Lenny pushed a button on the wall, and the spider-web net retracted back in place with a mechanical sound. “Done this a few times.” His slightly crooked smile was half-shadowed.
I nudged Bryan in front of me. “You block the creepy things, okay?”
“On it.” His chest puffed out as he laced his warm fingers through my icy-cold ones. His next footstep triggered a crash of thunder and flashing strobe lights. “Cool.”
“That wasn’t so bad.” I clutched his hand tighter.
In the misty darkness, Lenny charged ahead with Bryan and me flanking his back. A fog machine hissed on my right, smoke puffing up from the floor. Suddenly Lenny jerked out of the way.
Tendrils of slimy goop rained from the sky. A scream tore from my throat, so shrill it pierced my skull and reverberated down the hall. I flailed my hands in the fog shooting up from the floor, squishing my fingers into dime-sized balls.
“Gross.” Strings of peeled grapes swayed from the ceiling like a disgusting beaded curtain.
Bryan parted the grapes enough so I could wriggle past. “That was a good one, huh?”
I shook my head. “Yeah, right.”
“And we have a winner.” A door busted open, splashing light into the dark corridor. Will sauntered out of his room as Kevin victory-lapped around him, both applauding, of course. “Best scream of the night, by far. That’ll go in the hall of fame.”
His hypnotic eyes synced on me like a morsel to devour. I halted right there, fog swirling around my sequins, as if my heels were glued to the floor.
Kevin held up a tiny recorder and played back my horrifying scream. “Nice one, don’t you think?”
“Give it here, you creep.” Shanda lunged for his hand, but he chucked the digital recorder to Will.
“Don’t worry, we’re just gonna add it to our sound effects for the haunted house. You know, give the kids a treat.” He tossed the recorder back to Kevin, who dunked it in his pocket. “What’re you doing with them, anyway? You’re not supposed to consort with Guardians.”
“Excuse me?” Shanda stuck her hands on her hips. “Like I can’t have friends?”
“Shanda, you didn’t …” I trailed off, staring at my new best friend. She really could keep secrets, like that fact that she’d joined Nexis.
She just shrugged at me. “What can I say? When Dad found out, he forbade me to join. I just couldn’t resist pissing him off after he dumped me in this God-forsaken place.”
“I think Nexis is the most God-forsaken place here,” I mumbled under my breath.
She gave me the barest of nods, so imperceptible to anyone else, it’d just seem like a twitch. “I’ve been hanging out with these guys since the beginning of the semester. Didn’t hear anyone complaining then.”
Will gritted his teeth. “He wasn’t on probation like you are. But you may be stuck there for a while.”
“Yeah right.” She rolled her eyes at him, then reached for the recorder. “I can still have friends, especially if they aren’t on anyone’s side.”
“I’m glad that’s still true, for now.” Will yanked his arm away from Shanda, but his eyes lingered on me like a cobra, holding me still.
“You have your fun at Lucy’s expense while you can.” Shanda stuck her hands on her hips. “But you better watch your back, ‘cause I will find that recording and destroy it.”
“Thanks, girl.” I forced my hand in the air and she high-fived it with a hard smack. The slap broke the trance enough that I stepped back from Will. “Do you really think a stunt like that will win me over?”
“No, but I’m hoping my charming personality will do the trick.” He grabbed my hand, twirling me around in some kind of dance move. “You’re looking lovely tonight, Lucy.”
“How can you say that after what you just did?” I glared into his eyes—big mistake. Those gray orbs circled over me, as if one stare could sizzle me straight through.
Bryan’s shoulders stiffened. In an instant, he blocked Will’s sightline, standing toe to toe with the golden punk.
He thrust his jacket at me. “Here, take this.”
Will threw up his hands in mock surrender. “Relax, Guardian de facto, she’s safe for tonight. But I’ve got big plans for that little girl. She’s mine.”
“Excuse me? I am nobody’s property, least of all yours.” I churned my fists into mallets as I wrapped the familiar bomber jacket around me.
“You better back off, Stanton. She’s not ever gonna join you sick Nexis freaks.” His white biceps bulged from his dark t-shirt as he put up his dukes.
“Wanna bet?” Will mirrored his stance.
Will’s chin jutted out at Bryan, like an olive-toned dagger with sandy stubble—aimed straight at Bryan’s smooth marble cheek.
“C’mon. Let’s just go. It’s not worth it.” I tugged on Bryan’s shirt, but he didn’t back down.
Kevin stepped between them, clamping a giant paw on each of their shoulders. “Chill out, guys. This isn’t the time or the place for this.”
“It will be soon.” Bryan dropped his fists and slid one arm around my waist, herding me away from the golden cobra. Waves of sweet relief splashed over me with each step.
“I’ve got your number, Cooper. I’m coming for you.” Will’s threat boomed down the hall, echoing with a tinge of disdain.
“I’ll be ready,” Bryan growled so only I could hear. In the stairwell he turned to me, his face softening. “I’m sorry about that. I shouldn’t have let him get to me.”
“Don’t worry about it.” I marched him down the stairs to the lobby, his shoulders slumped, head down. “Besides, I look better in your jacket, anyway.”
“You look cute in anything.” He held the door open for me. I glimpsed a hint of a smile as he moved his arm across my shoulders.
We stayed that way, huddled against each other, all the way back to my dorm.
“You’ve come this far. Why don’t you come up and see our hall?” I dragged him up the stairs to
