“Myles!” she screams, trying to push her way back out. “What are you doing? Don’t you dare leave me here!”
I shove her out of the way and slam the door shut.
She bangs her fists on the door. “Let me out of here, you jerk!”
I hit the door back. “Stop following me!”
My chest heaves as I take in a rough breath and stare at the door, second-guessing what I just did. Is this too far?
But I remember the way she treated me after she killed Duke, and I walk away.
Someone will be here soon enough to let her out. It’s not like she’ll be here forever, and I don’t have any more time to waste.
12
EMMA
Rage fills every ounce of my body as I hit the door because I wanted to believe nothing was going on between them, but I knew better. I could see the lies written all over his face.
What are they doing that’s so awful they can’t tell me? Is it the reason he kills her? I can’t fathom what could possibly turn him into a killer, but right now I don’t care about anything other than the fact he locked me in a shed.
The audacity this boy has. How could he shove me in here like I was a piece of trash he could throw out of sight? I’m not that easy to get rid of.
I smack the door again and again. “Hello! Someone get me out of here!”
I don’t know how long I’ve been in here, but it feels like it’s been an eternity. My pulse races as darkness looms around me. There’s a faint glow seeping underneath the door, but it isn’t enough to light up the shed.
After another five minutes of yelling and pounding on the door, my voice grows tired. I sink down to the floor,leaning against the door. Who knows how long it’ll be before someone comes outside.
When did Myles become so infuriating? I rub my wrist where he grabbed me and I seethe at the memory of his touch. That was the same hand that pushed Mallory over the bridge. I don’t care if he hasn’t done it yet. I know he’s capable of it, and I’ll never forgive him for it, even when I stop him before it happens again.
A sour taste fills my mouth when that awful night comes to mind. It was dark, but the street lamps lit him and Mallory up like a spotlight on the bridge. They were fighting, but I wasn’t close enough to hear what it was about. All I know is he grabbed her and I started running toward them, but I was too late. She kicked and pushed back, but he was too strong. He lifted her up and pushed her over the bridge.
I screamed, peering over the edge the second I reached the bridge, but I couldn’t see her. There was only a faint ripple in the water where she fell.
“What did you do?” I cried, horrified and in shock.
Myles was breathing fast, and his eyes were red and strained. He looked down at his shaky hands like they were the true culprit.
“What did you do?” I hit him, screaming into his face, and he let me. He didn’t block his face or try to run. He stood there like a statue while I beat him, pounding my fist into his chest.
Even back then he wouldn’t tell me why he did it. That only enrages me more. For a boy who used to tell me everything, I don’t understand how he could do something so horrendous and choose not to explain himself when I begged. How could he just stand there?
I want to tear him from my memory. To wipe it clean andstart my life over because every thought, every moment in time, is somehow connected to him. I don’t know how to explain it, but hating someone I used to cherish is the worst kind of hatred there is. It’s deep and raw because he isn’t some random person who wronged me. He’s the only person who ever really knew me, and he knew exactly how badly he hurt me.
I kick my feet, smashing them into a box as I groan. I need to get out of here. I swear the second I get out I’m going to find him and force him to talk, even if I have to pry it out of him. I’m running out of time. If I don’t figure it out soon, I know history will repeat itself.
That isn’t an option.
I refuse to let Mallory die tomorrow.
Time drags on at a snail’s pace, and there’s nothing to do but steep in my anger and frustration. He locked me in a shed. Who does that? What if no one comes to let me out? Is he going to unlock it at some point or make me wait until after-school sports start? What am I supposed to eat? And don’t even get me started on the lack of a bathroom.
When I get my hands on that boy—
There are voices.
I jump up, banging on the door. “Help me! I’m locked inside!”
