“That’s easier said than done,” Hunter says, a smile in his voice.
I’m frozen in the doorway, just looking at them.He’s got his hands on her thighs, holding her steady as she wobbles a little, riding his shoulders.
I told you, a nasty voice in the back of my head whispers.And you thought people changed.
“Hey,” says Silas, sitting at the table.“You’re just in time to play Clue with us.”
“Hey,” I say, still staring at Hunter and Mandy.
They both turn their heads.Mandy’s smiling, but the moment Hunter sees me, his face falls.
Yeah, no one likes getting caught, that same voice whispers.
I clear my throat and force myself to take a deep breath, even though I feel like all the air’s been sucked out of the room.
“I brought over the emergency supplies you guys were missing,” I say, my voice sounding hollow to my own ears.
Outside the window, there’s a white flash as lightning goes off, then a boom so loud it rattles the dishes in the cabinets.The lights flicker.
“Just in time, seems like,” Silas says.
“There’s candles and flashlights and stuff in the other room,” I go on.I can’t take my eyes off of Hunter, Mandy on his shoulders, his hands on her knees, keeping her steady.“Just wanted to let you guys know.”
I feel like someone’s stuck a kitchen mixer into my stomach and turned it on.Part of me knows I’m being stupid, probably overreacting, but all I can think isthis is exactly what it felt like before.
History’s repeating itself, just like you fucking knew it would.
“Stay for Clue!”Mandy says brightly, holding it up.“We just found it buried on the top shelf.”
I shake my head, doing my best to act normal.
“I can’t,” I say, already stepping backward.“I gotta go take care of some stuff at home, you know, laundry and Trout’s been there all day, and...water the plant...stuff.”
Mandy frowns, but I turn anyway.
“Clem,” Hunter says.
I just walk.I need to be somewhere elsenow, I need to be alone and not surrounded by people I barely know, in a house that’s not mine.If there were a hole I could crawl into I would, because I just want to be by myself, in the dark, where no one can watch me melt down.
I hear a soft thump, and then Mandy’s voice asking, “Is something wrong?”
“Clem!”Hunter says again, closer this time.
I ignore it.I hurry to the living room, but he’s right behind me in the hall, and he puts one hand on my shoulder.
“Clem,wait,” he says.He sounds half-worried and half-annoyed.
“No,” I say.
“For fuck’s sake,” he hisses, trying to keep his voice down.
Suddenly, there’s a crackle just outside, like the air itself is splitting apart, followed by a boom that shakes the floor.
The lights go out, and in an instant, it’s dead quiet, the electronic hum of everyday life gone.We both stop and look around.
“Well, we’ve got flashlights,” one of the guys in the living room says.I can hear him get off the couch and walk into another room.
Hunter’s hand is still on my shoulder, and I shake it off.
