The Chamber of Five by Michael Harmon Read Free Book Online Page A

alive for something he didn’t understand. “But the note said …”
    I turned to Elvis. “Get out, Elvis. Right now.”
    He stood still.
    “GO!” I barked. He left. I turned to Carter, grabbing his shirt and smashing him into the chair. “I should beat the living shit out of you for that, you …”
    He smiled, calm as a Sunday morning. “Have you made your decision about the file yet, Jason? It would be good if you did so. I hate indecision. It’s irritating.”
    I leaned close, releasing him, then put my hands on the armrests. “That’s what this was about, huh? Helping me make my decision? The brotherhood? Destroying somebody who doesn’t deserve to be destroyed? All about me, huh?”
    Carter’s obsidian eyes bored into me. “Yes, Jason. That is what this is about. Sacrifice. And perhaps you should think about what might happen next if you don’t make the right decision.”
    I stared into those eyes for a moment, my entire body aching to break him in half. I realized then that this wasn’t about the Chamber. This was about power. About him. This was about Carter Logan breaking
me
in half, and I didn’t know why. “You put him in the Group, leave him alone, write his letter of recommendation, and I’ll do it. That’s the deal. No other way.”
    He grinned. “A deal has been made. I will contact him personally, apologize for my insensitive remarks, and let him know he is now a member.” With his eyes still on mine and our faces inches apart, a moment passed. “Would you mind taking your face away from me, Jason? I’m uncomfortable with us being this close, and I’d hate to have Kennedy hurt you.”
    Another moment passed, and I backed off, walking toward the doors. Kennedy smirked, as usual. Carter cleared his throat. “I’ve anticipated your joining us, Jason, and in the spirit of the Chamber, I’ve arranged for some help to be given in your task.”
    “I don’t need your help.”
    He waved me off. “That is all. Dismissed.”

CHAPTER SIX
    I ARRIVED AT SCHOOL the next morning and caught up to Elvis at the edge of the parking lot. He stood with his huge book bag on his back and two cans of corn in his hands. I waved. “Hey. What’s the corn about?”
    He looked away, uncomfortable. “You didn’t get a call last night?”
    “No. About what?”
    “There’s a food drive today. They called everybody. My mom sent them.”
    “A food drive?”
    “Yeah. I guess some family in town had a tragedy, so Lambert’s helping out.”
    “Huh. They didn’t call us.” A moment passed. “Did Carter talk to you about the Group?”
    He nodded. “He came to my house after the meeting.”
    “Good. And I’m sorry about what happened. It wasn’t you.”
    “It doesn’t matter.”
    “You’re on now, though. And that’s what matters for the Pilkney deal, right?”
    “Sure.”
    “And you’ll get your letter.”
    “Don’t worry about it.”
    I looked at him, and my stomach turned uneasy. He’d been crushed yesterday. Carter Logan had ground him to dust, and no matter how much I wanted to act like it didn’t happen, it had. “It’s not true, you know. Your dad, I mean.”
    “I’m not ashamed of him. He’s a great person.”
    “I’m sorry. I just … You know I don’t feel that way, and you know I wasn’t behind what happened, right?”
    “I don’t know what happened, Jason, but I know I don’t want to be a part of it.”
    I sighed. I had everything to do with what happened, I felt like a rotten ass, and now I was paying for it. His face told me he wasn’t mad or pissed at me. Worse. Hurt and betrayed. A little bit of fun in the Chamber, all organized by me. Just like with Brooke. Carter was better at this than me, I realized. “I’ll make sure he writes the letter, okay?”
    He looked at me. “Hey, Jason?”
    “Yeah?”
    He faltered. “Why’d it happen? Why me? Why does it always have to be me?”
    I clenched my teeth. “It wasn’t you, Elvis. It was me.”
    He looked