*TRIGGER WARNING FANTASY VIOLENCE*

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" We'll never get free

Lamb to the slaughter
What you gon' do when there's blood in the water?
The price of your greed, your son and your daughter

What you gon' do when there's blood in the water?"

Grandson - Blood//Water

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Chapter Eighteen:

< James >

I descended into the cellar as I promised Everly, bracing myself for the inevitable clash with Cyril. The moment our eyes met, words erupted, sharp and venomous, until the sound of the cellar door slamming open stole our attention. A heavy thud followed, and to my horror, I found Everly sprawled at my feet, her hands drenched in blood.  She had managed to leave a pooling trail on every step. Ellie was beside her, miraculously unharmed, her quick reassurance doing nothing to quell the rising panic in my chest.

"Evie... my god," I whispered, scooping her up with a desperation that gripped my entire being. I carried her to a chair, my hands shaking as I searched for a first aid kit. She tried to explain what had happened, her voice trembling as she spoke. When I finally unwrapped Ellie's scarf from her foot, I realized with a sinking feeling that she would need stitches. But with the situation we were in, getting her proper medical attention was a distant dream.

Cyril, ever the opportunist, chose that moment to mutter an insufferable, "I told you so," as if that would somehow vindicate him. Footsteps echoed from beyond the cellar door, and I tensed, ready for a confrontation. The handle rattled, but the door held fast, locked from the inside. Whoever it was retreated as quickly as they had come, leaving us in a tense, suffocating silence.

"It's locked from the inside," Everly whispered, her voice strained. The fear in her eyes was mirrored in mine. We were trapped, with no idea if the intruder was still lurking above us.

"If you had just listened to me... none of this would've happened," Cyril squeaked, his voice grating against my already frayed nerves. I turned to him, ready to silence him with a well-deserved punch, but Everly's injury drew my attention back to her. Blood was pooling on the floor, and the sight of it pushed any thoughts of revenge from my mind.

"You should be thankful I don't have time to argue with you any longer," I spat at Cyril, turning my focus entirely to Everly. Lydia appeared beside me, first aid kit in hand.

"I found it in the storm prep box," she said, her voice steady as she handed it to me. "James, let me deal with him. You focus on Evie."

Alistair poured himself a drink, clearly trying to mask his own anxiety, while Lin held Everly's hand, offering silent support. The night had spiraled into a surreal nightmare, leaving us all huddled in one room with no escape in sight.

"This is going to hurt," I warned Everly, my voice soft but firm. "I'm going to clean it and pack it until we can get you to a proper doctor." She nodded, her grip on Lin's hand tightening as I began to work, cleaning and wrapping her foot with as much care as I could muster.

Kesh and Wren sat at a folding table, engaged in a tense, silent game of cards, their eyes occasionally flicking toward the door as if expecting it to burst open at any moment. The air was thick with unspoken fears and unresolved tensions, and I knew we couldn't continue like this.

Once I had the bleeding under control, I stood and gathered everyone into a circle, determined to address the situation head-on. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Lydia and Cyril deep in conversation, her face a mask of anger and disappointment. I could only hope that Cyril had confessed everything to her himself. As much as I longed to be the one to break the news, watching him squirm under her scrutiny was a small, satisfying victory after all the chaos he'd caused.

But there was no time to revel in that now. We needed a plan, and we needed it fast. The night was far from over, and the danger lurking just outside the cellar door was too real to ignore.

"Alright, enough." My voice cut through the tension as I turned to Lydia and Cyril. "Lydia, get over here. Whatever Cyril has to say won't fix this right now, and unfortunately, we need him to figure out our next move." Their private conversation ended abruptly as I forced them to join the group. Everly, determined despite her injury, pushed herself up from the chair. 

"There's a secret passageway that leads to the road. It's behind the bookcase. My grandfather was a master of escape routes—clearly, my family needs their options." I stayed close as she limped over to the bookcase, each step making my heart race with worry.

"It's right here. You pull out Shakespeare's *Romeo and Juliet* and..." Everly's voice trailed off as the bookshelf slid to the side, revealing a hidden passageway. We all stared in amazement, the gravity of the situation momentarily suspended by the sheer wonder of it.

"You could've mentioned that when we were upstairs," Ellie scoffed, crossing her arms.

"Sorry, I was a bit preoccupied with, you know, bleeding out," Everly shot back, her tone sharp.

