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The old train station looked different than it did years ago. Then again, everything in this town did.
What was once a thriving train station was now an abandoned brick building. Vines and grass had overgrown enough that it looked like nature was trying to reclaim the structure.
“Do we watch a video or do we go inside first?” Lake asked.
He stood next to me as we took it all in. His shoulder was pressed into mine, and I welcomed the warmth it provided.
My phone buzzed with a notification and I held it up to see the app had chosen for us.
When I opened the app, a video popped up. Being tied to our location it knew it was time to start.
“You guys ready?” I asked as I glanced at Lake and then the others. No one answered, but they all nodded.
I pressed play and Everett’s face popped up again. He was smiling, his skin glowing in the afternoon sun.
“You’ve made it to the first location. I’m here now.”
He pulled the camera out a little further to show what was behind him. Even then, it held fewer vines and overgrowth but it was still abandoned outside of a few workers shutting the place down.
“You may be asking yourself, ‘Why are we here? What does this place have to do with anything?’ But every single place on this journey is significant in one way or another. You see, this was the first place that I fell in love with Shaye, and it was the first moment that I knew that Lake was also her mate.”
“Oh shit,” Drew mumbled under his breath.
“It was just after your parents were divorcing, Shaye. You were so sad that summer, and we tried everything we could to cheer you up. Even the moms gave us fewer chores and gave us the run of the town. We ended up here with a handful of change, sat along the track while we waited for another train to come through. They only came through twice a day, but we were early this time.”
He paused for a moment while a train rumbled behind him, and I took a moment to look at Lake, who was already watching me.
“Do you remember the day he’s talking about?” I asked.
Lake nodded. “I do. My answer is not the same as his though. I loved you before that. He’s talking about the day your bag got stuck in the tracks, I think.”
My eyes widened. I forgot all about that.
Everett in the video started forging ahead now that the train had barreled past him.
“It was also the day that I thought I was losing you, ironic since now you’ve lost me. I was terrified, Shaye. My entire life flashed before my eyes and Lake and I both ran forward, yanking you out of the way and making you forget about your pack. It might be full of your treasures, but you were far more precious to us.”
I could picture that day in my mind now. I’d been so upset that I couldn’t yank it free. My books were inside and I didn’t notice the train coming. They did, though.
“We fell down in a heap and you landed on top of us. We kept our arms protectively around you as the train rumbled past. All I could focus on was the smell of cinnamon and honey… of you. When the train was done rolling by, you laughed.” He shook his head and smiled, his turquoise eyes sparkling with humor. “You never realized how close you were to danger because you relied on us to keep you safe, and we did.”
I smiled at him, my heart warming at the protective smile on his face. He always did make me feel safe. Hell, some days he kept me sane.
“Now you have to keep each other safe. I’m not there to help save you anymore, but I know Lake will be. I want you to be that carefree again because I know this is taking its toll on you. Just that moment was hell for me, Shaye, and you’re living that hell every single day.”
His voice cracked then and I saw the sadness creeping back in, stealing his smile. He’d been enjoying the memories but reality was always a harsh awakening.
“You have to let someone else in, sweetheart. You don’t have to do this alone. Lake is right there with you, living in his own hell, wishing you were closer. Let him in, Shaye. Experience this together. I need to know you’re both happy.”
I thought he was done, and I turned to look at Lake, unsure how to process what he just said. At every turn, Everett was letting me off the hook, telling me that I could move on, that Ishouldmove on. Yet my entire soul revolted at the idea.
“He’s not done,” Riven said as Everett continued. I turned back in time to see him pointing at the building again.
“To unlock a bonus level, I’ve hidden something inside. It’s a code. Can you find it?” He gave one last wink before the screen went dark. The app let out a beep before the Lockwood map was back in place.
“A little breaking and entering,” Drew said, rubbing his hands together. “Sounds like our entire afternoon just got a bit more interesting.”
“It’s locked up tight,” I pointed out. A silver chain was almost hidden by the vines that had grown over, but I could see it sparkling in the sun.
