The instructions on the envelope slipped under my door this time were clear.

I had no idea what I was in for as my black heels clacked along the icy gravel down to the lake. I must be bloody insane for agreeing to walk out into the cold, Vermont night with nothing but a slip of gold silk and a black fur stole covering my body, but here I was.

Why couldn’t I have just stayed in my dorm room, eating popcorn and Skyping with friends from home like Jane? Give that boring, normal life I’d craved so badly a try?

Maybe because, deep down, I knew that wasn’t really me. Something in me thirsted for this adventure, loved the way my heart beat so hard against my ribcage that I was practically wet with anticipation.

As I approach the dock, I see four other bodies standing there, shivering just like me. Abby is among them, and I deduce that the three other girls are the pledges being initiated with me.

“I think we’ve lost our marbles. Or we’re just bloody mental for going along with this.” I laugh as I walk up to them, all of our knees knocking together in the cold.

Abby laughs, her teeth chattering. “Isn’t this what attending college in Vermont is all about? Walking around in frigid temperatures in the skimpiest clothing possible? Girls, this is Eloise, but I think you knew that. Eloise, this is Amelia, Jaden, and Mara.”

We all wave at each other, though the other girls look at me as if I have a third eye growing out of my forehead. They’re probably afraid I’ll get all of us skinned alive by the Charter House girls.

A noise comes out of the darkness, nothing visible as of now except for the mountain. A few minutes later, a boat no bigger than the size of an air mattress pulls up to the dock, a boy in a suit manning the dingy.

“Get in.” His voice isn’t mean, but it isn’t made to soothe us.

“You’ve got to be kidding,” Jaden finally talks, and I can hear the fear. “I’m not getting in that. We’ll drown.”

“If you don’t get in, you’ll always be out.” So this guy has riddles too. Gretchen must have sent him.

I see her eye the boat, tension radiating from her. So I take the first step, sensing that these girls need a leader.

“Oh, come on, you slags, at least if we drown in these icy waters we won’t have to put up with Nina barking in our face. And I promise I’ll sacrifice myself, Jack from Titanic-style in the water. After all, I am the British one. Although, he was American, so maybe I should throw one of you overboard …”

This cracks a smile from Abby and Mara, and they follow me in. The other two climb aboard reluctantly, the boat swaying with our weight. I can’t say my heart doesn’t leap into my throat as we speed across the lake, the cold wind whipping my nose and eyes, making them water. I’ve never smelled air this fresh, and although the icy gusts needle at my skin, there is something addicting about it.

The guy steering the boat suddenly slows us, land coming into view. A thick forest just off the shore, he pulls onto the sand and stares at us.

“Out you go.”

I have no idea where we are, but it seems to be an island somewhere on the lake. Without him, we have no way of getting back to campus, and it feels as if there is no one, and nothing, around.

Abby takes the lead this time, hopping out. “We made it this far, come on.”

We all climb out, our heels digging into the sand. Boat guy gestures toward the trees. “Follow the path.”

Then he’s gone. A spooky feeling crawls up my back, nothing lighting this island but the moon. We move silently, on guard, into the woods, walking along a path that is anything but helpful. Stepping over brush, ducking away from branches, we must walk for what feels like half a mile.

Finally, I hear noise. Or more … a beat, a vibration.

“That’s music,” Jaden points out.

Through the trees, I spot lights, and as we hurry along, the cold thoroughly drenching us now, more of our destination comes into view.

Eventually, we all stand in a line, staring.

“What the actual fuck?” Amelia speaks the first words I’ve heard out of her mouth all night.

But … she’s bloody correct. A house, no a mansion, rises up before us … built completely within the sanctuary of this forest. It’s something out of an old English country side, a vacation home for royalty just plopped down in the middle of nowhere. Constructed of light stone, with stained-glass windows and turrets rising into the sky, it looks like a haunted castle.

Except, of course, for the rap music that spills out the open double front doors, and red plastic cups littering the lawn.

“What is this place?” Abby breathes, turning to me as our smiles mirror each other.

Because even I have to admit, this is bloody cool.

“Welcome to The Outpost, pledges.” Nina appears out of nowhere, a long black velvet dress wrapping around her body like a glove.

I stare down at my own sequin gold dress, and realize that the five of us will be the only ones in there wearing a different color. Smart, single us out, see how we fair. These girls and their mental games are spot on.

“Your first night of luxury and debauchery, this will show you exactly what it looks like to become one of us. Nothing too extreme tonight, we want you to enjoy yourselves, but a small task to pass first.”

Yeah, right. They may say that tonight was all fun and games, but everything with these people was a test. I should know, back in Europe, I was the one who tested.

Nina walked to the door, and we followed. Standing at the opening was a guy in a tuxedo, holding a tray. The tray contained five glasses, and a bowl of sugar cubes. I knew immediately what this was.

