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“You don’t need to be such a snarky little shit. I’m just trying to help. Got any better ideas?”

He releases me and towers over me.

I hate that he’s right most of the time… okay, maybe all the time, but I would never admit that out loud, whether to myself or someone else, and definitely not to him. I sway back and forth as I contemplate whether I want to do that. There’s a fine line between how helpful and how hurtful this could be, and I’m terrified of crossing in the wrong direction.

Attie looks at me questioningly, and when I still don’t answer, he quietly walks away and begins crossing the street. What the fuck? I chase after him, my feet pounding on the concrete. I’m not a runner. I always tell people that if they ever see me running, it’s because I’m running from something and they should probably get a move on it.

I catch up to Attie and tug on his sleeve.

“Where do you think you’re going?” I huff out.

“I told you to let me know if you had a better idea. You don’t. So, I’m heading to your parents’ house.”

“You don’t even know where they live, Attie. Stop it.” I stomp my foot. I’m sick and tired of things not going my way, and I don’t know why he’s so adamant about this. What if he’s wrong? What if we open up a whole other can of worms we aren’t prepared for?

“I don’t need to know,” he says cockily.

He’s got me seriously anxious now.

“Why not?” I tilt my head.

Before I have time to register what’s happening, the tip of his pocketknife presses against my throat. I gasp at the sharp sting. Feeling betrayed, I swallow hard, causing the blade to nick my skin.

“Because. You’re gonna take me there whether you want to or not.”

CHAPTER 34

ATTICUS

Lyr grips my hand as I hold the knife and sneer, “What are you gonna do? Kill me again?” She bursts into mocking laughter.

I’m glad she thinks this is so funny. I’m not amused. I remove her hand, drop it to her side, and slide the knife back into my pocket. Lyr stops laughing and regains her composure.

“I’m sorry,” she says.

“I shouldn’t have laughed, but honestly, you’re gonna have to do better than that, Attie.”

She’s not wrong. I don’t know what I was thinking. I’m desperate to help her, and forcing her to do things seems to be the only choice I have left. I massage my temples as I think about my next move.

“Listen, I need you to lead the way. I’m trying to help you, princess, and I can’t do that if you’re gonna keep hindering me like this. I understand you have conflicting feelings about everything that’s going on, but we need to deal with that later. Now is not the time to be second-guessing our choices. We either do what we think is right in order to get you out of here, or we stop now and you stay stuck in the In-Between. Those are your options. Choose wisely.”

Lyr fidgets in place before stomping her foot and gesturing wildly with her hands.

“I’m scared. You don’t understand. I don’t know if I can be that close to them. Being near Cash for those few minutes in the motel was almost unbearable and now you wanna take me to the house I grew up in, surrounded by people who are happy I’m gone—people who have been trying to get rid of me my whole life? Is that even safe?”

I understand her concerns. They’re completely valid, but I think we should try it anyway. We can work on keeping her emotions in check. Killing Jake didn’t work; going back to Cruella didn’t either, and I think this might be our last shot.

I keep saying that, and if I say it out loud too many times, she’s eventually going to think that I’m the boy who cried wolf. I don’t know how else to get her unstuck. If I did, I’d be gone already.

“They can’t hurt you, Lyr,” I say soothingly.

“Plus, what other options do we have?”

“Okay,” she says, defeat coating her tongue. “I’ll lead you to my mother and Cash, but you need to tell me exactly what the plan is on the way there.” A frown appears across her face, and she shivers. I nod and extend my arm, gesturing for her to lead the way.

This place is an absolute dump. We enter a trailer park through broken gates. The houses here, if you want to call them that, look like they’re hanging on for dear life. Cracked, crumbling siding marks most homes. Some even lean, their roofs sunken in, while deflated basketballs, broken toys, and cigarette butts litter barren yards. Dirt and gravel cover nearly every inch of the ground, and the grass is so dry it’ll make you scratch yourself raw. I knew this side of town was rough, but I wasn’t aware of how bad it was until now.

Lyr and I creep forward as if someone might see us. She moves through here as if she has lead on her feet. I can tell she really doesn’t want to be here, and I can’t blame her.