Capítulo 20: Chapter 20: Skull & Bones
Author's Note: I forgot to say this last chapter but no chaps on the weekends cause I use those days to revise and work on new stuff.
Two Weeks Later,
"And that is why I think Benedict McCornWick is a lackluster founding father." Ricky looked up from his paper that he had Jake write for him as everyone gave off forced claps.
*DING*
"Next week we'll be talking about George Washington so your homework will be to ask your parents about the general knowledge of him!" Ms. Collins instructed as the kids happily zoomed out the classroom.
Two weeks had passed, and the event that had initially consumed everyone's thoughts began to fade into obscurity.
Through a series of behind-the-scenes maneuvers, the school and police turned a blind eye to the incident.
Persuasive words from an unknown entity swayed many of the students and faculty to follow suit, choosing to overlook the events that had transpired, except for a few who remained skeptical or unwilling to forget.
"Mr. Luciano." Ms. Collins called out right as Ricky was about to join his classmates in leaving for the weekend.
"Yes, Ms. Collins." Ricky turned around with a fake smile as she crossed her arms.
"It's been two weeks yet you haven't come to explain to me what happened." Ms. Collin adjusted her glasses before sitting on her chair, being one of the skeptical folks within the school.
"Ricky-"
*SIGH*
Ricky interrupted Ms. Collins with a sigh, growing annoyed with what he perceived as her high and mighty act, which he believed was her way of trying to guide him into the right direction.
"Ms. Collins just let it go, everyone except you has moved on so just follow the herd." Ricky then turned around as Ms. Collins scrunched her eyebrows.
"Ricky Luciano you'll do good to stop at that door-"
"Or what?" Ricky scoffed before turning around and walking over to her.
*Bam*
Ricky slammed his hand on the desk where Ms. Collins was arrogantly sitting, causing her to flinch at the sudden act of force as his eyes hovered right over hers.
"I've been very patient with you over these last two weeks but all you've done is given me backhanded insults or constantly tried to make up any BS excuse to pry information out of me." Ricky's eyes were cold, gazing directly into Ms. Collins as he'd finally reached the breaking point.
"Do you really think you have power over me just cause you're my teacher? Ms. Collins, I could have you blacklisted across every single school in the whole tri state area so fast you wouldn't be able to understand what is happening to you." Ricky's tone was getting harsher and harsher with every second ticking loudly on the nearby clock which made Ms. Collins ducked her head.
"And before you think up some bullsh*t excuse that I'm being like this because your a woman or whatever the hell you concoct up in that pompous brain of yours, it's not, it's because you don't know when to shut your f*cking mouth and do as you're told." Ricky then pushed Ms. Collins a little as she flinched at his touch.
"Stop bothering me and just do your f*cking job, which is to lecture me about these dumb*ss subjects, not about my life." Ricky then turned around while walking back to the door.
"I-I'm sorry." Ms. Collins gripped the ends of her skirt knowing that she pushed too hard, shaking a bit at that cold look in Ricky's usual nonchalant demeanor.
Ms. Collins was about to say something but Ricky didn't even stop to acknowledge her existence, walking out of the door and leaving her completely alone.
Walking to his locker, he saw the trio waiting for him as he went to do the combination of his locker.
"Alright boys here's the plan, there's a four hour marathon of horror movies tonight at the drive in and I say we go to pick up some honey's to go along with it~" Rocco spoke while combing his hair as Ricky smirked, slicking his hand through his hair.
"Yeah I need to blow off some steam-"
As Ricky finished the combination and opened his locker, an envelope suddenly fell out, landing at his feet.
Rocco's expression immediately shifted into one of dismay, indicating that whatever was in the envelope was deeply troubling.
"OH COME ON!" Rocco grabbed his head, knowing the plans he just thought up were about to be flushed down the drain as Jake and Edward chuckled from the side, all the while Ricky went over to pick it up.
Dear Ricky Luciano,
A banquet for all newcomers will persist Friday evening after school hours and you are cordially invited. It will be a masked ball and you will be required to wear a mask, a map will be provided on the bottom of the envelope. A mask and suit will be hanging on your locker with the pieces fitting to it.
7 p.m
Don't be late.
Handler 56495
"Slick, come on please, be my wingman and help me out, I'm begging you!" Rocco got on his knees while grabbing Ricky's pant legs.
"Golly, Rocco's desperate." Edward nudged Jake who rolled his eyes at this interaction.
"Rocco, where's your dignity?" Ricky joked though Rocco shook his head.
"I ain't got none after my recent dry streak, now please help me get some action." Rocco asked since Ricky was the perfect wingman as long as he lowered his standards a bit.
"If this weird meeting cut's out early then I'll catch up, deal?" Ricky laughed at his friend's behavior as he jumped to his feet before taking him into a hug.
"You're the bestest friend a guy could ask for."
A couple hours later,
"They really weren't kidding about the suit." Ricky returned to his locker, his surprise evident as he found a suit hanging inside.
At the top of the suit was a skull mask that covered the upper half of his face, and at the bottom, a polished pair of dress shoes sat neatly.