“You’ll take a shot of absinthe before you can enter the party.”

The lot of us are silent, and I don’t see water anywhere on that tray. I’m no stranger to the drink, I’ve had it in many a dark bar or lounge in the remotest parts of the world, but I know how dangerous it can be without the proper mixture.

“Are you kidding? That’s suicide!” Mara bursts out.

Nina was waiting for that, her lips curling into a feral smile. “If you don’t, you won’t get in. And then well … you’re out.”

Mara doesn’t even budge. “Count me out. This is insane.”

“Leave immediately, then. You’ll have to wait on shore until a boat comes along, which could be hours. Thanks for playing.”

The other girls look on, shocked, as Mara stomps out of the clearing where the house sits. I’m not surprised though, I knew one of us would drop tonight.

I step up, not wanting to delay further. Sticking the sugar cube between my teeth, to at least dilute the green hallucinogenic a little bit, I swallow the shot with a burn but keep any noises locked in my throat.

Sticking out my tongue, like I’ve completed the challenge and want her to see, I quirk an eyebrow.

“You may enter.” Nina nods, done with me.

I stroll into the house like my lips aren’t on fire and I’m not panicking. Making my way around the corner, I fumble for the nearest bathroom, knowing exactly what I need.

It’s luck that I find one on the second try of pushing a door in. Closing and locking it, I stumble for the sink, sucking in as much water as I can fit in my hand multiple times. I have to take the edge off of some of the alcohol that just entered my system, or I’ll be walking around here seeing fairies and ghosts in less than five minutes.

When I’m satisfied with my water intake, I check my makeup and hair in the bathroom, pinching my cheeks for color and fluffing my hair for a little extra va-va-voom.

I find a coat closet and hide my fur way in the back, taking my small clutch with me. My shoulders are completely bare, my breasts threatening to fall out of the sparkly dress that barely reaches my thighs. My black Stuart Weitzman heels clack against the floor as I bump into Abby in the hall.

She’s already stumbling on her feet just fifteen minutes after the shot. I grab her arm, “Go to the loo and slurp as much water from the faucet as you can. Go.”

My voice must penetrate her sluggish mind, because she nods and heads off in search of one. Feeling the alcohol pierce my veins, I relish the burn. A little fun never hurt anyone.

The mansion is … bewitching. I’ve been in some places such as this one, but they always seem so mystical to me, as if I’ve been transported back to another era. Marble, stone and dark corners every which way you turn. Candles covering every surface. Drapes and lace curtains that mask certain rooms, making the whole thing appear maze-like.

I find the kitchen, raiding the bar and making myself a Tom Collins. All of the boys in this place are dressed in various states of tuxedo or sharp black suits. All of the girls are in black, besides the pledges. There have to be several of the social club houses here, because I notice some other girls in gold who are not pledging for Charter. Because of my dress, because of the color I wear, I attract eyes.

Good, let them watch me, it’s intoxicating, having whispers follow me, men’s eyes pinned to my curves. Underneath, I’m a hedonist, and I’m thriving here.

“Eloise Mason.” A whisper of a voice curls around my ear, and I have to swivel to catch the body brushing by me.

Colton Reiter stands in front of me, a sport coat covering his long, built body. The shirt underneath, a dark cobalt, matches the inner ring of his eyes. His presence commands attention, almost everyone in the room undulating around him like the sun.

And then I realize he’s said my name. I narrow my eyes, “Been stalking me, eh?”

“You should know now, there is nothing that I can’t find out on this campus.” He sips from the clear plastic cup in his hand, and I smell expensive gin.

“So you found out my name, I’m not really that impressed. I’m sure you’ve got half the girls in this room curled around your finger, it couldn’t have been that hard.” Except that inside, I’m pouting, because it’s annoying that he has a leg up on me now.

“A Charter pledge, huh? I wouldn’t peg you for one, but you’re a collector’s item, that’s for sure. I’m not surprised Gretchen wants you.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“The daughter of an international television star, British society royalty, sexy …” He adds the last one with a wink.

He knows too much about me, and it’s unnerving. “And I suppose I don’t have to guess why you fall in as the ringleader of this crowd. Basketball star, ladies’ man, national sports hero. They probably clap when you take a piss, right? And those blow jobs you so fondly mentioned at The Croc, I’m sure you’re not left wanting.”

“So you did a little looking up on me too? I knew you liked me.” He towers over me, walking in so that I have to back up, the cold stone wall boxing me in.

“Don’t flatter yourself.” I want to get away, but my body is being traitorous.

Colton Reiter is too handsome for his own good. And the fact he knows it only makes it worse.

“Come on, let me show you around.” His fingers grasp my bare elbow, and I have to hold my breath from making a noise.