite herself. She felt inordinately safe.
Ethan Kankle halted four feet away from the truck, eyeing the weapons warily. "What's up with the army-grade flank? Thought we were having a conversation."
"Yeah, we are," Danika said. "But when you poisoned Rainey last time, we were having a conversation too. Keep your distance, Ethan. Or I'll pepper spray you."
Rainey inspected Ethan's wan, pale face. He looked different—skinnier, she realized, like he had lost a lot of weight in a short period of time. His beady eyes shifted from Danika, to the pepper spray, and finally to Rainey.
"Been a while," Ethan cocked his head at her.
"Not long enough," Rainey replied coldly.
He frowned, before shaking his head. "Don't tell me you're still mad about the prank I pulled."
"Your prank left me in the hospital," Rainey said, feeling heated. "I had to get my stomach pumped."
"Temporary struggle," Ethan shrugged. "For lasting glory."
Rainey fought to keep her temper down. She wanted to get to the point. "You recruited me to the Phoenix Kings. Why?"
Ethan licked his lips. He took out of a carton of cigarettes, filtered one out, and lighted it with a pink, throwaway lighter.
"Can you not?" Danika said, scowling. "You know I hate smoking."
"Sorry."
The smell of harsh smoke rose in the air, heating the atmosphere. Rainey stifled a cough.
After a second:
"It was supposed to be you, Danika," Ethan said.
Danika raised an eyebrow, her palm touching Rainey in warning.
"I had planned on introducing you to the Phoenix Kings, instead of her," Ethan pointed at Rainey. "But that day when you confronted me, I changed my mind."
"Why introduce either of us?" Rainey asked indignantly.
Ethan scoffed. "Do I have to explain everything?"
At their blank stares, he continued on, looking annoyed.
"This semester it's a requirement for all new members to recruit someone. I think the management's trying to go big next semester. That's why I volunteered you. If I couldn't manage to find someone, I'd get kicked out."
"Did it occur to you how incredibly selfish that is?" Danika asked aggressively. "You've dragged us in this mess because of your own needs!"
She fingered the pocket knife gleaming on the truck. Ethan swallowed hard.
"I know. But I had no choice," he said, not looking remorseful for one bit. "All my friends are already in the Phoenix Kings. The only potential people I knew were the two of you. And it's not like I forced you—"
"I don't remember asking for an invite—" Rainey began hotly.
"But no one forced you to keep going to the office either," Ethan said, his eyes flashing. "From what I've heard, you've been making numerous appearances, Rainey."
She flushed. "You're taking it out of context. I had no idea that the office was linked to the Phoenix Kings. I was under the impression that it was our water delivery headquarters."
"It is," Ethan said. "But the Phoenix Kings have taken over delivery operations."
"And how was I supposed to know that?"
"Didn't you already know?" Ethan derided. "It was obvious that the Phoenix Kings were in charge. They gave you the notes."
"Why are they controlling delivery operations?" Danika asked sharply. Rainey looked up. "What's their big plan?"
"I have another question related to that," Rainey said slowly. "How come you were unaffected by the contaminated water? How is that possible?"
She was burning to find out the answer, after weeks of tossing and turning, remembering Ethan's healthy, calm face in midst of her pain.
He sized her up. "I can't reveal Phoenix Kings secrets in front of outsiders." He pointed at Danika.
"I'm not leaving Rainey with you for even a second," Danika said fiercely. "Try me, E."
He doesn't know, Rainey thought suddenly.
"They're courting her too," she blurted.
Danika looked at her like she was crazy.
"What?" Ethan said.
"They've targeted her, like you targeted me," Rainey continued. She felt a spark tingle through her spine. "They almost killed Danika during her play. That was the recruitment rules for this semester, right? Place the new recruit in bodily harm, maybe even land them in the hospital?"
Ethan gave her an impressed smile. "That's a surprisingly accurate summary."
"You bastard," Danika said, her voice trembling. She stood up, the taser in her right hand. "Did you unscrew the lights at my play? Did you try to kill me?"
Ethan edged back, narrowing his eyes at the taser. "Of course not, Danika. I had no idea. Besides, I recruited someone already—Rainey, remember?"
"Then who did it?" Danika spat. Rainey, nervous, placed her hand on the sophomore's legs to calm her down.
"I don't know," Ethan confessed. "I'd check your friends if I were you. Somebody could have volunteered you."
Danika's body was rigid. "Not possible. My friends would never join that cult. And neither would I."
