“Son, listen to my voice,” Erik says, his voice preternaturally calm. “This isn’t you. Don’t do this. Talk to me.”
Not-Silas grins and turns to Erik. “You’re right. It isn’t me.”
He shoots, and a spot of blood appears in the middle of Erik’s chest. Erik’s mouth falls open, blood staining his lips. Hefalls, and so does Ant, who was standing behind him. Through and through.
Not-Silas points his gun at me. His eyes shine like opals.
“Hey there, big boy. Seems like my brother and I have a type.”
23
SILAS
My eyes flutter open.I’m in the stairwell, staring at the ceiling.
What happened?
I blink, and my hand goes to the back of my head. I feel the wetness and smell the copper at the same time. I try to get up andah…I’m so fucking dizzy.
Cookies are everywhere.
I’d been racing up the stairs.
Did I fall?
I remember…a sharp pain. And then falling.
Someone with my face smirking back at me.
Is this another flashback?
He had white eyes.
That’s…new.
So, not a memory.
I scramble to my feet, then…dizzy. I slip down a few stairs but catch myself. I have to get upstairs.
Oakley.
Cupcake.
The dads.
I grip the banister. There are three floors to go, and I don’t have time to be dizzy.
One foot in front of the other. And another. And another.
With two floors to go, I stop and puke my guts out.
When I hit the penthouse, I take a detour and stumble into the foyer by the elevators.
“Anyone home?”
I’m met with silence.
That’s right.
