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“And what’s that?”
I held my palm open. “Collin has an identical mark on his hand.”
“So what?” David scoffed, showing his first sign of cynicism. “He could have had it tattooed.”
“This isn’t a tattoo, David.”
“Then what is it?”
“When I met Collin at the New Moon, he didn’t have this mark on his palm. But when he left a few minutes later, we both had one.”
“Do you realize what you’re saying?” he asked.
I stepped inside my apartment and turned to face him. He was one step away from entering my world. “David, this is your chance to get the hell away from all of this. You suggested that the appearance of the colony was a supernatural occurrence, and I’m here to tell you that you’re right. The mark on my palm is too. It just showed up on my hand the day before the colony appeared.”
He remained expressionless.
“If you walk through this door, I will tell you everything.” I wasn’t sure when I’d decided that, but he needed to make an informed decision about whether to plunge into this madness or turn back. And if he decided to be a participant, the only way he could help me was if he knew everything.
He looked at the door, then back at me.
“I know it sounds crazy. I didn’t believe it either, and I wasted a full day pretending it wasn’t real. But the god’s honest truth is that I really need the information you have. I didn’t intend to tell you what was really happening, I only wanted to find out what you knew. But tonight I realized you’re too curious to let it go at that.”
He took a step forward, but I blocked his path.
“You asked about how I was connected to the deaths, and I told you that they were a punishment. I had to make a choice and each day I didn’t choose; someone I knew was killed. Right now, they’re leaving the people I care about alone, but I can’t be sure that will last. At some point, the people who are close to me may be in danger again, and if you become part of this, I suspect you will be included in that.Especiallyyou. You have information that can help me understand them, and that might make them feel threatened.”
“I’m afraid to ask who is doing the threatening,” he finally said.
“Good.” I moved closer to him. “Youshouldbe afraid. If you do this, you might be afraid every day for the rest of your life. Because I’m fairly certain that once you become involved, you’re in it until the end, whatever that might be.”
He looked shell-shocked.
“Turn around while you can, David. Just answer my questions, study Manteo’s hut, and go back to Chapel Hill. Keep yourself safe.”
He took a step backward. Disappointment threatened to suffocate me, but I told myself it was for the best. I was asking him to commit to something serious without knowing all the facts. Any sane person would walk away after what I’d said.
I turned around and headed for the kitchen, in desperate need of a glass of wine. Opening the refrigerator, I pulled out my last bottle and closed the door. When I did, David was standing on the other side, a determined look on his face. “I told you I don’t back down from a challenge.”
And just like that, I was no longer alone.
Chapter12
Iput the wine bottle on the counter and reached for a couple of wine glasses. “Would you like some? It’s a fine vintage stock. I’m pretty sure it was on the shelf of the Piggly Wiggly for at least two weeks.”
The corners of his mouth lifted, and he chuckled. “Yeah. I think I might need it.”
Smart man.
He set the bag of food on my counter and sat on one of the bar stools. Collin had been sitting in that exact chair when I told him that I’d pawned my relic, a pewter cup. He’d stormed out, which was understandable. If our roles had been reversed, I probably would have stormed out too. Would David leave after I told him my story?
I uncorked the bottle, poured two glasses of white wine, and sat next to him. “I’m not sure where to start. How much can you handle? Should I tell you everything at once or ease you into it?”
He pulled our food out of the take-out bag and placed my sandwich in front of me. “You said you were running out of time. Tell me all of it at once.”
“Do you mind if I eat first? Once I get into this conversation, I’m liable to lose my appetite, and I haven’t eaten since this morning.”
“Sure.”
