Between Semesters

The Unseen Turn

The tension that settled over me after my meeting with Savannah refused to loosen its grip. I tried to focus on anything else, but it was like a fog had descended, clouding everything. Luke wasn't just some charming upperclassman, and the parties weren't just innocent fun. I couldn't stop thinking about the black card on my desk, the symbol of a snake wrapped around a pillar. What did it all mean?

Saturday afternoon came quickly. Whitney had already left for lunch with some friends, eager to spend time with people she'd barely gotten to know. I needed to be alone, to think through everything that was happening, but the more I tried to piece it together, the more tangled it became.

I hadn't heard from Savannah since last night. I debated texting her, but something held me back. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that there was something off about her. She had been the one to pull me into this, warning me about Luke and the group, but she was keeping her own secrets. I could feel it.

My phone buzzed. A text from Whitney: "Heading to the party early! You coming?"

I stared at the message. I'd already told Savannah I wasn't going, but something in me hesitated. If this was all a trap, shouldn't I be there to keep an eye on Whitney? What if Savannah was wrong? What if something more sinister was going on, and it wasn't just about parties and recruitment?

I'll meet you there, I texted back, my fingers moving before I could stop them.

I grabbed my jacket, the black card still in my pocket. Whatever happened tonight, I needed answers.

--------

The frat house was already buzzing by the time I arrived. Music pulsed from inside, and groups of students clustered on the lawn, laughing and chatting as though nothing unusual was happening. But now, I could see it differently-how their eyes darted to one another, how some of the upperclassmen moved through the crowd, observing more than participating.

I spotted Whitney almost immediately. She was leaning against the porch railing, talking animatedly to a guy I didn't recognize. Her carefree smile tugged at my chest. She had no idea what was happening around her, how close she was to something dangerous. I needed to talk to her.....warn her.

But as I started toward her, a hand grabbed my arm. I turned to see Savannah, her face tight with urgency.

"What are you doing here?" she hissed, pulling me away from the crowd.

"I couldn't just let Whitney come alone," I said, wrenching my arm free. "She has no idea what's going on."

Savannah's eyes flickered, something unreadable passing over her face. "You shouldn't have come. You don't understand what's at stake."

"Then explain it to me!" I demanded. "You keep telling me to stay away, but you're not giving me the full story. What's really going on, Savannah? Why are we being watched? What is this group?"

She hesitated, her eyes scanning the crowd. For a moment, I thought she was going to avoid the question again, but then she leaned in, her voice barely audible over the music.

"There's something bigger happening here," she whispered. "This isn't just about controlling students or parties. Essex isn't the only place this group operates. It's everywhere. Colleges, universities, high schools-they're recruiting people, building influence. It's about power, and it goes way beyond us."

I stared at her, trying to process what she was saying. "So why are they interested in freshmen? Why us?"

Savannah looked around nervously before answering. "They target the vulnerable. People who can be molded, influenced. People who won't ask questions. Once they have you, they start using you to spread their influence. Luke is just the tip of the iceberg."

I felt a chill crawl up my spine. "And what happens if you don't cooperate?"

She looked away, her voice dropping even lower. "People disappear. Or worse-they get involved and end up trapped, part of something they can't escape."

My heart pounded in my chest. "And Luke? Is he-"

"He's in deeper than you can imagine," she interrupted. "He's recruiting people, bringing them in. And once they're in, they can't get out."

Before I could ask anything more, the door to the frat house swung open, and Luke stepped outside. His eyes scanned the crowd, landing on me almost immediately. His smile didn't reach his eyes as he approached.

"Glad you made it," he said smoothly, but there was something off in his tone.

I swallowed, trying to keep my cool. "Yeah, figured I'd check it out."

His eyes flicked to Savannah, but he didn't acknowledge her. "I've been meaning to talk to you. We didn't get a chance to chat much after the last party."

Savannah shifted beside me, her body tense. I could feel her silent warning, but I ignored it. "About what?"

Luke's smile grew, but it was cold, calculating. "I just think you're an interesting person. Someone with a lot of potential."

I could feel my skin crawl. "What kind of potential?"

He shrugged, his eyes gleaming. "The kind that could make a difference. You know, the right kind of people can go far at Essex. We help each other out."

I forced myself to smile, though my heart was racing. "And who's 'we'?"

He chuckled, but there was no humor in it. "You'll find out soon enough."

Savannah's hand tightened on my arm, but before she could pull me away, Luke leaned in, his voice low and threatening. "Be careful who you trust, okay? You never know who might be watching."

---

The rest of the night passed in a blur. Whitney dragged me into the house, introducing me to people whose names I didn't catch, but I was barely listening. My mind was spinning, trying to make sense of everything.

Luke's words echoed in my head. Be careful who you trust.

I found myself watching Savannah from across the room. She was standing by the window, staring out at the lawn, her face tight with concentration. She had been the one to warn me, to pull me into this mess. But something didn't add up. Why was she always so close, yet so secretive? Why was she the one who knew so much about the group?

My phone buzzed in my pocket. Another text from Whitney: *"Meet me upstairs."*

I frowned, looking around. I couldn't see her anywhere. Maybe she'd gone upstairs to get away from the crowd. I slipped through the throng of students and made my way up the narrow staircase.

The upstairs hallway was eerily quiet compared to the party below. I checked my phone again. No more messages. I moved toward the end of the hall, where a single door stood slightly ajar.

"Whitney?" I called softly, pushing the door open.

The room was dark, the only light coming from the window, where the moon cast long shadows across the floor. I stepped inside, my heart pounding.

Suddenly, the door slammed shut behind me.

I whipped around, but before I could react, a figure stepped out of the shadows.

It wasn't Whitney.

It was Savannah.

She wasn't who I thought she was!

Her eyes were hard, her face unreadable. "You shouldn't have come."