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One of his friends stands up, and I immediately clutch the cushioned seat behind me, so I don't run after him.
His hands slam on the door handle, and the double doors fly open.
And then he's gone.
It's silent for a moment before the priest begins for a second time with his Mass. I shift back and forth, feeling out of sorts. Feeling wrong for sitting here like this.
It feels like there are spiders crawling all across my skin.
Fuck.Fine.
I stand up, not even glancing at my friends as I walk out. I hear movement up front, but I don't look. "Vera, stop right now!"
I can't. Whatever is wrong with Malik, I need to help him. Heneedsmy help.
"Vera! You stop this instant!" It sounds like Sister Mary, and a shiver breaks out across my spine. She's the very last sister I want on my bad side.
I shove the door open, ignoring Sister Mary, ignoring everyone as I step back into the hallway.
Once again, by myself.
"Malik?" I ask softly, stupid to think he'd ever answer me anyway, let alone in the condition he's in.
I look left and right, hoping for any kind of clue to which direction he walked in. There's nothing. It's silent. Everywhere.
I hear the doors open, and I glance over my shoulder, expecting Sister Mary to either drag me back in there or into that room.
But it's not.
Piper, Hazel, and Blaire stand there, and a moment later, the door opens again, and Malik's friends step out.
"What the fuck did you do?" growls one of them. He steps toward me, his hand reaching out and grabbing onto my shirt. He yanks me toward him, and another one steps forward, pulling his friend back.
"Cut it out, Levi. Can't you fucking tell she's worried, too? Just look at her." He waves his hand in my direction. My friends step up, walking behind me.
"Put your hands on her again and I'll make you fucking pay for it," Hazel snaps at Levi.
He narrows his eyes at her. "Hazel, is it?" She nods. He nods. "Fuck off."
The only guy who seems to be on my side steps forward, pushing his friend back. He turns his gaze toward me, a seriousness in his face that echoes to my core. "Do you know where he went?" He looks so much like Malik that I blink a few times. Are they brothers? My eyes flit to the other two. They look like him, too. All three of them look just like Malik.
What the hell is wrong with this place?
Fingers snap in my face, and I scowl, glancing up at him. "No. Obviously. If I did, I wouldn't be standing here dealing with your bullshit."
The shortest one laughs behind Levi. "Maybe we should quit fucking bickering and just go find him?"
"Thank you, Atticus!" Hazel sighs, just as the doors to the front of the school clank, echoing down the hall.
All our eyes widen simultaneously, and in one silent decision, we make a run for it. Through the halls and out the door, rain instantly starts pelting against our faces.
"Why the fuck does it always rain here?" I growl, swiping away the wetness from my forehead.
"There!" Atticus shouts. I look over at the cliff, where I ate lunch with the girls my first day. Malik stands there, on the very edge.
"Oh, shit." I start running, sprinting across the lawn. I can hear the pounding footsteps behind me of everyone else following behind. Rain pelts my face, splashing in my eyes and drenching my outfit. My legs freeze in the cool breeze. There's no sun. It's only clouds and rain and darkness.
"Malik!" I scream. His back tenses and I slow to a stop when I'm only feet behind him. "Malik?"
