It’s so quiet, my footsteps echo.
If a tree drops in a forest and no one is there, does it make a sound?
If a girl all alone in a big fishbowl screams and no one is there, can you hear her? Does she even make a sound?
My phone buzzes.
It feels like I’m reliving the same nightmare over and over, and it will never stop.
[one picture attached]
I see London, I see France, I see someone’s underpants, past the swing, in the purple tunnel, our favorite music student likes to snuggle.—Aces
Devon making out with some guy on a jungle gym.
My phone buzzes again.
There’s more where all of this came from, Chiamaka. And I’m not afraid to share.—Aces
What does Aces want from us? What is the end goal? It feels like everything is out of control; I am out of control. I can’t shake the feeling that they’re three steps ahead, and everything we’re doing is playing right into their hands. Sunday feels so far away, but I don’t know what else to do.
I go to my phone and watch as my fingers hover over the9and1. But I can’t call the police. However bad it gets. I can’t call them, because Aces knows about the hit-and-run. Or at least, I can’t call them before we catch who is behind this. So I open my contact list and scroll down. I hesitate for a heartbeat before hitting the call button.
25
DEVON
Friday
“Do you think she actually killed someone?” Terrell asks.
I shrug. Chiamaka does scare most people, but an actual murderer? I don’t know. Shehasbeen in denial about a lot of Aces stuff we both know is true; plus there was the stuff on the USB.
But I also know Aces is trying to twist everything against us, so who even knows if it’s true, or the entire truth. And after the masked figure in the hallway, those posters of Chiamaka and of me, and being followed, I’m scared about what they might be plotting next. It feels like the tone has changed this week. It was nasty before, but now it feels dangerous.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to tag along on Sunday? I’m really good at fighting people; I’ve watched a lot of spy movies too,” Terrell says.
“We’ll be okay. I’ll send you updates so you’ll know we’re alive,” I say.
A ringtone startles me, and I grab my phone out of my pocket.
Speaking of the devil…
“Hello?” I say.
“Devon?” I hear Chiamaka’s voice ring out.
She soundsoff.
“Is everything okay?” I ask.
There’s a pause. I hear her sniff. “Someone,Aces, followed me home, practically chased me—”
“What? Did you see who it was?” I interrupt.
“No… they were masked, plus I was running for my life. Thanks for asking if I’m okay,” she says.
“Sorry.” Terrell looks at me with a puzzled expression, and I move off the bed. “Are you okay? Did they hurt you?” I ask.