"Alright, we're definitely keeping you two separated," Kesh laughed, trying to ease the tension.

I turned to Everly, concern etched in my voice. "Are you sure this leads to the main road?"

"Yes, I've been down it before. But James, now is not the time for me to rehash my childhood trauma. Please, let's just go," Everly pleaded, her voice wavering as her strength waned. She could barely stand, let alone walk, and I was about to scoop her up in my arms again, but I realized she was the only one who knew how to close off the path behind us.

"Alright, everyone, let's move," I ordered, taking the lead into the tunnel. I hesitated, wanting to wait for Everly, but she urged me forward.

"I'm right behind you, James. There's a different book to close it off—*The Winter's Tale,* I think. It's up one shelf." She turned to Cyril, who was last in line, and asked, "Can you reach it?"

Cyril nodded, trying to curry favor that he didn't deserve. I watched him pull down the book, the hidden door beginning to close. Everly was about to run through when, suddenly, Cyril's hand shot out, grabbing her and yanking her back.

"I am so sorry for this," Cyril murmured as Everly screamed, her voice filled with terror. I could only watch as she tried to push him off of her.

I spun around, my heart lurching in my chest as the door slammed shut, trapping them both inside. "No!" I shouted, sprinting back to the now-sealed entrance. The cold, unyielding steel of the bookcase loomed in front of me, blocking any chance of reaching her. I could still hear her screams, muffled but desperate, on the other side.

"What the fuck just happened," Alistair muttered, his words confirming the sickening truth I was already grappling with. My fists pounded against the door, rage and fear surging through me as I tried, in vain, to force it open.

But it was no use. Everly was gone, and I was powerless to reach her..

The tension in the tunnel was palpable, the air thick with unsaid words and rising fear. That's when Ellie, of all people, chose to break the silence, her voice trembling with guilt. "It's Jasper."

"Excuse me?" I shot back, my voice strained. I was drenched in sweat, teetering on the edge of a panic attack, and hearing Wellington's name was the last thing I needed.

"Cyril closed the passage on purpose. I can't believe he's actually doing this. I told Everly I was awful, but not *this* awful. This is beyond me now. You all deserve to know. James, you more than anyone," she sighed, her confession hanging in the air like a storm cloud.

"The reason I showed up here wasn't because of a letter—Cyril texted me the address. He still has his phone. He's had it this entire time. Honestly... I was going to tell Everly that night in the woods, but I... I lost it. And since we'll all probably die in here, fuck it. She won, James. She won you, and there's nothing I can do to make you look at me the way you look at her. I just have to accept it, once and for all. But I'm worried for your girl, though. Jasper's vendetta, James... it runs dangerously deep. We have to find a way out of this fucking bat cave. I'm not kidding, James. Jasper *hates* your girlfriend. And I know what he's capable of. It's worse than you think." Ellie's voice wavered, her eyes struggling to meet mine.

I turned away from her, the weight of her admission crashing down on me like a tidal wave. The room spun, my heart pounded in my ears, and the reality of what she'd just revealed sent me reeling. 

"I'm going to be sick," I muttered, stumbling to a corner, where I doubled over and vomited, the gravity of the situation threatening to suffocate me.

"This was all a setup," Lydia's voice trembled as she spoke, her eyes wide with realization.

 "He got us all down to the cellar, and once he found out about the secret passage, he knew if he could get Everly alone and lock us out, Jasper would be able to get to her. This is my fault. I made Cyril like this... this vengeful person. He's not the boy I loved anymore. That person is gone. James, I am so sorry."

She looked at me, pleading for forgiveness, but I could barely register her words. The weight of it all crashed down on me like a tidal wave. My best friend, someone I had trusted with everything, was working with my enemy to hurt the girl I loved. Jasper couldn't handle the fact that Everly loved me, that she chose me over him, that she slept with me. And then it hit me—the thought of all the terrible things Jasper could do to her.

My chest tightened, my mind racing with images of Everly in danger. The realization was too much to bear. My legs gave out, and I fell to my knees, struggling to breathe, the world spinning around me as the horror of what might be happening to her consumed me. The room seemed to close in, the walls pressing down as I gasped for air, the fear and guilt overwhelming every thought. 

