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Then he nods.
Reign gives him a slow nod, then turns toward me, his hand going out to curl around my fingers. He gives me a small tug, pulling me toward him. “Follow me.”
“Where are we going?” Posie asks as we step away from the yellow tape, heading toward the other side of the school.
“What the fuck did you do?” Archer snaps.
Reign keeps me close, his hand going up to flip his hat backward. We head away from the reporters, officers, and crowds of people, walking around the school until it’s silent, exactly as it should be on a weekend.
Our feet crunch through the fallen leaves on the grass as we make our way to the back of the administrative building.
“Won’t it be locked?” Kyler asks.
Reign smirks, and my insides sigh even when my heart is shattered into bits. He lifts his hand to the keypad on the side of the door, punching in a code I was totally unaware that he had.
“How…?” I whisper as he pulls the door open.
He says nothing, leading me through and down the empty hallway.
“What did you say to him?” Archer asks after a beat.
Reign slowly turns his head toward him, watching him with blank eyes. “I frightened him with his life,” he says simply.
My heels dig into the tiled floor, my Converse squeaking obnoxiously.
Reign turns toward me, his brow furrowed. “What the fuck are you doing, Lake?”
“You threatened an armed police officer at a crime scene? Do you realize how fucking stupid that was? You could get arrested!”
His face twists in confusion. “He’s not going to.”
“How do you know?”
He cocks his head to the side ever so slightly. “Because then I’ll have to make true of my promise to him, which I’m sure he doesn’t want.”
I want to ask more questions, but my mind feels like mush right now. He waits for me to say anything, and when I don’t, he gives me a tug, and we continue walking through the school. Kyler’s palm slams against the door, and we step into the small courtyard that connects the main building to the library.
“I don’t know if I can go in there,” Vienna sniffles, clutching onto Creed’s arm. I turn around with sad eyes, the morning air crisp, and I instantly wish I would’ve brought my leather jacket or a hoodie with me. I cross my arms over my chest, the heavy gray clouds hanging low in the sky.
“Come on, V. We need to figure out what the fuck we’re dealing with,” Creed says, pulling her against him.
She shakes her head. “I don’t want to see it. Maybe I should go to the hospital and wait with her parents,” she whispers.
I step toward Vienna, my arms unfolding. My palms go to her damp cheeks, wiping away the wetness. “We’re here together, Vienna. None of us are alone. We can do this, but only if we’re together. Shit, I don’t want to go in there either, but we have to figure out who’s doing this. What if we don’t, and one of us is next?” My voice cracks, and my eyes start watering. I blink away the tears, but they fall anyway, rolling to my jaw. “Once we’re done here, we can go check on Eloise. I promise.”
Her chin wobbles, and she nods at me, her arms going around my waist as she burrows her head into my chest. “Okay,” she croaks.
A palm lands on my back, and I glance over my shoulder, seeing Kyler standing there. He looks determined, angry. “We aren’t going to let this happen to anyone else. We’re going to figure this out. I fucking promise.”
Creed grabs onto Vienna, and I turn, my arms slinking around Kyler’s midsection. He leans down, pressing his lips to my temple. I burrow my face into his chest, inhaling the fresh shower scent, and the lingering marijuana he must have smoked earlier.
His hand tightens around my back, and I feel so protected, like he would never do anything to hurt me. Kyler is nice, the kindest of them all, always wanting what’s best for me. Though he can be an asshole, he also loves me, and I love him. He lifts his head, settling his chin against my temple. Giving me a quick squeeze, he pulls away, his hand going down to mine, gripping it securely. “We’ll go in first, check it out. You shouldn’t have to see it if it’s too… bad.”
I nod, and he pulls away, leading me along to the other end of the courtyard. Everyone else follows, and he opens the door. Not a sound is heard inside of the library, and I frown, wondering where everyone went.
The instant scent of old books combined with aged carpet fills my senses, though there’s another scent along with it. Metallic, strong, and it burns my nose. I wrinkle my face.
“Blood,” Reign mumbles. He turns to me, his eyes measured, calculated. “Stay here.” My feet plant onto the ground, and I step out of the doorway, pressing my spine against a nearby bookshelf. My fingers curl around one of the shelves, my fingers brushing a book spine. Vienna and Posie come stand next to me. Posie’s hands wrap around my waist, and she leans her head against my shoulder.
