“To the brotherhood!” he yells, then gulps the entire amount down.
I’m too stunned to speak or move from where I’m standing. My mind cannot comprehend what is happening before me.
Another hooded figure takes the goblet from his hand and refills it. Looking at us explicitly, he very clearly says, “You will each take a sip and pass it to the next in line, and repeat these words after me: I pledge my life to Alpha Chi until my very last breath leaves my body. I will tell no one any secrets bestowed on me from now on and into the future. Anything that is asked of me, I will fulfill, or I will face a torturous death,” he finishes.
One by one, we follow his instructions.
All the hooded figures begin chanting quietly in unison.
“You are now brothers of Alpha Chi!” he bellows.
The hooded figures remove their hoods and reveal their faces. All of them take turns smearing the blood still seeping from the woman’s neck over their faces and pounding their chests, still chanting, gradually growing louder. Scanning around the room, all I can think about is that we look like savages. I will take what just happened to my grave. It’s appalling, and no one would believe me anyway.
I think about the woman on the bed. Did she have a family? A home? Surely, someone will miss her in this world. I’d never ask any of these questions out loud, but I’m not heartless.
Our clothes are pressed roughly into our chests, causing us to lose our balance and fall backward. I fumble to dress myself after observing and being involved in what just happened, and adrenaline pumps through my veins.
After we finish dressing, gold pins are handed out to us. A gold pin tells anyone who knows the Greek letters what fraternity we are part of and that we are an initiated brother. If you go anywhere in a professional setting or chapter, it is worn on the outside of your jacket.
In a deep voice, one of the hooded figures commands, “Go up to the common room and wait for the higher-level brothers, who will provide instructions on upcoming steps.”
I shudder as I ponder what could be next. The horrors of tonight have drained me. I am slow-moving and disinterested in anything that anyone is going to announce. Everyone trudges up the stairs to the common room, where President Archer is patiently waiting for us with an amused grin.
“Every single thing that occurs in this house stays among brothers and brothers alone. If you breathe the slightest word about anything, you will, without hesitation, be plucked out like a hair on your head, and I don’t just mean from the fraternity,” he states angrily.
Bluntly, we all get the message of being assassinated. Many former presidents, senators, ranking officials, lawyers, the press, and police departments are covered in corruption.
I walk out of the common room, bewildered. How could my dad possibly want this for me?Because his son would have access to the best connections money could buy and run any company of my choice.My gut is telling me the gruesome murder I just witnessed isn’t even half of what is going on or what they are going to confide in us.
Fear snakes up my body because now I’m in a position where I have no choice but to submit.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Initiation
Thankfully, for the legacies, there wasn’t a long new member period or any type of hazing. Blair and I are getting ready for initiation in our apartment. Honestly, we don’t know what to expect. The only requirement we were given was to wear a white dress, white lingerie, and white shoes. Also, no makeup, with our hair flowing naturally, and no jewelry. We were also given a handwritten map telling us where to wait. The map also stated that we would be getting into a black SUV that would take us to an unknown destination. We were instructed to leave our cell phones, purses, and wallets and to come with only our keys toour residence. Blair and I had a good laugh about where we were supposed to put the key since our dresses didn’t have pockets. Getting creative, I slipped it into the side of my bra.
Our moms never revealed a single part about initiation; it’s a vow you take to only discuss initiation and anything to do with the sisterhood with only sisters.
“What’s up with the white?” Blair scoffs while looking over at me. “It makes me look so pale, like a ghost.”
We are getting ready in her bedroom.
“No idea; it feels like we are getting ready for our wedding day.”
“We look like Virgin Marys,” she snickers.
Even though we burst into laughter, I know how nervous we both are.
“Are you ready to head out?” I ask Blair, excitement thrumming through me.
“Yes girl, just imagine we’ll be sisters by the end of the day!”
“Like we haven’t been already! It’ll just be official now.” I smirk at her.
Double-checking the key is where I placed it after locking the door, we head out with the map in hand. The map is handwritten with lazy handwriting, and it’s hard to make out where to go.
Clapping and jumping up and down, Blair shouts, “Maybe it’s really a scavenger hunt!”
