Page 59 of The Honor Society

He’s gone.

I stretch my arms overhead and stare down at The Ledger. In theory, two dates have come up today. One, I’ve waited years for but tried not to focus on as I’m not sure how it’s going to play out, and the second? Well, it might just be entertaining enough to take my mind briefly off things, after all, I still have a job to do as Proctor. It’s not all about The Convocation. That’s inner drama and Honor Society turmoil, the debts in The Ledger, must still be paid. A debt’s a debt and The Ledger never forgets.

“Well shit.” Time to pay some people a visit. Sunlights burning and stay any longer and Charlie might just jump onto my back and attempt to peel my mask off.

I open the bedside drawer and grab The Ledger, then shove it into my front jacket pocket, and grab my key fob just as Charlie comes walking out of the bathroom wearing her jeans from the day before and one of my loose black t-shirts. How long has she been standing there? “You leaving?”

“Yup. I have work.”

Her eyes narrow. Oh this should be good. “A job? You have a job? A real one?”

I smirk behind my mask. “No a fake one, it’s my cover I’m a DJ.” I glare even though she can’t see it. “The fact that you’re staring at me like that tells me you actually believe that shit. Wow. Stay here, don’t leave the compound, don’t order pizza, don’t give anyone you’re⁠—"

“—No.”

I stop. “Cute, you think you get a say?”

“Cute, you think you hold all the power?” She taunts following me out of the bedroom. “You need Famine, and I’m curious. I’ll come with you. I’m a great shot.”

I bark out a laugh. “You just have trouble remembering that when you’re pointing the gun at your boyfriend.”

“Ex.” She corrects me. It stings even though it’s true. “You bring him up a lot you know, you sure you don’t have a little crush?”

“I don’t crush on weakness.” And he was. Weak. “If you come, I’m not holding your hand or giving you a bag to puke in. This is what I do so if you can’t stomach it, close your eyes. Whine and I’ll remind you who really has the power.”

“You talk a big game, so why does it feel like a bluff today?”

“Because I’m tired. I slept like shit. I have rage problems, and I’m annoyed that I have to go busy myself with this mundane task while trying to keep my—colleagues,” I almost said friends. “Alive.” I sweep past her. “But thank you for the therapy session I feel so much better, do you take Venmo or can I just fuck you later for it?”

She goes up on her tiptoes, a sneer pasted across her face. “Don’t think you could afford me Proctor, and no fucking from you would ever be worth the actual cost.” She quickly grabs her shoes and puts them on. “And I’m not gonna sit here on my ass while you go Proctoring.”

“Not a verb.” I snap.

“Don’t care.”

“What’s with the attitude this morning, little Famine heir? Still hungry?” I go to the garage connected to the side door and stare out at all ten cars I keep stored here. My eyes land on the Audi Q8 then move over to the Ferrari. A sports car just announces my arrival. But which is best, Sedan or SUV why am I fixating on this? Maybe because I’m stalling. Because Charlies about to see it all and I have no way of hiding what I do the way I hide myself with a mask.

“And not a minivan in sight.” She says behind me. “I thought you’d at least have a creepy white stalker van, isn’t that just serial killer 101?”

“Sorry to disappoint, I don’t have to resort to kidnapping my victims. I have them listed in a nice little book with all their crimes.” Why am I having trouble picking out a car?

What the hell is wrong with me? Charlie’s ass filled attitude seems to make mine even worse.

Charlie curses under her breath and looks around the massive garage. Finally.

“Take the Defender.” She says. “You already grabbed the key fob which means it was your plan all along but you somehow deviated the minute you were given too many choices which means you really are tired or I threw you for a loop.”

“Or both.” I breathe. “Get in.”

I go to the driver’s side of the Defender and get in. The windows are blacked out so nobody can see my mask, typically I’m being driven anyway. Not today. And I think Charlie might actually stab me if I come out and ask her to drive me.

She gets in the passenger side just as I start the engine and hand her The Ledger. “Page seventeen please. Start with the first name on the left.”

Charlie reads it out loud.

The Honor Society Ledger

Account: Professor Martin Ellison