“What’s going on?” Emory asked, eyes narrowing.
“Who the fuck is that?” Grey answered, still on the other end.
“Her sister, Emory. Who the fuck are you?”
I hung up the call, using the button on the steering wheel before anything more could be said.
Deafening silence filled the car. I gripped the steering wheel so tight the whites of my knuckles showed. I opened my mouth but nothing came out.
I expected Emory to yell and scream, but it was Eli’s icy voice that said, “Lyra, what the fuck is going on?” Each word was calm and lethal. I could’ve sworn a hint of a shadow seeped from the back seat.
“The girl didn’t drown in the river.” I cleared my throat, taking a second to gather my thoughts. “She was murdered.”
“Murdered? Why do you think she was murdered?” Emory shouted, not nearly as calm as Eli.
“Well…” I swallowed hard.
Eli leaned forward. “You’re both fucking with me, right?” He looked at me, then Emory, and back at me again, waiting for one of us to start laughing.
I stared out the windshield as the car slowly rolled to a stop at the red light.
“Who was that on the phone?!” Emory threw her arms up in frustration. “Just tell us what’s going on.”
The light turned green, and I stepped on the gas a little too hard. Eli braced himself against the headrests. “Focus on the road.”
“You know I hate driving.” I hissed. “And it’s a little hard when everyone is yelling at me.”
“I’m yelling because you’re hiding something from us.” Emory jerked her thumb in Eli’s direction. “Just tell us what’s going on. I told you I had a weird feeling, and you let me think I was being paranoid.”
“I know…I’m sorry.” I didn’t know what else to do but apologize and spill my guts. The words tumbled out of my mouth. I told them about freeing Grey from the Whitethorn’s basement, the spirits acting strange, and the girl we found in the river.
“Shit, Lyra,” Eli leaned forward, sticking his head in between the two of us. “You didn’t have to keep this all a secret. We would’ve helped.”
My heart hammered as the familiar parking lot came into view. I’d mindlessly followed the whispers to the church.
I pulled out my phone and shot Grey a quick message.
Me: I’m at the church.
Grey: On my way. Don’t go in without me.
I stepped from the car, ignoring Grey’s demand.
“What are we doing here?” Emory slammed the car door shut. The crows perched in the trees scattered at the sudden noise, cawing to alert the others of the approaching danger.
“I don’t know, but the spirits wanted me here.” I stalked toward the trail leading into the forest, desperate to escape the conversation. Emory needed time to calm down, but she’d come around. Eli fell into step beside me. The walk was a familiar one for him. He’d come here with me countless times.
“Thank you,” I whispered. The tightness in my chest eased slightly.
“We’re not done talking about this.” Emory quickened her pace to catch up to us, and I gripped her hand in mine, leading the way. She took the hint. We’d talk later, but not now. Not here.
We walked in silence, too focused on our surroundings to speak. The light of the full moon shone through the bare branches of the trees like a beacon leading us straight to the doorway of the church.
Eli entered first, followed closely by Emory. I took a hesitant step inside, bracing for what, or who might be waiting.
Smack!A loud echo rang through the church.
“What was that?” I stood frozen in place.