Ricky shook his head slightly, grabbed the suit, and removed it from the locker before entering the bathroom.
After a couple of minutes, he emerged from the bathroom, adjusting his skull cufflinks before pulling out a letter.
The sound of heels clacking echoed as Ricky walked down the empty hallway and entered the gymnasium.
Students, much like himself, were seated on the bleachers as Ricky raised an eyebrow and noticed that the men were wearing suits exactly similar to his, while the women wore pearly white necklaces with a black dress.
Glancing at his letter, he searched for an empty seat and found one in the middle row, making his way over to it.
As he sat down, he observed that everyone was silent, not even whispering. Ricky looked around, taking in the unusual silence.
"Do we just wait or-"
"SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Everyone hushed him the second he started whispering as he held up his hands in a surrender.
"Geez-"
"SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Ricky rolled his eyes, leaning back and making a zipping gesture across his mouth before throwing away the key.
Suddenly, lights illuminated the center of the gymnasium, revealing an elongated table with members seated behind it in lavish chairs.
Their gazes were fixed on the students gathered on the bleachers; this council of thirteen people, quietly exuding authority, were in fact the leaders of the Skull and Bones.
'This looks so stupid-'
"Greetings hopeful inductees and welcome to the 253rd recruitment of the Skull and Bones." The man at the center announced as the people in front of him started clapping before he raised a hand which made them all immediately cease into a dead silence.
"Each of you was chosen by a designated handler; however out of the fifty of you, only ten will join the club." The leader informed the fifty participants in attendance today as Ricky leaned back while scratching his chin.
"If you were smart then you would've held onto your letter as it will hold the key to finding your ticket into the club." The leader informed the participants, Ricky tilting his head while pulling out the letter before turning it back and forth though didn't find anything.
"A skull and bones member needs to be bold, elegant, calculative, and resourceful if they wish to join the ranks of the most elite club that has been around since the start of america." The leader announced though Ricky yawned which made the nearby people glare at him.
"Now, if you truly manage to follow the clues and directions then you will be able to find your ticket, which is this." The leader held up a metal skull while gently setting it in front of him to display to the hopeful participants.
"You have one hour to bring a skull to a member seated at the table with whatever methods possible." The leader looked around the participants before finding Ricky.
"Begin."
The participants immediately jumped to their feet while grabbing the letters from their pockets before trying to decipher any directions on them.
After a while, the participants started trickling out until the only one remaining in the entire gymnasium was Ricky who hadn't even left the bleacher.
"May I help you, participant?" The leader asked with a smile though Ricky looked around at all of these members.
"You look like a bunch of dorks, you know that right?" Ricky laughed at his own insult however the members simply stared at him with dead eyes.
"And obviously don't have a sense of humor either." Ricky yawned while stretching his arms.
"Participant, are you not afraid of falling behind the other forty nine?" The leader tilted his head but Ricky shrugged.
"All I have to do is find that metal skull, correct?"
"Correct."
"And it looks exactly like the one sitting in front of you?"
"Precisely."
The interaction was brief but it affirmed Ricky's beliefs as he nodded before standing up.
The members simply stared at him walking down the bleachers towards the leader, who patiently waited for him.
Ricky ascended the steps to where the members sat and eventually stood before the leader who he had a brief exchange with seconds ago.
Looking into the leader's blue eyes, Ricky reached out and grabbed the metal skull, examining it.
There was nothing particularly special about the skull except for its weight as he tossed it up and down.
"Here." Ricky stopped tossing it and held out the skull to the leader who stared at him for a long time before smiling widely.
The leader took the skull, and suddenly, applause resounded throughout the gymnasium as everyone stared at the member who had just passed whatever test or ritual had taken place.
"Congratulations participant, you have officially passed the first test." The leader announced to Ricky who raised an eyebrow.
"First?" Ricky asked, seeing the leader nod which made him slightly annoyed.
"Although you would be informed later once the other nine skulls have been found, there is a total of five more test since only five members can really join each year-"
"Yeah, I'm not waiting that long." Ricky interrupted while looking around before stepping down the steps.
The leader looked around at his fellow council who were equally confused since they immediately assumed the worst.
"Participant, do you wish to leave and be disqualified?" The leader curiously asked since although it was frowned upon it wasn't all that uncommon for participants dropping out.
"Huh? Oh no, I'm just going to speed up the process since I have plans later." Ricky looked at him weirdly before turning back to the entrances.
Ricky literally joined this snobby school to rub shoulders with the elite in hopes of forming connections and this club was literally meant for the elite of the elite to rub shoulders.
So why wouldn't he join?
However Ricky wasn't going to run around like some kind of dog since after some convincing on Rocco's part, he actually wanted to go to the movies to let loose a little.
"I would advise against that." The leader suddenly spoke only when Ricky was about to take off his mask causing him to turn back.
"Is it really that big of a deal-"
"Yes." The entire skull and bones club responded, making Ricky roll his eyes.
"Fine, I'll keep this stuffy mask on." Ricky sighed as a slight chuckle rescinded from a girl on the council who was staring daggers at him.
