Page 153 of Serenity Falls

‘I don’t care.’

‘You say that, but—’

‘Milo, you are my best friend. Nothing will change that. Not this. Not what happened that night at—’

He frowned. ‘I don’t remember that night.’

It was like a gut punch. ‘None of it?’

A small shrug. ‘I remember we had this crazy plan to find Harold’s cabin, and I vaguely remember stealing the boat, but after that … it’s a blank. The next thing I remember is being in the water.’

‘Nothing in between?’

He shook his head again. ‘Doctors say it might be a brain injury, or maybe the trauma.’

‘Okay,’ I said. ‘Well, I guess there’s some stuff I need to fill you in on—’

‘No!’ He held up a hand. ‘I don’t want to know.’

I just stared at him. ‘What? Why don’t you want to know?’

A sigh. ‘I think maybe I’m not supposed to know.’

‘I don’t understand.’

‘It’s like God is giving me a clean slate – a fresh start.’

I rolled my eyes. ‘You don’t believe that crap.’

‘It’s not crap.’

His chin was set in that stubborn way I recognized, when he had an idea so firmly cemented in his mind nothing would shake it.

‘You’re not serious?’

He leaned forward again. ‘When I was in the water, I died, Serena. That’s what the doctors told me. I died, and I remember that it was dark, and so cold. I didn’t feel peace or calm. Just terror. And then I saw them.’

‘Who?’

‘The lost souls.’

‘The what?’

‘Lost souls, trapped down there in hell. And they were hideous – devils with protruding eyeballs, flesh hanging off them. And their hands were all reaching up, trying to grab me and drag me down. But then there was a light—’

‘Yes,’ I interrupted, patience fraying. ‘That was the sheriff’s searchlight, dumbo. He rescued you.’

‘I know what I saw. I saw where I was going if I didn’t change my ways. God gave me a second chance. I’ve had time in here to reflect.’ He reached to his side and pulled out the book he was reading. The Bible. ‘Father Purefoy brought this.’

‘Milo,’ I pleaded. ‘God didn’t save you. Sheriff Hatchett did. My mom realized I hadn’t come home and alerted the sheriff. Then the hotel found out a boat was missing. They were looking for us and saw the kayak. Sheriff Hatchett shot the gator.’

‘And all of that was God’s will. Don’t you see?’

I searched his face, for a trace of the Milo I knew. But I couldn’t find it. His eyes had an odd, flat light in them. A vacancy. Like he was stoned or drugged up. Maybe that was it. Maybe the hospital had him on some really strong drugs.

I tried to smile. ‘I’m just glad you’re alive.’

‘And I’m glad you’re here.’ He smiled back, at least. ‘There’s something else I wanted to tell you.’