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“Tellme, orI’mtaking us to the bridge and calling the devil out to see what the fuck is going on.”
Myresolve instantly shatters—Ican’t go back there. “Iswear toGod—”
Tystarts the engine and peels out in a swervingU-turn, speeding back the way we came.
“Stop,stop!”Iscream, slapping the dash. “Imade a deal for my life, okay?Iwas dying.Ifucking died, and the only thing that saved me was making a deal soIcould live.”
Heslams on the brakes hard.Tiressqueal loudly over dry asphalt until theJeepcomes to a sudden halt. “Howthe fuck did youdie?”
Moretears fall onto my face.Myhead shakes asIhug myself—I’mnot letting him get anything else out of me.
“Ican’t help you if you don’t talk to me,” he murmurs.
“Idon’t want your fucking help!”Isnap. “Takeme home.I’mfucking done with this.”
Hestares at me for a long moment before starting the engine and taking us the rest of the way home.Hereaches for me asIpush the door open when he parks, butIquickly scramble out and run for the front door.
Itriple check thatIlocked the bathroom door behind me before stepping into the shower.
WhenIlie on my bed to cool off under a spinning fan, the ringing in my ears reminds me thatIplayed a festival a few hours ago.
HearingZaksinging echoes in my thoughts and tempts tears to fall.
Beforethey do, my phone buzzes on the nightstand.ShannonandAndrea’sfaces light up the screen with a message that makes my heart stutter.
911
Ibolt out of bed, slipping on shorts and a rattyPanterahoodie and rushing out of my room.
“Hey, what’re you doin’?”
Tyfollows me down the hall asItext back thatI’mon my way. “Shannonneeds me.Stayhere.”
“What’swrong?”
“Idon’t know.”Islip on chanclas at the door and grab my keys and purse. “I’msorry.Ihave to go.”
Igo to close the door behind me, but something stops it.
Tyslips on hisVans. “I’mcoming with you.”
Myhead shakes insistently, but he pushes me out and closes the door behind him. “Ifyou’re not safe, thenI’mnot letting you go out alone, okay?”
There’sno time to argue.Ilet him follow me to my car, climb in, and we peel off.
Panickedtears cloud my eyes.Thoughtsslam into overdrive, immediately reaching for the worst—Shannonhasn’t used his nine-one-one message since… since…
Ipay no heed to the shadows lurking outside the car windows, street lights flashing past in a blur.
Theporch light is on at theDempster-Ramoshouse, but the lights inside are off except for nightlights inDrea’sroom.OnlyShannon’sFordis parked in the driveway.
Runningto the door,Itwist the knob and find it open. “Shannon?”Icall out asIsearch the dark house.Tyfollows me inside.
Dimlight shines from their bedroom.
Apprehensively,Imove quietly through the hallway, terrified of whatI’llfind whenIturn the corner.
Iclose my eyes, take a deep breath, and utter the quickestHailMaryof my life.
