Roy and Ashley's tag-team antics left Jennifer completely overwhelmed.
At that moment, Niddy, who'd been hesitating, saw the chaos and couldn't resist jumping in.
As Jennifer's bestie, she didn't need Roy's guidance to zero in on Jennifer's weak spots with pinpoint accuracy.
"No way! Niddy, not you too—mmph!"
Jennifer was about to call out her best friend's betrayal when Niddy silenced her.
Poor Jennifer, the untouchable queen, was now at the mercy of Roy, Niddy, and Ashley.
After a whirlwind of chaos, Jennifer was left with a completely wrecked expression.
Of course, Roy wasn't too happy about Ashley and Niddy's betrayal either. Once Jennifer passed out, he took it upon himself to "teach" the two a lesson.
In the end, Ashley and Niddy ended up with the same dazed look as Jennifer.
Roy thought to himself, I'm just too fair!
Looking at the three unconscious beauties, Roy flashed a proud grin.
[Ding! You've earned Ashley Parker's Conquest Chest! Open it now?]
By Friday that week, Roy and Shawty finally submitted their applications to the Ouroboros Society. Unsurprisingly, they were accepted.
Harry and Brandy were there to greet them.
"Roy, Shawty, you still need to pass an initiation test to officially join the Ouroboros Society," Harry explained.
"An initiation test?"
Roy and Shawty exchanged a glance.
"Yup, it's a fraternity tradition—just a formality. Usually super simple. The president and officers will decide the details soon, so it won't take long!"
Harry clearly wanted Roy in the society ASAP, but some steps couldn't be skipped.
"Alright, let me know," Roy said.
Neither Roy nor Shawty expected Harry to message them the very next day, saying the test was set and to meet at the club that afternoon.
It was Saturday, no classes, so the club was buzzing. It was the annual recruitment period, and nearly every active fraternity member showed up to check out the newbies.
Roy, Shawty, and eleven other freshmen stood together, feeling like zoo animals on display.
Except for Roy, who was used to being the center of attention, the others—including Shawty—were visibly nervous, though there was a spark of excitement in their eyes.
Joining a top-tier university fraternity was a big deal for these freshmen.
Fraternities built loyalty this way, creating tight-knit groups that stuck together.
A mature-looking young man stepped forward, signaling for quiet. He was likely the current president of UCLA's Ouroboros Brotherhood.
"Everyone, it's that time of year again—new member recruitment! Today, thirteen freshmen will take part in the first round of tests. Let's give a warm welcome to these brave newbies!"
The full-fledged members erupted into a chaotic mix of cheers and howls, making Shawty feel a bit uneasy. He leaned over to Roy and whispered, "Roy, something feels off. Didn't they say it was just a simple test?"
Roy shot him a look. This guy believes everything he's told.
"Quiet! People are watching. Harry's just a low-level manager—don't take his word as gospel."
Shawty pouted, visibly more nervous now, and the other freshmen were starting to look jittery too.
It wasn't hard to figure out. If you went through a tough initiation to join a fraternity, would you, now in charge, make it easy for the new guys?
Most people, having been through the wringer, would want to make the next batch sweat too.
Even if Roy and Shawty got some special treatment, it'd still be within the rules.
The president, smiling, paced in front of the thirteen freshmen.
"This test is all about courage. Your task? Spend a night in an abandoned mental hospital in South LA."
As he spoke, he gestured for a few members to hand something to Roy and the others.
"This is a digital camcorder. You'll use it to explore the hospital. The person who explores the most rooms not only gets into Ouroboros but also keeps the camcorder!"
A few freshmen's eyes lit up.
In 2000, digital camcorders weren't cheap—$500 to $600 at least, with high-end ones going for over a grand.
UCLA was a public school, and most students relied on loans to cover tuition. For them, $500-$600 was months' worth of living expenses.
The camcorders Ouroboros provided were clearly top-tier and brand-new, making them especially tempting for the less well-off freshmen.
Even Shawty couldn't resist fiddling with his, clearly tempted.
Shawty's family wasn't exactly rich, but his two older brothers, both pro athletes, had improved their situation a lot. They were even covering his tuition, which put him in a better spot than most UCLA students.
After all, student loan interest rates in America were so brutal—over 9% annually—that even presidents complained about them. Many grads were stuck paying off loans for decades.
Roy had a pretty good idea of what Ouroboros was up to: probably a prank involving fake ghosts to scare the freshmen and catch their reactions on camera.
But Roy wasn't fazed. He'd faced real ghosts before—what was there to fear?
If anything, he might turn the tables and scare the Ouroboros folks with something real.
"Any questions?" the president asked.
One freshman raised his hand.
"No questions! We just want to get started!"
"Ha! I get your enthusiasm, but the test starts at dusk. For now, let's enjoy the afternoon party!"
The president clapped, and dozens of bikini-clad women strutted in.
There were women of every shade—white, Black, Asian, Latina—catering to every freshman's taste.
Most of the freshmen's eyes went wide as they were pulled to the couches and handed drinks.
Roy sensed something was up. They weren't even official members yet, and they were getting this kind of treatment?
Observing closely, he noticed the women were focused on serving the freshmen, constantly pouring drinks, clearly trying to get them drunk.
