A gust of wind swept across the bricks. It carried the rich, heavy scent of roasted peanuts and baking chocolate from the nearby campus cafe. The smell of the warm dessert hit Elinor's nose. Her chest tightened instantly. The familiar scent pulled her brain backward.

Three years ago. Northwood Prep.

The dining hall smelled like bleach and expensive perfume. The marble floors echoed with the voices of rich teenagers.

Tatum Prescott stood next to a long wooden table. Her arms were crossed. Her lips were curled in a vicious sneer.

Tatum reached out and pushed a tall glass of ice water. The glass tipped over. The freezing water flooded into Carrie Hutchinson's lunch tray. It soaked her cheap sandwich.

Carrie shrank back into her wooden chair. Her shoulders shook violently. Huge tears rolled down her cheeks and dropped into the wet food.

Elinor sat two tables away. She felt a knot form in her stomach. Tatum was going too far. Elinor pushed her chair back. She prepared to stand up and stop it.

The heavy double doors of the dining hall slammed open.

Howell marched into the room. He wore his custom navy blue uniform jacket. His face was red with fury.

He shoved Tatum out of the way. He stood in front of Carrie. He blocked her from the crowd like a shield.

Howell glared at the students laughing at the tables. He yelled at them. He called them disgusting snobs.

Tatum laughed in his face. She pointed at a brownie on the table. It was covered in crushed peanuts.

"She belongs with the trash," Tatum mocked. "That is all she deserves to eat."

Howell did not look at Carrie. He looked at the crowd. He wanted to prove a point. He reached down and grabbed the peanut brownie.

Elinor felt her heart stop. Her pupils shrank. She jumped up from her chair.

"Howell, no!" Elinor screamed.

Howell turned his head. He looked at Elinor. His eyes were cold. He thought she was just another snob watching the show.

He opened his mouth and took a massive bite of the peanut brownie. He swallowed it.

Five seconds passed.

Howell's face turned dark purple. His hands flew to his throat. His fingers dug into his own skin.

He stumbled backward. His legs gave out. He crashed into a chair and hit the marble floor with a sickening thud.

The dining hall erupted into screams. Carrie fell to her knees. She did nothing but cry hysterically.

Elinor ran across the room. She dropped to her knees next to him. Her kneecaps slammed into the hard marble. Pain shot up her legs.

She grabbed his backpack. Her hands shook so hard she could barely grip the metal zipper. She ripped it open.

She dug to the bottom and found his EpiPen. She pulled off the blue safety cap. She slammed the needle into his thigh muscle.

The ambulance sirens screamed through the quiet campus. The red and blue lights flashed against the windows, painting Elinor's pale face in harsh colors.

The memory shifted to the hospital room.

Howell opened his eyes. A clear oxygen mask covered his nose and mouth. White fog clouded the plastic with every breath.

Elinor sat in the plastic chair next to the bed. Her eyes burned. She reached her hand out to touch his arm.

Howell turned his head away from her. He looked past her shoulder. He looked at the corner of the room near the door.

Elinor had seen Carrie earlier, crying in the waiting room after a sympathetic teacher had driven her to the hospital. Carrie stood there now, having slipped past the distracted nurses.

Howell lifted a weak hand and pointed at Carrie. He wanted her.

Elinor's hand froze in the air. Her stomach dropped to the floor. Ice water flooded her veins. It was the first time she felt the physical pain of his betrayal.

A loud bell rang.

The memory shattered. Elinor blinked. She stopped walking.

She was standing in front of the massive gothic doors of the music building.

She took a deep breath. She pressed her hand against the black mask on her face. She pushed the heavy brass handle and walked inside.

Chapter 2 2

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