AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Only two survived the tragic fire at Harlow Sanctum, Roman Bear and Sydney Lawsen. Over fifty-six bodies, including staff and patients, were recovered.
Police are still looking for the arsonist.
We stay silent. No tears. No screaming.
Nothing.
I’ve never wanted to die more than I do at this moment.
Liam. I’m so sorry.
Roman Bear, the night guard, and Sydney Lawsen, one of the patients. That’s it.
We leave as the sun starts to set, silent and tired. We’re both reluctant to return to that rental so we stop at the café to grab coffee and maybe dinner if we can stomach it.
Crosby showed up a day early. And that one day took everything from us.
“It was always supposed to be the three of us,” I say.
Lanston parks the car and stares at me with darkened eyes. “I know.” That is the only thing he says before turning the engine off.“I know.”
41
Liam
Something sharp pierces my thigh.
My eyes shoot open, fear and adrenaline instantly igniting in my bloodstream. I can’t move my arms or legs—am I tied up? Where the fuck am I?
“Finally. I thought I was going to have to kill your friends without you watching.”
My spine straightens and every hair on my neck rises.
“Crosby? Where are we?”
He unties the blindfold slowly. The light stings my eyes and I wince past the pain of the intrusion before he comes into view. My head throbs and my limbs ache.
I’ve never seen my brother so disheveled. He looks worse than he ever has before. His dark-brown hair is messy, and his light-blue eyes are almost silver in the dim light. What has he done?
“Crosby, what are you doing?” I tug against my restraints but it’s futile. He has me tied like an animal awaiting slaughter.
He tilts his head back and groans like he’s annoyed. “Ijusttold you. Aren’t you listening? I’m going to kill your friends. Since they magically weren’t at Harlow as I was expecting them to be.” Hetsksand lowers his head to look me straight in the eyes.
Sweat beads down my forehead and dread fills my chest. Memories of the fire resurface, twisting my insides.
“You didn’t.”
Crosby’s eyes light with his sinister smile and he laughs in my face. “Oh, but I did.”
Horror befalls me. I don’t have the courage to ask how many people survived. I doubt he cares.
He wants the people I love—and he can’t have them. The only thing he’s ever wanted since Neil’s death is to torment me.
“How could you… When did your punishment for me turn into murder? Do you have any idea what you’ve done?” I pull against the restraints to no avail.
Crosby shrugs. His black hoodie is a size too big on him. “It’s not like they were my first.”
I hesitate momentarily before lowering my voice. “The missing patients.”
