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The asylum-white walls fell away, replaced by a wire window and glaring fluorescent lights.
“Take your time, Miss Sinclair.” He squeezed my shoulder. “Whenever you’re ready.”
“Ok-kay,” I wavered. “I’m ready.”
He nodded to his assistant on the other side of the glass, standing beside the metal table bearing a still form beneath the white blanket. He pulled back the sheet.
It was Winter’s favorite blue dress and yellow cardigan that I noticed first.
“No!” I screamed, shooting back and hitting a soft wall of flesh.
Spinning around, her wet, blue-tinged swollen face filled mine. Dressed in a blue dress and yellow cardigan, dripping apparitions appeared from the seats, behind the desk, and down the steps.
“No,” I gasped, air punched out of me. “Stop!”
My nails cut my scalp, digging in under my crushing—forcefully holding my nightmares, my memories, the worst day of my life—in.
I pitched to my knees, legs giving out, and they surrounded me. I fell over sobbing, Winter’s death ripping me apart again, and again, until there was nothing left.
The apparition kneeled over me, her hair sprinkling droplets like tears on my cheeks. Through the horrible bloated makeup, she was unmistakable: Saylor.
“Nooooo!” I screamed endlessly, long after my voice gave out.
Chapter Fourteen
The door banged into the wall, denting the plaster. I saw them on a tour of the house, tucked away on every floor in case Levi Thompkins and his friends ever came back. Throwing open the hall closet, I seized the fire extinguisher and ran upstairs.
Locks, padlocks, and a keypad barred my entrance into Wilder’s armory. Shrieking, I smashed the fire extinguisher on it all, littering the hardwood in metal bits.
Saylor, my mind screamed. Saylor Burkhardt! I redoubled my strength, denting my weapon on the final padlock.
“Hey? Hey! What the fuck is going on?” Rafael raced down the hall, grabbing my wrists as I reared for another strike. “Luna, what are you doing?”
“I have to get in! It’s not enough. Stupid fucking zap phones and key chains aren’t enough!” I ripped free and smashed the keypad. “Open the door!”
“Luna!” Spinning me around, Rafael wrestled the extinguisher from me. It clanged between us as we struggled. “You’re not getting in that room until you tell me what’s going on.”
Dripping hair. Blue sundresses. Blank eyes.
“Get off me,” I screamed, shoving him. “Stay out of my way!”
I ran at the metal, bashing my shoulder on the door again and again. I was numb to the pain.
He held my waist, dragging me back. “Luna, stop. Talk to me. Talk—!”
I jammed the heel of my palm against his jaw, wrenching his head up. Bellowing, Rafael released me and I made a run for it. I knew what would open the door, and it was right downstairs.
Bursting into Rafael’s room, I stumbled over what I interrupted. His headphones lay on the carpet, belting out a tune, and his overturned toolbox littered equipment beside it. I reached for the bomb.
A hard force struck me off my feet. Together we crumpled on his bed, tangling in a mess of flailing limbs.
“Luna!” Rafael straddled me, pinning my arms above my head. “It’s me. You’re safe now.”
The words pierced my heart.
“You’re safe,” he whispered. “No one is going to hurt you. I’m here.” Rafael repeated it as my thrashing slowed—heart pounding in my ears. I stopped fighting, and the tears came. Loud, wrenching sobs that contracted my chest too tight to breathe.
I gasped into his shoulder, my strangle grip making him grunt and still he held me just as tightly.
“It’s okay.” Rafael kissed my cheek. “We can talk or not. Whatever you want, Luna. Just breathe. I’ve got you.”
He made to kiss me again and I turned, catching his lips on mine. “Make me forget, Rafael.” I kissed him harder—lips, cheeks, nose, forehead—everywhere. “That’s what I want.”
The sheet drew back. The white daisies on her dress tinged green from pond scum.
“Make me forget.” I scrambled at his belt.
“Whoa, whoa,” he rasped. “Wait.” Rafael curled around my hands. “Luna, not like this. You’re upset. You don’t want—”
“This is what I want!” Tearing free, I tossed my shirt over his shoulder. The rest of my clothes went with it. “Come on.” I rested on my elbows, my naked body his to feast. “Take off your clothes.”
“No. You don’t know what you’re doing.”
“I’m not some innocent little girl,” I gritted. “Lucien took care of that yesterday.”
He reeled back, emotion flashing in his eyes.
I don’t know if I said that to hurt or persuade him. Maybe both.
“I know you want to.” I grabbed his belt again as raging waters dragged me under, tossing me to the depths where my nightmares awaited. “What’s the big deal?”
“You!” His roar blew me back. “You’re the big deal, Luna. I’ve wanted this for so long. Ever since you walked into that den of snakes, fearless and proud—my Cloud Girl. I held back while you were engaged to that brainless sack of shit, then I waited because you weren’t ready.
