She buries her face in her hands and cries great, heaving sobs. Finally, she gulps in a breath and says, “Because I loved her. But he would never allow that. He would never allow anyone else to get close.”
“Who?” I touch her knee. “Luci, who wouldn’t?”
She shakes her head and licks her lips. “No. I can’t.”
“Luci, tell me.”
“I can’t. I’ll be punished. And so will you.” She lunges at me and starts dragging me toward the door. “Please, get out now. While you can. I can get the gates open.”
“Good, good.” I take her hand. “Then we can run and get help.”
She pulls her hand free. “I can’t go with you.”
“Yes, you can.” I wrap my arms around her in a gentle hug. She shakes in my arms like a baby bird. “You have to come with me, Luci, because I’m not leaving you alone.”
The way I left Mackenzie.
Clearing my throat, I tell her the rest. About the journal, the dark tourist forum, Lina Ivarrson. And someone using Rose’s phone to post on her account.
“I think Alice is in trouble now, and we can’t abandon her.”
“Alice?” She stumbles back, her mouth open in shock. “Rose’s sister?”
“Yes. Someone messaged me pretending to be her.” When she doesn’t speak, I try to sway her emotions. “Rose would want you to help Alice, and she would want you to be safe.”
“But I am safe.”
“No, you’re not.” I take her hands in mine. “I don’t know who you’re afraid of, Luci, but you don’t have to stay here. Not with him.”
She’s not budging, so I have to push harder. “Luci, I saw the polaroids. The pictures taken in the library.”
She backs up and tries to pull away, but I won’t let go. “Luci, I know what happened to you.”
45
Luci’s face flames pink, and she drops her head.
“I’m sorry. I know it’s painful to talk about, but Luci, you know it wasn’t your fault.”
“It doesn’t matter.” She jerks free. “Nothing matters! Not me. Not the truth. Nothing but the Marteau name with all its money and influence.”
“Of course you matter. We all do.”
“My family isn’t perfect, but my grandmother has always tried to protect me, to keep me out of the family business. And other things. The whispers and the talk of monsters.” Her face goes dark. “But she never knew about him, what he did. He’s sick and twisted.”
“Who? Tell me.”
But as she looks at me, her eyes go blank again. It’s as if an automaton has slipped inside her skin. “You should go.” She steps back.
She’s clearly terrified of someone, whoever took the polaroids. Whoever abused her. She’s been under his control since she was a child.
“I need you. I can’t find Alice by myself. You and I have to get out of this place, and then we can come back with help. We can save Alice.”
“The police won’t do anything.” Her voice is small and distant, as if she’s been drugged. The reality of her life numbing any chance of hope. “There’s no fighting them. They have too much power.”
“We’re powerful, too.” I cup her face in my palms. “But only if we stick together.”
Luci draws a breath as if to speak, but then her gaze shifts. She stares over my shoulder.
