I close my hotel room door. “In the hallway outside my room. He left something.”
“I’ll be right there,” Lily says, and I can practically hear the punches rolling off her tongue, ready to jump into action.
I lean against the wall, trying to focus on my breathing. It’s like I can feel everything and nothing all at once. It’s strange.
Only around two minutes go by before Evan walks out of the elevator with Lily right behind him. Evan’s eyes are still red from the pepper spray, but they seem like they are smoldering.
He puts his hand out to me, palm up. “Room key.”
It’s not a question. It’s a demand, and I put the card in his hand immediately. He swipes my room key and enters without any hesitation.
“Are you okay?” Lily asks me as she puts her hands on my shoulders.
I nod my head. “How could he get in?”
“I don’t know,” Lily answers. “I already called Melanie. I’m sure she’s yelling at someone about it right now.”
“He left a gift,” I say.
“Oh, Rachel. You’re shaking,” Lily says as she pulls me in for a hug.
And I hadn’t noticed that I was.
“He’s not in there,” Evan says as he comes out of my room. “Police are on their way. I don’t want to unwrap the package until they’ve arrived, but I did read the note.”
I look at Evan, and he’s sporting the same steely glare he had on stage, a look that makes me believe his earlier words were true. That a groin kick would be mercy.
“What did it say?” Lily asks, still holding onto me.
“Well, whatever is in the box is something he wants Rachel to wear when he comes for her in the night,” Evan replies.
I shudder before I say, “I’m sorry.”
Lily whips her head around back to me. “Why are you apologizing?”
“I mean, it’s my fault,” I say as I feel huge tears beginning to build up in my eyes.
“How is this your fault?” Lily asks.
“If I would have just done or said something different,” I reply.
Lily shakes me. “Rachel, babe, no. Just no. You are not the one to blame here. This creep is.”
I nod, but the words don’t sink beneath my surface. “Sorry…”
Lily puts a finger on my lips. “Quit saying sorry.”
I swallow, feeling the tears spill over. Lily wipes them with her fingers.
I feel Evan watching me, and I wonder what he’s thinking. Probably that I’m a mess. Probably that I should go home to where I’m small and safe, just like he said only minutes ago.
“Evan, I’m going to take Rachel back to your room. She’s not staying here tonight,” Lily says.
I open my mouth to object but then close it because I don’t want to be alone. Not if KillerPlotTwist said he’d be back for me.
“I’m staying here,” Evan says sternly. “I’ll be up to the room for some things, but if this man comes back, I want to be here.”
“Police will take care of it,” Lily says.
