Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 83961 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83961 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
“Boys,” he said, gesturing to the rest of his friends, “how about we take a walk?”
Ray grabbed a large duffel bag—I’m not sure what’s inside it—and we climbed out of the window grate leading from his basement to his backyard and then out his back gate. Then we took a series of backroads until we ended up at this nature preserve.
Ray reaches into his bag and grabs a red taper candle in a silver holder. He lights it, giving us just enough light to see each other’s faces.
He walks between Max and Corey and puts his hands around their shoulders. “Brothers, I would like to nominate Harrison O’Rourke for membership in The Club.”
I widen my eyes. What?
Corey nods. “I second, Brother Ray.”
“Me too.” Max grunts.
“Then we are agreed.” Ray leaves the other two and takes my hand. “Brother Harry, do you accept your nomination?”
I blink. “Do I what?”
Ray grins. “Do you want to be part of The Club? Like, officially?”
I glance over to Max and Corey. “I thought I was already friends with you all. We’ve been hanging out for months.”
Max and Corey laugh softly at that.
Ray hushes them with a hand gesture and then turns back to me. “We’ve been hanging out for sure. Think of it as a trial run. We’ve been getting to know you, and we’ve decided that we can trust you. I’ll ask again.” He lowers his voice. “Brother Harry, do you accept your nomination?”
I swallow. “I guess.”
“We require a definitive yes or no, Brother,” he replies.
I widen my eyes. “Y-Yes.”
“Good.” He clamps his hands over my shoulders. “Now, Brother Harry, wash your old self out in the waters of purity.” Ray takes my hand and guides me to the river. I kneel at the bank, slip a few fingers under the surface. “No, Brother. You must submerge yourself completely.”
I raise an eyebrow. “But my clothes will get wet.”
“No matter,” Ray says. “You’ll take them off. You must enter the river naked.”
A chill runs down my spine. Not only because it’s a pretty cool fall night, but because I’ve never been naked in front of anyone before except my parents or a doctor.
This doesn’t feel right.
“Can’t I wear my underwear?” I ask.
“Would you like us to join you?” Ray asks.
“I don’t know if that would make—”
Ray snaps his fingers, and Max and Corey immediately take off their shirts, pants, and underwear. I look back at Ray and he’s unclothed himself as well.
I can’t help thinking about the fact that he’s Regina’s twin brother. They’re fraternal, of course, but they look a lot alike.
For right now, this is the closest I’ll ever get to seeing her naked.
And that thought, for some reason, gives me the courage to strip down myself. I shimmy out of my underwear, allowing the cool breeze to flow through parts of my body it’s never met before.
Ray gestures to the river. “Initiates first.”
I go to the riverbank and dip a toe in.
Shit, it’s cold!
“Best to just jump in, Brother Harry,” Ray says. “We’ll be right behind you.”
I turn back. “Promise?”
Ray smiles. “Of course. Brothers are there for brothers, right boys?”
“Damn straight,” Max says.
I turn back to the river. It’s flowing quickly, but not so quickly that I’ll be washed away. I close my eyes, count to three, and take the plunge.
Shit, shit, shit! It’s like a thousand tiny needles poking into me at once.
Luckily, it’s shallow. I’m able to grip my feet to some rocks on the river’s bottom and stand myself up, bringing my head out of the water just in time to hear three more splashes around me.
I rub my eyes and through the dim light of Ray’s candle I can see the other three poke their heads out like prairie dogs, laughing roughly.
And I can’t help it. I laugh too.
I no longer feel weird about being naked. We’re just four brothers enjoying each other’s company. It’s not long before we’re splashing at each other and cackling like maniacs.
I’m used to the water temperature now. It almost feels warm.
Finally, Ray gestures to the bank. “Brothers, we must finish the initiation process.”
“There’s more?” I ask.
“Don’t worry.” He smirks. “The hard part is over.”
We get out and Ray reaches into his bag and pulls out a couple towels. “Dry off and put your clothes back on, Brother Harry. Once you’re ready, join the other brothers in a circle around the candle.”
I nod, doing as I’m told. I towel off quickly and throw my clothes on, leaving my shoes and socks off. Ray, Max, and Corey are already sitting in a circle by the time I’m done.
“Initiate, please stand in the center of the Fraternal Circle,” Ray instructs.
I do as I’m told, shivering against the cold breeze.
Ray grabs the bag and pulls out a vegetable knife.
My blood freezes in my veins. “Whoa,” I say. “What are you going to do with that?”