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Wynn
Lanston is already waitingfor me by the greenhouse by the time I walk down the stone path leading across the field. He leans against the glass doors, smoking a cigarette with his baseball cap pulled low like he’s worried someone will see him out here.
“You’re early.”
The embers of his cigarette fall as he lifts his head. He smiles weakly. “So are you.” He looks nervous as he drops his cigarette and stomps it out. “Come on, I don’t want anyone seeing us out here,” he whispers as he opens the greenhouse door and waves me through.
“Why are you acting so weird? Curfew isn’t until ten.”And even then, no one abides by it.I wrap my arms around myself and step in. The greenhouse is empty; apparently, no one believes in plant therapy here. It’s a shame. It’s such a lovely building with an abundance of potential.
Lanston grabs my hand and leads me to the back of the greenhouse. It’s dim in here, so he has to use his phone’s flashlight once we reach the back. A lone door is waiting for us.
“Lanston… where are you taking me?” I shift on my feet uneasily. We’re a good few hundred feet away from the mansion and unless someone is outside, I don’t think anyone would be able to hear either of us if something happened.
He looks at me with an annoyed expression that betrays no aggression or danger. “Somewhere you’ll understand what I’m about to tell you.”
I swallow the lump in my throat. Lanston is my friend—I trust him.
He opens the door and flips a light switch on. I follow him in and he shuts the door behind us.
My stomach drops.
The room is small, maybe intended to be used as a storage room. There’s a drain in the center of the floor and blood stains the cement around it.
I gasp and instinctively recoil back toward the door. Lanston grabs my hands gently.
“I know. It’s terrible… You want to know about Crosby, right?” He closes his eyes and takes a long breath. “Are you ready to listen?”
I hesitate. I can’t stand the sight of blood. This is like an X-rated horror film. My head is becoming lighter by the second. But I have to know.
I nod.
Lanston holds my hand tightly, his palm sweaty and hot.
“I didn’t know Crosby was going to use this space for something so awful. He told me he wanted to make a private space where we could all sneak off and escape for a while if we needed it.” He pauses and lowers his eyes to the dried blood on the floor. “So when he asked if I knew of a place like this, I didn’t think anything of it. I told him.”
“Crosby was Liam’s old roommate, right?” My stomach is in knots and I want to throw up. If this is going where I think it is… I don’t know if I should’ve asked to begin with.
Lanston nods. His eyes are heavy and grim, filled with sleepless nights and regrets. “Yeah. For a few months, actually. Everything seemed fine at first, but then Liam’s cuts kept getting worse. He wasn’t acting the same. Every time I asked if he was okay, he’d smile and nod… He never said what was really happening to him.” Tears spring to Lanston’s eyes. He dips his head to hide beneath his baseball cap.
“You mean he brought Liam… here?” I cover my mouth and press my back against the cold brick wall.
“Yeah,” he says on a shaky breath. “He brought Liam here and hurt him. I don’t think Liam will ever tell me to what extent, but the night I found out, it was already so far out of control. There was blood everywhere. Liam was lying on the floor and he wasn’t… he wasn’t moving.” Lanston looks at me, tears streaming down his cheeks. “Crosby was already gone—he knew he went too far. Yelina helped me get Jericho and then Liam went to the hospital for his injuries.”
I stare at him bewilderedly. I couldn’t force myself to speak if I tried.
“Before Jericho arrived, Liam regained consciousness and he told me about Crosby—to be careful in case he came back. He didn’t want to tell anyone, so Yelina and I have been keeping his secret. I think he’s afraid.”
My heart shatters for Liam. “Lanston, you have to tell Jericho or somebody what really happened. We need to report this right now!” I move to open the door, panic and dread consuming my body as fear slips into my skin.
He blocks the door and grabs my shoulders. “Wynn, you can’t tell anyone. Liam made me swear and I made Yelina promise too. It’s not our truth to share.” He grunts as I try to shove past him.
I shake my head. “We aren’t children! There’s a psychopath out there and he could come back at any time. He could be herenow.No one knows what he’s done or what he’s capable of doing. Liam needs us.”
“You can’t,” Lanston begs, but I won’t listen to him. I push him aside and fling the door open. “Wynn, stop! We don’t know how Liam will react if you tell Jericho!” I run through the empty greenhouse and exit through the glass doors. I hear Lanston running after me but as soon as I hit the grass, I dart the other direction and head straight for the forest.
Once I reach the tree line, I dare a glance back and see Lanston searching for me by the mansion. His distant voice calls my name over and over.
What the fuck am I supposed to do?
