I freeze.
Maybe staying by Mallory’s side isn’t the only way to protect her. Maybe I can keep the monster away from her instead.
After all, I know his secret too.
17
MYLES
I couldn’t eat dinner. It made me sick just looking at it because I kept reliving how I stole those answers in my head. After dinner Mom insisted on us playing a game as a family, but all I wanted to do was sneak away.
We stay up way too late playing Uno and watching reruns ofEverybody Loves Raymond.
Eventually, Adam excuses himself and heads to bed.
I’m about to get up when Mom says, “Are you okay?”
There’s a zap in my chest because I’m not. “Yeah, fine. Why?”
“You just seem sad lately.” She pats the space next to her.
I sit like an obedient dog. “I’m fine. Really.”
She tilts her head. “I’m your mom and you’re a terrible liar.”
Heat rushes to my face because she’s right. I know I have to be careful about what I say. What if she finds out about what I did today?
“I’m just tired. I have a lot of homework to do.”
I can tell by the way her eyes narrow she doesn’t believe me. “You used to tell me everything when you were little.”
But I can’t do that now. I can’t tell her how miserable I am because it’ll make her sad. It’s better if I keep her in the dark. I don’t want to be the reason she cries again. I can deal with my feelings alone.
“I’m okay. I promise,” I say.
“Okay, but just know you can talk to me.”
I nod. “Can I go do the rest of my homework now?”
“Don’t stay up too late.” She pulls me into a forced side hug, and I lean into her for a brief moment.
Then I get up and wander upstairs. I step into my room. It’s dark, but the moon casts a glow through the open window, and a light breeze pulls the curtains back and forth.
I don’t remember opening it.
Goosebumps cover my skin, and the hair on my arms stands up as I pat the wall, searching for the light switch. It lights up the room in a flash.
Nothing is out of the ordinary. My room is the way I left it when I went down for dinner. My backpack is leaning against the chair of my desk, and my bed is turned down from this morning.
I walk over to the window and shut it. Maybe my mom came in at some point and thought it needed to be aired out. My dirty socks from baseball practice are still in my laundry hamper, after all.
I sit down on the corner of my bed with my head in my hands. I’m exhausted from the last two days. How am I supposed to focus on my game with Mallory’s threats to expose me in the back of my head? She’s acting so strange, and I can’t predict her next move.
What I need is a shower to help me calm down.
I walk to my closet for a change of clothes.
When I open the closet door, two beady eyes stare back.
