Page 108 of Black Hollow: Awakening

Liam chuckled.

“Come on,” he said, starting forward but not letting go of Will.

“You can’t hug me,” Will protested, wriggling out of his grasp.

“Why not?”

“Because I haven’t discussed with Oscar whether strange guys are allowed to hug me.”

“I’m not a strange guy, I’m your friend.”

Will looked at him, astonished.

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s awesome.” Will grinned happily. “But it doesn’t change the situation, because I haven’t discussed with him whether my friends are allowed to hug me either.”

Liam couldn’t hold it in and burst out laughing.

“You’re great, you know that?” he asked when he finally composed himself a bit.

“Thanks. Walk me home, okay? I don’t want to get eaten by a demon.”

They walked on, laughing and joking, until suddenly Liam stopped short and fell silent.

“What’s up?” Will asked, surprised.

Liam didn’t answer, staring at something. Will tried to see what he was looking at but didn’t notice anything suspicious.

“What is it, Liam? What do you see? Is it the demon?”

“No,” Liam said slowly, frowning. “It’s nothing.”

“So, are we going?” Will instinctively started forward, but Liam remained rooted to the spot. “Liam…”

Only then did Liam snap out of it and fall into step beside him, but stopped again a moment later.

“Wait,” he requested, grabbing Will’s arm. “Your Surfer… I think I saw him go into that club,” he said, nodding his head toward the building next to them.

“Oscar?” Will snorted. “That’s impossible. He’s at home with his brother.”

“And I don’t think he was alone.”

“What are you talking about?”

He assumed Liam was joking, because although it would be in exceptionally poor taste, it was the best explanation for the situation. But Liam looked dead serious, which was not his natural state. Will felt a flicker of unease.

“Okay. Let’s check it out.”

They both went into the club. Will was a little nervous, but he quickly concluded that Liam must have just been mistaken. The city streets were lit by streetlights, but it was still night. Maybe he’d seen someone who just looked similar?

They’d only walked a few steps when Liam suddenly grabbed his shoulders, spinning him around abruptly.

“What is it?” Will asked, astonished.

He instinctively tried to turn his head, but Liam cupped his face in his hands, holding it in place.