Sorry for the long wait on this chapter. Each chapter of Bully Games is read and edited several times before I post it. I could try to post more in a single day, but it is hard to do with a day job and several other books still in progress. That said, Spring Break is coming up and I hope to spend some of that time creating lots of new chapters to upload for all of my stories! Thank you for your patience. If you are enjoying this story so far, please leave a comment or a gem to show your appreciation! The more attention this story gets, the more likely it will be that others will see and enjoy the story as well. Thank you all for your support! VictoryAnne Vice
[Lily] I woke to the sound of Nyx, sitting at her desk, the sound of her pen scratching against the surface of her notebook paper as she worked furiously on the pages in front of her. I got up carefully and dressed myself as best as I could. It was a miracle that I didn't hurt myself again with how much I had to hop and wiggle to change into new clothing. By the time I was done, I was exhausted again and flopped down on my bed. Nyx didn't lift her head once while I struggled. Not because she didn't care, but because she was so focused on her homework that she didn't notice. As I lay there, the sound of her working reminded me of the work I had been neglecting. "You wouldn't happen to have yesterday's chemistry notes would you?" "What, so you can copy," she snorted. "Not my fault you were too busy being a damn fool to make it to class." "Would you at least let me know what the quiz is going to be about so I can study," I beg as I sit up awkwardly, my leg getting in the way. Just
[Lily] Atticus inches closer before bending down. My breath catches as his eyes remain in contact with my own and his body folds in half. His arm catches on something making his whole body shake, his head just above my lap. I don’t hear what he has to say next because my mind has gone to a very naughty place. Snap out of it, Lily! I admonish myself. Don’t forget who you are dealing with! “...anyway…” he continued on a train of thought I completely missed because I was too busy fantasizing about other things. “You are right, I did have another reason to ask you to come out for breakfast." He removes a leather photo album from his backpack. On the cover, it says 1965-2015 "What's this?" I open the cover and see page after page of beautiful, proud, smiling faces. The book is divided into years, with each year starting and ending with a group photo. He flips to a page near the end and points at a girl with a face so much like my own. My mother. Alana Adare. Placing a finger on t
[Lily] The room is mostly empty, but it is still beautiful. Columns like those you’d find in fine colonial houses grace each corner and the wallpaper looks fine, French and antique. Atticus helps me take a seat on the bed with a solid wood frame that looks as old as the school. It has carved angels that have been shined to a glossy brightness. As I take a seat along the edge, I find myself facing a row of ornately framed windows. “All Legacy suites have a similar view, but I think your view is the most spectacular,” he sounds a little bit jealous as he points out the window. “Look, there’s Cayuga Lake, and over there,” he points a bit more to the left, at a sparkle of light in the distance, “That’s Seneca Lake. Your room is the only one with a clear view of both.” I nod noncommittally not wanting to admit how much this view, this room is affecting me. I could sit here and stare at this view forever. I wonder how many times my mom looked out these windows and watched the wind
[Lily]“Hey Nyx, what’s going on here? It’s me, Lily!” I bang on the door growing more and more agitated the longer I stand in the hall. Atticus is long gone, and I am alone. I hear the sound of three different deadbolts unlatching. Slowly the door creaks open. “Lily?” When she sees it’s me and not a trick, she throws the door open and wraps me in her arms. “God up in Heaven I was so worried about you!”“I’m fine, I’m fine!” I pat her back as she hugs me. “Atticus and I just had some breakfast and…”“But you were gone all day!” she moans. “I thought they had thrown you into a pit.” She pulls me in tighter. “No pit, just a bedroom. My bedroom or I guess my mom’s and..”Nyx stiffens. She pulls away. Looking down she sees the key. "I thought this was your bedroom.""Well Atticus took me up to the Legacy floor and showed me my mom's old room and said that I could move in if I want and..." I'm babbling, but I can't stop myself. I am trying to help Nyx see the logic in this situation but
[Lazarus] “Now that we are all here," I announce as Simon finally takes his seat. "Here are where the standings are so far,” I pull my records up on the computer. “Ace is, of course, in the lead.” I nod towards him. "Thank you, by the way, for the uploads. I've found them...very educational." There are a few chuckles in the room. Ace has been very good at keeping track of his efforts. The shot of her running has been downloaded to more than a few phones. "Does anyone have any objections?" I look around. Nobody can deny that Ace has deserved the top spot so far. He has had the most success developing a relationship of trust between himself and our target. Not only that, but any fool with eyes can see that she is more than a little bit attracted to him. "Veronica has second place," I announce evenly. "Because of her intervention, she has managed to create enough envy within our target to encourage her to start the game. She has also shown the capacity to build trust with her. I wou
[Lily] Nyx leaving without saying goodbye still burns. It's been two days and still, I can't forget the look of fear in her eyes when I told her about my mother's room. I tried to find her by the walnut tree, but she never came out into the field. I know, because I have a perfect view from my room. She was so angry and frightened the last time we spoke. When she comes back to school on Monday, hopefully today she'll be more like herself. I miss my friend. The students who live nearby often go home on the weekends, if their parents aren't too busy with their important jobs. I never go home. I live on campus even during the holidays, one of the few who never leave. My grandfather says it is because the servants deserve their time off too, and he doesn't want to pay for a year-round nanny or maid. I've considered writing to my grandfather to let him know about my change in status. Maybe if he heard that I am now a Legacy instead of an outcast, he might see me differently. Maybe he mig
[Lily] At the sound of my screams, Atticus comes rushing into my room from next door, his hair messy and his tie hanging around his neck. “What happened?" he is out of breath as he places a hand on each of my shoulders his eyes wide with concern. "Liliana, are you okay? Did you hurt something? What…?” I have lost the ability to speak so instead I point a shaking finger toward the bag, which has begun dripping and oozing onto the hardwood floors, creating a large, gory puddle. Inside the garment bag is a uniform that has been soaked in the blood of some animal. On the lapel is a note that reads “bastard.” In the bottom of the bag is a dead rat. On that rat is a nametag that says "Lily the fake." No wonder Evie was in such a good mood. She had left me a little surprise. Atticus takes a step back, avoiding the puddle and looking around for something to absorb the mess, settling on a large towel from the bathroom. It looks and smells like I murdered someone in my room. "Your gi
“Now get dressed,” Atticus demands. “We should already be down there. We’re lucky they’re waiting.”I want to mention that they won't start without him, but I am honestly so touched that he found me a uniform that I have lost the will to be snarky. He even cut the right trouser leg to the knee so that my cast could fit. It was simply one of the most thoughtful and considerate things anyone has ever done for me in a very long time. Just when I think I understand Atticus Preston, he goes and does something like this--something sweet."Are you ready yet? Come on, It doesn't take that long to..." Atticus slams open my door. "Hey! Get out!" I scream. The shirt is covering most of my upper half but my cast is wedged awkwardly in the pant leg, leaving much of my bottom half exposed. The slit didn't go quite high enough. The two of us need to talk about boundaries. That, or I need to invest in another lock or three like Nyx did. I can't just have him walking in whenever he feels like it.