“Okay, okay. I promise to leave the second you get out of the car. But you will call me the second this is done, or I’ll show up first thing tomorrow morning. You have 24 hours before I burn the world down to find you.”
Even though I feel the peril tingle along my skin, the laughter shared with Bea brings a comfort only she could have given me.
We pull up to the campus gates just over half an hour later. I glanceback at Bea, both of us offering each other smiles. I lean in for a hug. “Thank you, B.”
She ruffles my hair playfully and grins. “Always, Grace. No matter what it is—I’m here for you.”
She gives me a knowing look. “Even if it’s burying a body?—”
I slam my hand over her mouth. “Stop!” I laugh. “The phones are listening.”
I feel her smile beneath my hand and pull it away.
“Be safe, dude. Please. 24 hours.”
I nod and climb out of the car, shutting the door behind me. I step away and look over my shoulder at her, giving a pointed look.
She rolls down the window. “I know, I know. Leaving.”
Heavy metal blares from the speakers as she looks to her left and pulls back onto the road. I wait, watching her drive away until the moment her car is nothing but a speck in the distance. At least Bea will be safe.
I turn my attention back to the campus gates and walk under them, immediately going to the edges where the trees surround the outskirts of the grounds. I follow along the stumps as I make my way slowly to the chapel where Milly’s room is.
The leaves are falling, cascading colors of reds and oranges around me. I try to steady my breathing as I quickly pace through the woods.I just need to get to Milly.I glance around as voices pick up, noticing students walking with books and backpacks, rushing to their next class.
I quickly blend into the crowd and keep my head down, following alongside them to the chapel. Once they approach the front, I sneak along the side. I glance up at the steeple, praying that Milly is still up there. I exhale a shaky breath as I open the back door and come face-to-face with Priest Brown.
“Fuck,” I exhale, and everything goes dark.
Chapter 32
Grace
October 6th
Iwake to find myself strapped to a chair with a bag over my head.Wonderful.I can thankfully breathe through the material.At least it’s not plastic.
I frantically try to pull my arms free, but the binding around my wrists does not give. I feel the cool, hard chair beneath my body, goosebumps forming at the contact. I shiver in the chair, feeling the familiarity of this position I was in only a few weeks ago.Milly is going to be so pissed.
I try to swallow and slow my breathing.
Inhale five seconds, exhale five.
I lean my head back against the hard chair as I try to bend my thumb, these motions all feeling far too familiar.I’m going to have to break it this time, aren’t I?I flinch at the thought, but dying will probably be way fucking worse.
I push my wrist out, taking a deep breath, and then quickly slam it back against the binding and hold a scream in, biting my tongue and tasting copper instantly. “Shit,” I whimper as I feel blood seeping from the cut I got on the side of my thumb instead of breaking it free.How do they break it so easily in the movies?
Small tears escape as I breathe quickly through my nose, as the pain momentarily overwhelms me. The panic begins to rise as the result ofthe pain continues to heighten. My heart starts pounding against my chest.No, no!It wasn’t supposed to end like this. I-I—I can’t give up this easily.
Okay, another plan. Think, Grace, think.Fuck!Another plan…I try to wiggle the bag off my head, attempting to catch it on the edge of the chair until my head feels like it's spinning. It must be tied on. I groan in frustration.
“Fuck!” I shout, not caring if anyone hears me. I’m already down here, and I’m starting to feel antsy as the inevitable seeps through my thoughts. I shake my head.No.I will not die.
Seconds turn into minutes, minutes into hours, and all I know is… I really don’t know how long I’ve been down here, and I’m starting tolose my fucking mind. The unknown courses endless thoughts through my mind, unable to rationalize any of them.
How fucking foolish of me not to think this through. Milly was right. Love blinded my rationale, and I’m exactly where I shouldn’t have been. My heart drops.They think I’m still with Bea.
Defeat plummets in my gut as I realize how idiotic I was and how they won’t be able to save me. I did this to myself, all because I was blinded by the urge to be near her. Consequences of my actions. I can’t go out this way.
