A Deadly Sorority (Book #1 Sorority Horrors)

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Lorena and I pulled into the gravelly lot of Pho Kitchen. The crunch of loose rocks under my tires echoed into the air as I veered my car into a parking spot on the side of the building. My car settled with a slight shudder as I shifted the gear into park.

As I removed the key from the ignition, I pinched my eyes shut and dreamt of eating pho, "I cannot wait to eat a nice big bowl of pho." I sighed.

"Me neither," Lorena replied. 

I opened my door and stepped outside, greeted by fresh, cool morning air as it breathed across my face. 

We walked into the morning's stillness. Lorena pulled open the glass door, and the soft chime of a bell above the door announced our arrival. A cheerful hostess greeted us with a wide smile.

"Welcome in, ladies!" She smiled, "You can sit wherever you like." She spread her arms out as if she were a game show host, showing us an awesome prize. 

Lorena and I both scanned the place. It was pretty run down with chipped paint on the walls, and antique-styled tables were decorated with wrinkled green tablecloths and surrounded by old, wobbly chairs. 

My eyes landed on a booth on the opposite side of the restaurant, "Do you want to sit over there?" I pointed. 

Lorena nodded, "Yeah." We made our way over to the booth and slid onto the cracked black leather seats. 

"I'm starving!" Lorena declared, dramatically wrapping her arms around her stomach, emphasizing her hunger pangs. 

"Let's hope this place lives up to its Yelp reviews." 

Soon, a young, petite waitress with a high ponytail arrived at our table with a notepad and pencil between her hands. A small, statured male came from behind her and set two glasses of ice water on our table. 

"Good morning!" She smiled, "What can I get for you today?" She asked, gazing into my eyes. 

"I'll have the beef pho." I replied, "With cilantro and jalapenos." 

She scribbled down my order and then turned to Lorena, "And for you, miss?"

"I'll have the same. And a can of Sprite." 

The woman smiled as we handed our menus to her, and she walked back into the kitchen. 

"So, what do you think about that guy Alejandro?" Lorena asked me as she sipped on the glass of water through her straw. 

"I don't know. He strikes me as odd. And why was he so eager to help two strangers?"

Lorena nodded, "I agree. We have two sources that we know are solid. First, your journalism friend Sam. Next, we Trisha. Let's try them first." 

"Now that I think of it, let me call Sam and see what she can do for us." I rummaged through my purse, my fingers brushing against crumpled receipts and loose candy wrappers, until I felt my thumb brushing against my cell's plastic case cover. 

"Why don't you just call her down here? To meet with us." Lorena suggested, her eyes wide at the idea. "We can lay it all out for her—the sleepless nights, the haunting days, the body we found in the dumpster. Maybe hearing it from us will soften her heart and make her want to help."

My eyes lit up, "You're right! Let's see if she's free." 

I scrolled through my contact list, my thumb sliding against the glossy screen until I hovered over Sam's name. I tapped the call button and pressed the phone to my ear, the faint hum of the ring droning in my ear.

I glanced at Lorena as she sat across from me, catching a glimmer of hope in her eyes. I tried to mirror the hope that emanated from her despite the knot tightening in my stomach.