Ouroboros was definitely planning something.
Roy smirked, catching on.
He considered warning Shawty, but seeing him happily sandwiched between a Black and a Latina beauty, he decided to let him enjoy the moment.
Hopefully, Shawty would still be smiling by tonight.
Two white women cozying up to Roy started feeding him drinks.
"Mr. Black, why do you look so familiar?" one asked.
"Because I'm the heavyweight boxing champion from this year's Sydney Olympics."
Their eyes sparkled, and even the other women nearby turned to look at Roy.
"Oh my God! An Olympic champion? We gotta drink to that!"
The two women gazed at him like they were ready to devour him. If there weren't so many people around, they might've tried to "spar" with him right there.
Not that they'd mind an audience—sleeping with an Olympic champion was serious bragging rights.
"Yup! Never thought we'd meet an Olympic champ. Here, have another!"
Roy didn't hold back. With his current physique, he could probably drink all of LA's liquor and still be fine.
While sipping, he also gave the two women some "massages" to help them relax.
Roy was just that kind of guy—couldn't stand seeing women stressed.
The women giggled endlessly.
By 3 p.m., the thirteen freshmen were sprawled across the couches, wasted.
"President, they're all drunk!" Harry said, kicking one of the freshmen, who was snoring like a dead pig.
"Perfect. Strip them and get them in the van. Are the cameras at the mental hospital set up?"
"All ready! Tonight, we'll get a 360-degree, no-dead-angle naked dude flick!"
Latest chapter released first at [website]!
Harry grinned wickedly but then hesitated.
"President, are we doing this to Roy Black too? He's got a temper. I'm worried…"
The president brushed it off.
"It's tradition. We can't make an exception just because he's an Olympic champ. Hurry up before they sober up!"
Harry wanted to argue that Roy wasn't just any Olympic champ—he was a boxing champ. If Roy got mad and started swinging, who in Ouroboros could stop him?
But Harry held his tongue. He was just following orders. If anyone was getting punched, it'd be the president.
Some of the burlier Ouroboros members started stripping the freshmen, wrapping them in blankets and leaving them with just their camcorders.
But when they got to Roy, he suddenly opened his eyes, his fierce glare startling the student closest to him.
"P-President, this guy's awake!"
The president looked at Roy, his expression turning awkward.
"Roy Black, you're not drunk?"
"My tolerance is pretty good. This much booze won't do me in."
Roy stared the president down, having overheard everything. This guy was sneakier than he'd thought.
"Uh, it's just an Ouroboros tradition—no harm meant!" the president stammered.
He could explain all he wanted, but whether Roy bought it was another story.
"I get it. I respect Ouroboros traditions. But since I'm not drunk, I don't need to be stripped, right?"
The president let out a relieved breath. Roy's vibe earlier had him thinking he was about to get decked.
Good thing Roy didn't swing, or the president might've ended up in the hospital for a few days.
Even if Roy did throw a punch, the president's status as fraternity leader wouldn't mean much. He just controlled the budget and organized events—not exactly royalty.
Fraternities had a rule: internal issues stayed internal, whether it was conflicts or bullying. That's why so many hazing incidents only came to light after someone got hurt—or worse.
"Of course! You can keep your friend's clothes on too!"
The president quickly agreed.
Splash!
Shawty woke up drenched, still so drunk he couldn't process what was happening.
"Hey! Who's splashing me?!"
"It's me. Wake up!"
Shawty finally focused on Roy, still a bit woozy.
"Roy? Where are those two hotties?"
Roy rolled his eyes. Still dreaming about those girls?
"Snap out of it. The initiation test is about to start. Sleep through it, and you're done."
That sobered Shawty up fast. After getting a taste of the perks that afternoon, he was desperate to join Ouroboros and wasn't about to fail.
Only then did he realize he was in a van with several other freshmen wrapped in towels, looking like they'd been kidnapped.
"Roy, were we kidnapped?"
"Are you still drunk? Need more water?"
Roy shook the half-empty water bottle in his hand.
"No, no! Roy, what's going on?"
Roy explained the president's plan, and Shawty was instantly furious.
"That jerk! The president's shady as hell! Good thing you're here, Roy, or my virtue would've been in danger!"
Roy gave him a deadpan look. This guy's got some nerve talking about virtue.
If anyone's virtue was at risk, it was Roy's. While pretending to be drunk, he'd felt more than one hand groping his chest and other sensitive spots—definitely those bikini girls.
They'd looked at him like they wanted to eat him alive.
Guys needed to protect themselves too.
"Don't worry. They're just paid to serve drinks, not to mess with you."
"Not so sure about that! People say I look like Will Smith. What if I'm his secret kid?"
Roy gave him a blank stare. He couldn't see any resemblance to Will Smith.
Harry, who was driving, spoke up.
"We're here."
Roy looked out the window and saw a massive, old white hospital-style building, clearly abandoned.
It was surrounded by a wire fence, likely to keep people out.
But that fence was no match for a bunch of energetic college kids. A section had already been cut open.
"Harry, why's this mental hospital abandoned?"
(This section is adapted from the Canadian mockumentary horror film Grave Encounters.)
(End of Chapter)