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I lifted his shirt up and scanned his back. “It’s a bit red, but there’s no blood, and it doesn’t look like there’ll be any badbruising.”
“Oh.Good.”
“The worst thing is probably your arm,” I said, pointing to the large scratch. “But I think I should take you to the school nurse anyway, just incase.”
He shook his head. “I think I’ll be okay,” he said. “I just want to sit for a while, if that’s all right with you. My legs feel weak asfuck.”
“It’s from the shock,” I replied. “Are you sure you don’t feelsick?”
“Yeah. Don’t worry, I’m pretty sure I’m not concussed. It just aches a lot,” he said, wincing again as he shifted slightly. “I can’t believe someone just fucking attacked me likethat.”
I swallowed hard. “Me neither. I’m so sorry I didn’t get heresooner.”
He patted my hand. “No, I’m glad you weren’t here. They might’ve gone for youinstead.”
“I know, but two against one would’ve been a lot less scary,” I said, guilt pricking at my guts. “Or three against one, if Trina showedup.”
“Where the hell is she, anyway?” Adam asked, brows dipping in afrown.
“Noidea.”
Right on cue, my phone buzzed in my pocket. It was Trina in the groupchat.
So sorry, I only just saw these messages! I can’t make it to our thing today. I had to go home halfway during last period because I felt sick as fuck. Super tired for some reason, and I can’t stop throwing up. Anyway, can we reschedule, or are you guys alreadythere?
“Well, that explains that,” I murmured, slipping my phone back in my pocket after sending Trina a brief ‘sorry you’re sick’text.
“Yeah.” Adam sighed and looked down at the envelope his attacker had left on the ground. “What does that thing say,anyway?”
I grabbed it and tore it open. A small note printed on white paper was tucked inside. When I read it, the hairs on the nape of my neck stood up, and my skin felt like a thousand insects were crawling beneathit.
Tell Laney to drop the investigation orelse.
“What the fuck?” Adam said, brows shooting up. He was reading the note over my shoulder. “What does that mean? Is it aboutLindsay?”
I shook my head, heart pounding. “I don’t think so,” I said in a hollowvoice.
“What do you think it means, then?” he asked. Before I could reply, he raised his chin, eyes scrunching up again. “Wait, what’sthat?”
I followed his gaze to see another envelope lying near the opposite wall. This one wasn’t dark red. It wasblack.
He started to get up, but I gently pushed him back down. “I’ll get it,” I said. “You need torest.”
I started walking over to the other side of the dim room. When I was halfway across, a loud splintering sound cut through the air, and before I could react, the floorboards gave way beneath myfeet.
A piercing scream rose in my throat as I plummeted downward, mixing with Adam’s frenzied shouts. “Laney! What thefuck?”
My arms shot up reflexively, and I managed to grab one of the floorboards on the edge of the hole with one hand. It took all the strength I had in my upper body to keep holding on. “Adam!” I shrieked as pain shot through my hand from all of the splinters digging into my skin. “Help!”
“I’mcoming!”
I didn’t dare to look down as my legs flailed in the darkness beneath me. I had no idea how deep this hole was, and I didn’t want to findout.
“I’ve got you.” Another familiar voice called to me, and a pair of strong hands reached for my arm and pulled meupward.
My legs felt like jelly as I stood by the edge of the hole a moment later, safely tucked in Hunter’s powerful arms. “What are you doing here?” I managed to chokeout.
“You didn’t text me to say you got here safely, and I was already worried anyway, so I decided to come down here,” he said, stroking my hair. “Lucky I did, right? Ran in and grabbed you just intime.”
