"You have goose bumps," he laughed delightedly. "You're a good storyteller," I complimented him, still staring into the waves. "Pretty crazy stuff, though, isn't it? No wonder my dad doesn't want us to talk about it to anyone." I couldn't control my expression enough to look at him yet. "Don't worry, I won't give you away." "I guess I just violated the treaty," he laughed. "I'll take it to the grave," I promised, and then I shivered. "Seriously, though, don't say anything to Charlie. He was pretty mad at my dad when he heard that some of us weren't going to the hospital since Dr. Cullen started working there." "I won't, of course not." "So do you think we're a bunch of superstitious natives or what?" he asked in a playful tone, but with a hint of worry. I still hadn't looked away from the ocean. I turned and smiled at him as normally as I could. "No. I think you're very good at telling scary stories, though
He stood calmly and hit the call button. "Five o'clock, Eva." I stared at the lighted button. "I'm busy." "Tomorrow, then." "I'm busy all weekend." Stepping in front of me, he asked tightly, "With whom?" "That's none of your-" His hand covered my mouth. "Don't. Tell me when, then. And before you say never, take a good look at me and tell me if you see a man who's easily deterred." His face was hard, his gaze narrowed and determined. I shivered. I wasn't sure I'd win a battle of wills with Gideon Cross. Swallowing, I waited until he lowered his hand and said, "I think we both need to cool off. Take a couple days to think." He persisted. "Monday after work." The elevator arrived and I stepped into it. Facing him, I countered, "Monday lunch." We'd have only an hour, a guaranteed escape. Just before the doors closed, he said, "We're going to happen, Eva."
him to hold his hands over his head and keep them there while they gathered around to slam fists into his stomach and back simultaneously and repeatedly. • Exposure to cold. On a winter night, Frederick Bronner, a California junior col- lege student, was taken 3,000 feet up and 10 miles into the hills of a national forest by his prospective fraternity brothers. Left to find his way home wearing only a thin sweat shirt and slacks, Fat Freddy, as he was called, shivered in a frigid wind until he tumbled down a steep ravine, fracturing bones and hurt- ing his head. Prevented by his injuries from going on, he huddled there against the cold until he died of exposure. • Thirst. Two Ohio State University freshmen found themselves in the "dun- geon" of their prospective fraternity house after breaking the rule requiring all pledges to crawl into the dining area prior to Hell Week meals. Once locked in
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