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“Ding ding ding! Took you long enough.”
My heart tears more with each breath I take. “Where did you put them?” I don’t think I’ll survive the night, but even if I don’t, at least someone will have known.
Crosby levels his eyes with mine. Ice flickers through his cold gaze as he grins sinisterly. “A place you’ve been way too many times. Some might say you danced on their graves.”
My eyes widen. “The moonflowers…”
He taps my forehead and nods manically. “All of them but one.Monicagot away. That one was smart and witty—she changed everything about herself so fast I never was able to find her. She’s the one that planted those fucking night flowers out there.”
Perry… how did you devolve into this monster?I stare at him with new eyes. A part of me wanted to believe he was still in there, deep, deep down, but Perry is dead. He died with Neil that night. Something else came back in his stead.
“Where are we?” I gnash my teeth together, desperately trying to formulate any sort of plan that could stall him. Lanston and Wynn should be halfway to Boston by now.
They’re safe. They have to be safe.
“In Bakersville. You didn’t think you could hide them, did you? They fucking showed up at Harlow and waited to see your sorry ass dragged out of the fire.” He laughs cruelly.
In Bakersville? No, they were on their way to Boston…“I hate to ruin your fun, but they are far from here,” I say resolutely.
Crosby stops laughing and leans forward, eyeing me like I’m messing with him. When he doesn’t see any wavering in my eyes, he questions himself. Anger flashes across his icy eyes and he grips his hair, talking to himself in hushed whispers. “He’s lying. He’s lying. There’s no way I mistook them. Or maybe… did I? No. No. No. No. This messes up everything. Everything.”
I try to block out his deranged voice as he speaks to himself. My eyes skirt around the small room we’re in—a bathroom. Not one I’ve been in before.Focus, Liam.I take a deep breath and try to think rationally.
My eyes open and I softly say, “Crosby, Mom let me know you and Neil were coming to pick me up.”
Crosby freezes. He turns slowly, his eyes manic and feral as he assesses me.
“Mom told me to be nice to you. You love me, remember?” As much as I resent my mother, at least she always tips me off before he comes. Reminds me of his trigger words. My trigger words too.
Sometimes it works, and I’m really fucking hoping that this is one of those times.
Crosby’s eyes lower to the floor before his demeanor noticeably shifts. A wave of calm and steadiness replaces his crazed, demented side.
I love him dearly, but he’s going to die tonight. He’s not going to hurt anyone ever again. I’ll make sure of it.
He tilts his head and smiles normally at me. “Liam, what kind of game is this?” Perry asks jovially as he unties me.
I only manage a tight, weary smile.
The adrenaline is fading from my bloodstream and the knife wound in my thigh is now throbbing with agony. “A stupid game the seniors were playing. You know them, Perry,” I lie, and he nods easily, believing his older brother like he always has.
This is his true self, Perry Waters, my dear younger brother, who’s stuck in his sophomore year of high school in his head. The one that was in the car with Neil and me when the accident happened. The normal boy who suffered significant brain injuries and couldn’t accept the reality that his eldest brother was dead. The innocent brother I tried to hold onto.
I lost them both that night.
Perry looks at me with confused, frightened eyes as he inspects the odd bathroom. He notices my bloody leg and panics. “Liam, your leg.”
It never gets easier hearing him talk in his childish voice. Looking at an adult man’s face and hearing the innocence he tries to imbue into his tone is chilling.
“I’m okay. Let’s get out of here and find Neil.” It stings, pretending he’s alive and waiting for us. But I’d like to think he’s waiting somewhere for Perry.
He animates and helps me leave the bathroom. It’s a small studio apartment. My heart skips a beat. The pounding in my head is so loud I don’t hear anything else.
That’s Wynn’s duffle bag. Lanston’s baseball cap.
They didn’t leave for Boston.
My breaths are so labored that Perry raises a concerned brow at me. “What’s wrong?” His eyes are bright blue.
