It feels strange being envied after so many years spent as the object of pity. Or of scorn from all the people who made subtle or not-so-subtle comments about how I should have noticed Jason’s instability sooner. How if I’d been more observant, maybe Marissa would still be alive.
No.
That kind of thinking isn’t productive.
What was it my counselor used to say?It’s easy for other people to judge when they haven’t walked in your shoes. And her favorite saying—hindsight might be twenty-twenty, but in the present, no one’s vision is perfect.
Forcing my mind back to Angel’s statement, I reply, “You’ll find someone who looks at you like you’re the only woman in the world for him. I’m sure of it.”
She shrugs. “Maybe. But even if I don’t, I’ll be okay. I’ve got Haley, and she’s more important than any man.” Her expression brightens again. “That reminds me, did I show you the costume she’s wearing for Halloween? It’s just the cutest?—”
Angel stops as the kitchen drops into darkness.
For a moment, the silence is absolute.
No hum of the ventilation system. No faint rattlefrom the cooler Frank keeps babying in hopes of keeping it going a few months longer. No strains of Frank’s favorite country music filtering through the kitchen doors.
Then a pan falls to the floor, its metallic clang echoing.
Kyle, the sous chef and only other person in the kitchen with us, utters a low curse. Then he grumbles, “Is the damn utility company messing with the power lines again? What’s this, the third time in less than a month?”
Angel’s voice holds a hint of a quaver in the eerily dark kitchen. “I don’t know. But I hope the power’s not out all over town. Haley gets nervous when the power goes out like this.”
Fear nudges at me, but I refuse to let it take over. Instead, I take a deep breath, hold it for five seconds, and release it just as slowly. Once I trust my voice not to shake, I say, “I’m sure it’ll be right back on.”
I pull my phone from my pocket and turn on the flashlight. A quick scan of the kitchen shows it looking just as it did a minute ago. Nothing alarming. Nothing dangerous. Nothing to indicate this power outage is anything other than normal.
“Maybe we should go into the dining room,” Angel starts. “With the windows, there’s more light to see by.”
“Okay.” I’m not too eager to stay in the kitchen, either. I’d much rather be with Alec. Not that I reallythink anything sinister is going on, but there’s just something about being in the kitchen with all the places for someone to hide…
Angel takes my hand. “Kyle, are you coming with us?” she asks. “Or are you staying in here?”
Kyle has his own phone out, and he’s shining the flashlight at the two simmering pots of soup. “I’ll stay here,” he replies. “I don’t want to let the soup sit or it’ll get ruined. I can just watch some videos while we wait for the power to come back on.”
“Alright.” Angel heads towards the kitchen doors, tugging me along with her. “Once we get out there, I’ll call Haley. Make sure she’s okay.”
We’re nearly to the doors when a deafening boom erupts.
Bright light flashes all around the edges of the doors.
Everything in the kitchen rattles.
From the dining room, someone shrieks.
The scent of chemicals burning sears my nose.
My heart leaps to my throat. My lungs seize.
Panic claws at my chest.
No. It’s supposed to be safe here.
Then.
This is my fault.
“What the fuck!” Kyle shouts. “What the fuck?”
