I took a bite even though I wasn’t hungry anymore and then I choked on it.
“Holy shit,” Jay gasped with his entire body.
He turned the volume up and I stared at the TV in shock and horror.
“…body was found earlier this morning. The family has been notified and they are working with police as they seek information and justice for their only child. If you have any information regarding the University Falls Institute of Technology senior, please be sure to contact the number we’ve placed at the bottom of the screen. As we switch gears, Andrew will tell you what to expect in your forecast…”
The meteorologist was speaking, but I barely heard a word. My body was statue-still, and I wasn’t even sure I was breathing.
“Was that…?” Jay’s voice cut through the room even though it was barely above a whisper.
I was speechless and only fractionally nodded my head to confirm.
Closing my eyes to hold off the tears that quickly welled, I squeezed my eyelids so tight that my body started to shake. As much as I tried to reject the information, my brain had already started processing it. I couldn’t shake what I saw. I pushed the heels of my hands into my eyes in hopes to erase the image, but nothing helped. All I could see was the headline—UFIT senior found dead—and the picture of the dead girl—Carter Yates.
…
Chapter Five
Subject: We’re Allowed To Be Concerned
Hello Concerned Students,
University Falls Institute of Technology senior Carter Yates (21) was found dead Sunday morning on the edge of Lake Falls, just behind the Pi Rho Omicron Fraternity House on Fraternity Row. Hours earlier a boat was in flames in the middle of the lake. Fire and emergency crews were on scene to recover what was left of the $200,000 cabin cruiser owned by PRO President Trevor Dowd. Rumors have circulated that the involvement of the prominent defense attorney Harrison Dowd, Trevor’s father, is why the information surrounding the events of this weekend remain a mystery. The by-invitation-only fraternity party was supposed to be a celebration of the end of summer. But the implications that ripple from this weekend could result in the end of unregulated parties on campus.
Even though UFIT has done everything to keep the details under wraps, the breaking news this weekend has shaken the student body to its core. It’s unclear how the fire on the boat is related to the death of Yates. But it’s becoming more apparent that there’s more to the story than anyone is letting on. The PROs have managed to build a wall of silence around them—not confirming or denying anything related to the weekend’s events. Even as most of the student population gathered to watch the charred remains of Trevor Dowd’s beloved boat get searched, analyzed and transported, the men of Pi Rho Omicron had no comment. As always, they remain tight lipped.
The rumors around campus have run rampant. The most prevailing rumor is that Carter Yates was drunk, went for a swim and drowned. There’s also been speculation that drugs were the reason Carter died. But since no one ever knew her to be a drug user, any drugs in her system would have likely came from someone at the PRO party. A few theories have been thrown around stating that she could’ve bought drugs as a party favor or she was drugged—both instances would have huge implications for the PROs moving forward. Cheerleaders are held to the same athletic drug policy as all other sports so the drug rumor could impact the entire squad.
Speaking of the athletes, the rumors surrounding them have been intense. Photos posted on social media show that all members of the cheerleading squad were in attendance. There’s a rumor that all the cheerleaders dove in the lake and Carter was the only one who didn’t make it. Another rumor has it that the fire was a prank by one of the newest cheerleaders, a dance team convert. There’s been some talk about the football team being mad that the cheerleaders were partying with the PROs and not celebrating their win, so they retaliated. The only reliable source is a neighbor that said they heard loud screams and cars speeding down the street around the time of the boat fire.
It’s been forty-eight hours since Carter Yates was found dead on the edge of the lake. In case you weren’t familiar with Carter, a picture is attached. If you have any information, please contact the police. If you don’t feel comfortable going to the police, respond to this email and I’ll get your tips to the police.
Sincerely,
A Concerned Student Who Is Demanding Answers
I gasped loudly and almost dropped my new phone.
Carter was dressed in her favorite outfit of the summer—a white floral minidress with a tulle skirt paired with sky high heels. When we’d gotten ready for the PRO party that night, she’d said she wouldn’t be able to wear the outfit again once September was over, and she wanted to go out with a bang. But it wasn’t a picture of her from when we were at the party. It was a picture of her splayed out on a pillow of wet leaves and sludge, staring at the camera with dead eyes.
It was haunting, ethereal and completely unnerving. But even in death, Carter looked beautiful.
My hands shook but I couldn’t take my eyes off the photo. Who would take this? Who would share this?
I checked