"If he so much as touches a single hair on her head, I will end him," I vowed, my voice trembling with the intensity of my promise. The darkness of the tunnel closed in around us as we pressed forward, every step a heartbeat, every heartbeat a prayer that I wasn't too late. "I have to call my father. I have to get us out of here."

"Evie said this path leads to the main road," I continued, my voice tight with urgency. "Lydia, please tell me you have your phone."

A collective breath held as she hesitated, then sighed, "I do."

"Naturally, that's the least surprising thing I've heard all day," I replied, a faint flicker of relief sparking through the fear. 

"As soon as you get bars, text Percy our location. Just drop him a pin. Tell him everything in detail—everything that's happened. Have him inform our parents and Everly's grandfather. I think we should also call the police. That's the only way Cyril and Jasper will survive this night once I find them."

Lydia nodded, the weight of my words sinking in as we moved deeper into the tunnel. The silence around us grew heavier, the air thick with the scent of damp earth and fear. The deeper we went, the more the dread gnawed at me, every passing second an eternity.

I knew Evie was a fighter—she had always been. But she was hurt, vulnerable, and I knew Jasper would exploit that weakness. My heart pounded with a relentless ache, the thought of her in his hands fueling the fire inside me. I had to reach her. I had to save her. The love I felt for her was a force of nature, unstoppable, undeniable, and I would tear the world apart if it meant keeping her safe.

"James..." Alistair's voice reached me, breathless as he caught up to my furious stride.

"You know he's hit her before, right?" I said, my voice tight with rage. "I don't think she's ever told me half of what went on between them, but I know Jasper's capable of so much worse. And now, with Evie hurt... she can barely walk, let alone defend herself." Fury ignited within me, a fire I could barely contain. My fist collided with the stone wall, and a chunk crumbled away, the impact reverberating through my bones.

"Don't do that again!" Ellie's sharp voice cut through the tension. "This whole thing could come down on us, and then we're no help to Everly—or anyone, for that matter!"

Alistair was silent, at a loss for words, knowing full well that nothing he could say would console me.

"James... I know you're distraught, but we have to keep moving," he urged, his voice tight with worry. "Dwelling on the past year isn't going to help Evie. I just can't believe Cyril would agree to help Jasper. What could possibly be in this for him?"

The question hung in the air, unanswered, as we pressed on. The tunnel felt like it was closing in, the darkness suffocating, each step an eternity.

"We need to move quicker," Ellie insisted, her voice sharp as she glanced nervously at the walls. "I'm not convinced this rock is sturdy after James's little outburst."

"I'm not getting trapped down here," Lin muttered, her voice heavy with exhaustion. "This last month with all of you has been nothing short of emotionally draining. Who would've thought I'd miss my family this much?"

"We second that," Wren and Kesh chimed in, their voices tinged with fatigue.

"Great," I muttered, my voice laced with bitterness, "Now that it's settled that we're all starting to hate each other, please help me save the one person none of us ever could."

A terrible feeling gnawed at my gut, a cold dread that only intensified with each step. And then, from above, another scream echoed through the stone, a sound that sent chills down my spine. My worst fears were coming true.

And just as I imagined the night could get any worse. We reached the end of the tunnel and the exit door appeared to be jammed shut. This was a step up. And the fact that my best friend was an accomplice. Nothing would ever be the same again. 

"James..." Lydia's voice was soft as she placed her hand on my shoulder, trying to offer some comfort, but no touch could reach the depths of my despair.

"Alright," I said, my voice strained as I pushed through the pain. "Let's go back and try to push the bookcase open. It's the only thing I can think of, and we're running out of time. I can feel it." The urgency propelled me forward, my feet pounding the ground as I ran back the way we came.

"It's the best option we have. Come on, Ellie," Alistair muttered, dragging his sister along behind me, while Lydia, still desperately trying to get cell service, followed us slowly.

"What if there's no service on purpose?" Lin voiced the fear that had been gnawing at me.

"That thought has crossed my mind too," I admitted, a chill running through me as we approached the bookcase. Dread twisted in my gut, almost as if I could hear Everly's voice, her pained screams reverberating through the tunnel like an echo from my worst nightmares.

"Everly! Evie! I'm coming!" I yelled, shoving against the bookcase with all my strength. It didn't move. But then, as if by some miracle, it shifted. And there she was, lying behind it, broken and bloodied. Jasper had already fled up the stairs before I could lay a hand on him. Ellie and I rushed to Everly's side.