"You don't have to join it," Ethan replied testily. "If you haven't gotten any more recruitment notes, then maybe the Phoenix Kings have lost interest in you, or whoever volunteered you chickened out. That's all I can make of it. Really, I don't give a fuck."
"As for the contaminated water," he said, turning to Rainey. "I guess, since you're both somewhat entangled in this...Would you like to make another guess? You're on a roll."
Rainey wracked her brains, recalling the day she and Ethan had fought. "Well, I drank the water. You drank the water. I fell sick—"
"I didn't fall sick," Ethan smiled, his teeth yellow and sharp.
"And the Phoenix Kings are in charge of the delivery office," Rainey finished. She leaned against Danika's ankles, her mind racing. "Have you guys been poisoning the water?"
"Not exactly," Ethan said, sounding disappointed. "Close, though. The Phoenix Kings are searching for a way to de-contaminate the water supply, because the Dean's administration is refusing to work faster. We're actively searching for an antidote."
"An antidote?" She looked up suddenly. "That's it, you were given an antidote!"
"Again, not exactly," Ethan repeated. He took another drag of his cigarette. "I've been drinking the Gregory College water for a few months now."
"What?" Danika and Rainey said in unison.
"Small sips at first," he said. "To make myself immune. That's why our members are so healthy. Our bodies have grown resistant to the poisons in the water which are mainly magnesium and shellfish. Some lead, maybe. Unconfirmed."
"That's why you look so terrible," Rainey jeered. "They're killing you slowly."
Danika looked shaken.
"They're training our bodies so we can become stronger," Ethan corrected. His hands were shaky, but his eyes were sharp. "Let's not forget who ended up in the hospital last time."
Rainey's fists clenched, aching to hit the side of his face.
"Maybe, you won't end up in the hospital, Ethan," Danika said quietly. "Maybe, the Phoenix Kings plan to send you to your grave instead."
"I didn't come here to debate the merits of the Phoenix Kings," Ethan scowled. "I came under orders." He coughed, the smoke curdling in his throat. "Apparently, I've been abandoning my responsibility. Normally, the member who invites the new recruit, aka me, is supposed to act as a sort of mentor. Considering that I don't like you that much, Rainey, I don't quite feel up for the role. But, I do feel that I owe you an explanation, at the very least. A few answers to your questions."
Danika returned to her seat besides Rainey. "All you've proved is that you're even more of a psycho maniac than before."
"I'm done talking to you," Ethan said firmly. His eyes flickered to Rainey. "Any more questions from my protégée?"
"Mickey O'Brien," Rainey said suddenly. "Is he a Phoenix King?"
"You can't be a Phoenix King," Ethan said indignantly. "You're a part of the Phoenix Kings. An individual fitting into the collective whole. As for Mickey, let me check."
He took out his phone and scrolled through a list of some sort.
"Am I allowed to look through the names too?" Rainey asked, her interest piqued.
What if that's a list of everyone in the Phoenix Kings? she thought.
Ethan ignored her. He squinted at his phone. "Mickey Alexander O'Brien? A junior majoring in Business?"
"Bingo," Rainey said grimly.
"He's from last year's pledge. My year," Ethan said, satisfied. "Don't know him though. Friend of yours?"
"Thought he was."
Ethan tucked his phone away and dusted some invisible dust from his pants. "Guess, I'll head back now."
"I have an appointment with Sam Stabbings," Rainey blurted out. She searched for a reaction. "He's willing to rescind my recruitment."
Ethan's head shot up. "You don't want to do that."
"Why not?" Rainey mocked. She felt like she had the upper hand, for the first time. "You'll get in trouble if I quit, won't you? Because you wouldn't be fulfilling your requirements for a new recruit?"
Ethan's eyes were shining with that fragmented light. He took a deep breath, like he was trying to remain calm. "You're bluffing. You wouldn't leave. Not after you've gone through the hardest part. Try out the meetings, Rainey. They'll help you."
Danika spoke up, "Not everyone's like you, Ethan. We're eager to end this."
Ethan's eyes flickered to Rainey's hand still grasping Danika's ankle. Rainey didn't like the glimmer in his eyes.
"I remember when you two were at each other's throats," he said, scornful. "Remember those days, when I was the boss? When did you two get so buddy-buddy?"
