AllFreeNovel
Share Us
It felt like the whole world stopped spinning.
I zeroed in on the mark, the mark I could only assume was the sign left behind by the killer—or killers. I stepped closer, leaning down to make sure I was seeing it correctly. I swallowed hard, my throat thick.
“It’s a butterfly,” I croaked out.
It was a crude depiction of one, but there was no mistaking what it was. The wings were sharp and angled, the body a deep, straight slash. I straightened, feeling sick to my stomach.
Xander stepped next to me, looking down at the mark. “Yep.” His lip curled with disgust. “That’s the general consensus. We still have no idea what it means, but he leaves it on every victim.”
My eyes stung, staring at the mark. I hadn’t seen it on my sister; there had been too much blood at the scene, so this was my first time. The fact that it was a butterfly hit me to my very core.
The only thing I could think of, as I stared at it, was Lark.
I stumbled back, away from the examining table and Lily’s lifeless body. I couldn’t be here any longer. It felt like I couldn’t breathe. “I need to go,” I choked out, turning on my heel and rushing out of the room.
Xander called for me, but I didn’t stop. I ran away like the coward I was.
Lily Baker was dead. I hadn’t been able to save her.
I couldn’t save anyone.
24
Lark
He wasn’t there when my alarm went off. I woke feeling rested and comfortable, but alone.
I had thought that maybe he had gone to the restroom or the kitchen to make some breakfast, but he hadn’t been there. His car was gone. I wasn’t sure why it made me worry, but it did. It wasn’t like Reid to leave without saying goodbye.
As I got ready to go to the Flutter Nook for the day, I texted him. It was a short text. I didn’t want to sound like I was too nosey about where he was, but I also wanted to know that he was okay.
I brushed my hair and my teeth, all while keeping one eye on my phone. Last night had been…a lot. Even so, the only thing that I could not stop thinking about was Reid. We had kissed—a real, actual kiss.
My cheeks heated as I stared at myself in the mirror. I didn’t know what I was doing, but when he held me last night and told me how much my life mattered to him, I couldn’t keep myself away from Reid.
I splashed some cold water on my hot face, letting the streams run down my face as I locked eyes with my reflection.
“What would you have to say, Thea, if you knew I had made out with your brother?” I said the words out loud, desperately needing to talk to someone. I didn’t know whether I believed that Thea could hear me in any way, but it was nice to pretend like she could.
I almost smiled at the initial disgust that would flash across her face. She’d be utterly grossed out that anyone wanted to stick their tongue in her brother’s mouth.
“It’s weird, I know.” I grabbed a towel, drying my face. “I have no idea where this all came from, but…” I placed a hand on my chest, above my fluttering heart. “I feel something for him. I mean, I think I really like him, Thea.”
The silence that answered was heavy, and whatever hint of a smile that had been on my lips vanished. Without another word to my dead friend, who definitely could not hear me, I left the bathroom.
I stopped by Mom’s room on my way out. I knocked lightly and then cracked open the door.
It was dark inside; the drawn shades and curtains barely let any of the sunlight in. Mom was lying in bed, one arm thrown over her eyes and her mouth pinched into a grimace. My stomach dropped as I stepped inside.
“I’m heading to the shop,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper, but she winced. “Are you having a bad pain day?” My mother groaned in answer. I hated that her migraines had gotten so bad since the accident. I had no idea how long they were supposed to plague her like this until they got better. “Is there anything I can get you before I go?”
“No,” she croaked. “Just go.”
I couldn’t tell whether she was upset from our little spat last night or the pain. Either way, I didn’t want to leave without doing anything, so I ran to the kitchen and got her an ice pack and cool, wet towel.
“Here,” I said, returning and approaching her bed. I carefully moved her arm from her face, and she winced again. I placed the wet towel on her forehead and tucked the ice pack behind her neck. “Let me know if you need anything else. I can have Jojo watch the store if I need to run home.”
I straightened and was about to turn around when she grabbed hold of my hand and squeezed.