Her face was a canvas of bruises, her neck marred as if she had been choked. My heart shattered into a million pieces. I thought I heard her whisper that she couldn't fight anymore. I bent down and kissed her forehead, reminding her she didn't have to fight any longer—because she had already won. As I stood, Cyril appeared, and Ellie shot him a glare that could have melted steel.

"I'll stay with her," Ellie said, her voice steady. "You should talk to him." As much as I didn't want to leave Everly, I needed answers. What had he done? What had he seen Jasper do to her? Why in the world would he help him? A storm of questions raged in my mind.

"Cyril..." I caught him before he could escape up the stairs.

"James... I..." He couldn't even look at me, his eyes fixed on the blood staining my hands, Everly's blood. Fury boiled in my veins, and I was seconds away from unleashing it on him when Lydia stepped in, slapping him hard across the face.

"How could you? How could you do this?" she screamed, her voice trembling with betrayal. I stepped between them, trying to contain the chaos.

"I needed to know, Lydia!" Cyril shouted back, desperation cracking his voice. "I needed to know if you loved someone else! How could you do that to me?" His words were like gasoline on a fire.

"How could I do that to you?" Lydia's voice trembled with a mix of fury and heartbreak, rising like a storm ready to break. "Look at what you've done to Everly! Look at what you've done to my brother!" Her words lashed out like a whip, cutting through the suffocating air between them. "Cyril! You and I were finished last year. I made it clear. I moved on. You have no right to know who with! It was never any of your business."

Her chest heaved with the weight of all she had held back, the betrayal that had been festering beneath the surface. "And the fact that you thought Jasper could somehow win me back for you... I am heartbroken in ways I never imagined. You've made this my fault too. Everly has been begging me to tell you for months that I was seeing someone else. She didn't want you to get hurt. She wanted you to be able to move on. And her kindness once again has ended up hurting her. I'll never forgive myself for the role I played in this and for that, I am truly sick." Her voice cracked, but she pressed on, her eyes burning with a cold, unyielding fire. She placed her hand over her mouth to try to control her sobs.

"I will never forgive you, Cyril. I will never let my brother forgive you. The only person who might even consider it is the one who was hurt the most—my best friend and James's girlfriend, who we've known since we were in our cradles. You hurt her by helping him, as if you'd struck her yourself. And I no longer care what happens to you now." Lydia's tone was like ice, final and unforgiving, as she turned away from Cyril, leaving him to face the emptiness of his choices alone.

"Lydia...you have to listen to me. Please Lydia!" Cyril begged her. The second he grabbed my sister's arm, and something inside me shattered. In an instant, I snapped, fury igniting like a wildfire. My fist connected with him—fast, hard—over and over, until we were both locked in a brutal dance, grappling on the floor, lost in a violent haze of rage. The world blurred around us, nothing mattered but the raw force of my anger.

Then, through the red mist, I saw it—the blood pouring from his nose, pooling on the cold ground. The sight jolted me back to reality, the gravity of what I'd done crashing down, heavy and relentless.

"If I let this go further, I'd be no better than Jasper," I spat, disgust curling in my stomach. 

"You disgust me, Cyril. After this, we're all done with you. It's not just Lydia and me—Ellie can't even look at you. And you know the shit she's been part of. You're off the lacrosse team too," I declared, standing up and brushing myself off.

"You can't do that... James... you...can't do this to me. I love your sister. I am sorry, I just couldn't stand the thought of losing her for good. I....lost it." Cyril stammered, but I cut him off. Tears streamed down my face as I tried to put into words all the damage he had done. It was irreparable.

"If we took a team vote, they'd choose me their captain over you. Do you understand that? You didn't just lose Lydia. You've lost all of us. You've destroyed our friendship for good, and you've ruined your reputation at Maxton Hall. The next time we see each other, it will be on the sidelines of the lacrosse field, and I won't hesitate to turn my back on you."  With that, I walked away from him, back to Ellie, who was holding Everly's hand as the paramedics worked on her.

I had been right—after tonight, nothing would be the same. Everything was changing... Ellie was caring for my girlfriend, and I had just lost one of my best friends. Our senior year at Maxton Hall was going to be one for the books, that much was clear. But above all, my main concern was Everly. Without her, I was nothing. And I would do whatever it took to protect our relationship—no matter the cost.