Looking puzzled, he studied the panic lurking on Rainey's face. Then he began to smile knowingly at her, as if he had figured out her feelings all in one glance. Rainey felt a lurch in her stomach. Was she so obvious? Reaching over Danika's lap, she grabbed the taser.
ZAP!
The electric force of the taser crackled the air, and Rainey raised it higher, as warning.
"Leave," she said curtly. "I think we've got all the answers we need."
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Trying to get rid of me?"
He stumbled back as Rainey raised her hand forward and turned on the taser yet again. Her lips stung from the pure electricity.
"Alright, fine," he muttered. "See you, later. And don't do anything rash like striking a deal with Sam. He's not someone to cross."
Glaring at the taser, he turned his back and left, walking towards the busy street intersection. "Don't forget that you're my recruit. I'll be looking out for you."
Rainey didn't answer. She watched him go in displeasure.
It was colder than ever, the truck stinking with cigarette smoke.
She felt fingers grasping her arm.
"Hey bad-ass," Danika said, eyes twinkling. "Way to scare off the guy."
Rainey reluctantly relinquished hold of the taser. "Sorry. Got carried away."
"So, good talk?" Danika asked, sounding worried.
Rainey glanced at her brown eyes. "Yeah," she admitted. "He didn't reveal much, but it was still something. I got to talk to Mickey."
"Be careful," Danika warned. "If he's anything like Ethan..." She trailed off, looking upset. "He's so different now. It's like looking at a dead man walking."
Rainey recalled Ethan's thin figure. "The Phoenix Kings sure are hardcore."
Untangling herself from Danika, she got up and stretched. "Let's get back to work."
The rest of the day felt tedious to Rainey after the exciting developments. Her mind raced with thoughts of Ethan and the Phoenix Kings...magnesium and shellfish...and Sam Stabbings.
She could tell Danika wanted to talk more about Ethan, but Rainey couldn't find the words to explain her inner turmoil. A burst of energy captured her spirit, and she quickly unloaded the truck at an expert pace.
As soon as work was over, Rainey dashed back to her apartment and took out the number of notes she had accumulated.
First, the car note written by Ethan.
Second, the promotion papers and note also written by Ethan.
Third, the secretary, Loralie's note.
Was it Mickey who had tried to recruit Danika? she wondered. Or did Danika have another friend lurking in the shadows?
Shaking her head, she collapsed on top her bed. Notes upon notes. It seemed like Ethan's answers had beckoned only more questions.
There was a knock at her door.
"Hello?" Mariah's head peeked in.
"Sup?" Rainey said, lifting her head. She stared up at the ceiling, as a heavy, warm body joined her under the covers.
Mariah's beige sweater tickled Rainey's nose, making her sneeze.
"Mom hasn't called," her sister said softly.
"I know."
"It's December."
"I know."
It was silent. Rainey turned to her side to face her sister. "You think it'll last?"
"Maybe," Mariah said. "She was acting different over break."
Rainey inspected her. "So were you. Are you okay now?"
"I came back from Nakir's," Mariah said shyly. "I feel better. I just needed to shake off all the depressive shit that Mom piled on us over Thanksgiving."
"You're lucky to have him," Rainey said, unconsciously bitter. "I've got no one."
"Hey, you've got me," Mariah said, poking her shoulder.
"That's not what I mean."
"What about Danika?"
Rainey rolled onto her stomach. She placed her mouth on a pillow. "She's having a Christmas party soon. I have to get her a gift."
"It's the season for parties," Mariah said mischievously. "Jessica's throwing her legendary Christmas bash too."
Rainey grinned slightly. Jessica's annual Christmas bash was the best part of the semester. She lived in a huge house off campus, complimentary of her parent's money. People were free to go crazy in her pool and humongous bedrooms—Jessica practically welcomed it. Rainey couldn't remember a single year that she hadn't got plastered at the party.
"Well, thank God for Jessica." As Rainey attempted to snuggle deep in her comforter, Mariah pulled the blankets off.
Rainey whined in protest.
"You think December is all for parties?" her sister asked, no pity in sight. "Finals are coming up, or have you forgotten?"
"Don't remind me."
"C'mon, get up," Mariah said, grabbing Rainey's sleeves. "Let's go study."
Groaning, Rainey grudgingly got out of bed. Mariah patted her back affectionately. "There we go. You want to head to the library on campus? Or stay here?"
Rainey's eyes fell on her backpack, on the notebooks and textbooks spilling out of its pocket. The Phoenix Kings would have to wait, she thought. Final exams was a far more formidable enemy.