*BAM*
"I FOUND IT!" A man cheered and rushed over to the council, prompting Ricky to smile as he walked forward.
In the excitement, the teenager forgot that the council members were actually wearing white suits instead of black.
Nonetheless, he handed the skull to Ricky, thinking he had completed the first task at hand.
"Am I a part of the club now?!" The teenager asked with hopeful eyes as Ricky placed the skull in his pocket.
"Nope." Ricky then turned around as another member on the council started cackling at this before the leader shoved him.
"Oh come on, that's hilarious." One of the council members defended himself only for the leader to nudge him again.
"What do you mean I didn't pass, I GAVE YOU THE SKULL!" The teengaer's heart sank as gazed up at the leader who shook his head.
"He is a participant, not a member, so you have not passed the test yet." The leader annoyingly informed the teenager.
"BUT THAT ISN'T FAIR-"
"Fair?" One of the female council members finally spoke up, sneering at the participant.
"There is no such thing as 'Fair' there is only win or lose and you little bug, lost." The council member was ruthless, making the teenager shake his head while looking distraught at Ricky boredly pacing around the auditorium.
"GIVE IT BACK TO ME RIGHT NOW!" The teenager screeched outwards, but Ricky simply side-eyed him.
"If you really want to get hurt because of this skull, then go for it." Ricky offered as the teenager flinched before clenching his fist.
"Ahhhhhhhhh!" The teenager let out his battle cry as he charged at Ricky who calmly stood still.
*Bam*
*Thump*
Ricky quickly punched the teenager smack dab in the face as his eyes immediately rolled to the back of his skull while his body slumped to the ground.
Although older, this pampered kid had never been in a fight let alone thrown a punch which made the experienced Ricky, qualified from years of kicking ass and getting his ass kicked, easily subdue him.
"All in favor of disqualifying participant 26 for lack of elegance."
"I!" All the members loudly spoke as the leader pointed and amidst Ricky's eyes, the unconscious teenager was dragged out.
*PFFFFT*
"Am I not disqualified?" Ricky asked with an amused tone but the leader shrugged at this question.
"To you your actions weren't elegant, but in our eyes it was quick and precise." The leader spoke while nudging the man cackling to his side once more to cease his muffled laughing.
"Honestly I want to apologize, but I won't since all the planning and arranging you all made for sifting members out will go to waste cause I'm going to take all of these skulls." Ricky shrugged as the door opened again with a man running with two people chasing behind him.
"GET HIM!"
"DAMMIT YOU THIEF!"
The two men behind the running teenager screamed at him, but he didn't care. His focus was on the other members.
This teenager wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed, but he was sneaky and when he saw two guys were arguing over the ownership of a skull, he snatched it right before their eyes.
'I DID IT! I DID IT-"
*COUGH*
Suddenly, the teenager let out a dry heave as a sudden fist lodged into his stomach, causing him to tumble backwards to the ground.
The two chasing him immediately stopped, their eyes widening as they watched Ricky swiftly go through the pockets of the fallen kid before taking out his skull.
"Good effort but poor execution." The leader commented, and the other members nodded in agreement, acknowledging the teenager's actions.
However, one member frowned, his gaze fixed on the teenager rolling around on the ground, perhaps disapproving of his behavior.
"Dammit Josh."
"Uh, can he do that?" One masked teenager asked the leader, who sighed, while placing his hand on his head.
"Technically yes." The leader informed the two as they looked at each other then at Ricky.
"I dare you." Ricky squinted, a slight smile playing on his lips, as the two individuals bit their lips nervously before looking back at each other and nodding.
However, instead of charging at him as Ricky assumed they might, they bolted out of the auditorium, leaving the teenager Ricky had punched scrambling to his feet.
"G-Give it back." The teengear hissed in anger while clutching his stomach.
"Nope." Ricky smirked, pocketing the second skull, while the latter gritted his teeth.
Before he could say anything, he made eye contact with a council member who clicked his tongue in disapproval.
Ricky wasn't naive at this slight occurrence; turning around and seeing the angry expression on a council member and immediately judging them to be family.
The injured teenager limped toward the bleachers as Ricky raised an eyebrow before completely turning around to face the council member with whom he had made eye contact before.
"That's your brother right?" Ricky walked back to the table as the council remained steadfast but the look in his eyes said it all.
Clear annoyance and hatred mixed like a melting pot in his hazel eyes which reflected that smug smile playing on Ricky's face.
"Are you mad that I treated your brother like a ragdoll?" Ricky leaned over and gazed at the member, deciding to pass time by picking a fight with this council member.
"Participant, although I wished that failure didn't occur for him, he couldn't even complete the task at hand so there is no point in getting riled up over it." The council members' eyes were furious however even in this chaotic moment, the aura was masked in a calm collected manner.
'Rich people are so weird.' Ricky tilted his head with a smile as he couldn't help but become more interested in this world in which the 1% lived in.
'Well, I guess I'll wait and see what this grandiose gathering of pubescent hormones morphs into.'
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