Page 7

We wasted so much goddamned time…

I can’t tell what Liliana is carving into my skin, but the cuts help me from spiraling. Mrs. Denton seems to be the voice of reason here, though I have a feeling that could change at any time. As much as I’ve pretended she’s simply a nosy bitch who’s a do-gooder, she seems to be the glue holding this insane family together.

“Done. Your turn, Jared.”

“This microchip needs to be inserted at the base of his back. Keep him still.”

White hot pain. Fuck, it shouldn’t hurt this much. I barely hold back a scream as a syringe is pushed under my skin. Darkness fades in and out as I hear my friends undergo the same treatment as me, and then I’m being yanked to my feet.

“We’ll take care of them from here, baby. Why don’t you try to get some sleep? We’ll call in a team in the morning to dive at first light,” Jared says. “I’ll go private.”

“Don’t you need a last known point for that?” I ask, my mind scattered.

“Mark it on the screen,” Theo says, watching as I’m pushed toward the computer. The chain trips me as my feet tangle in it, but it’s no longer attached to my bound wrists.

I’ve walked every inch of the park with Ci and Draven, and I lean down to peruse the map in front of me.

“She fell here,” I whisper, pointing it out.

“Keep your nose clean,” Mr. Emil grunts the shotgun in his hands again. “Rachelle can only keep me from doing my worst for so long. If my granddaughter is dead, we’ll bury her. Do not contact my family ever again.”

“We’ve done more than enough damage,” Draven says, the gag gone now. “I’m so sorry. I reached for her and couldn’t help. I’ll never forgive myself.”

I can feel the blood drenching my pants and ignore it as we’re marched up the stairs, down the driveway, and pushed out into the street.

“How do we explain this?” I ask, the gate closing on my question.

“We walk,” Ciaran mutters, wincing as he takes a step. “No one will pick us up like this.”

“Not covered in shit and blood,” Draven agrees, falling into step. “Please no one ever mention the shit again.”

I nod, preparing to walk home. It’ll take us hours, but it doesn’t matter. It’ll give us plenty of time to think and mourn.

CHAPTER

THREE

NOOR

I can’t get my body to stop shivering. A part of me swears I’m dead as I lay on a thin area of soil. I managed to fight to get to the surface after I woke up underwater, and then half swam, half drowned my way to where I am now. I’m frozen solid and wet, struggling to plan my next move.

Jared’s swimming lessons are the only reason I’m here.

The cold is giving me a hard time as my muscles lock up, but I’m going to die if I don’t get up. I push myself up and stand, moving around the rock in front of me to search for a way out of here. I’m having trouble breathing and my knees keep threatening to buckle as I walk.

“Oof.”

Why am I staring at dirt? My fingers claw at the ground and I groan as I push myself back up. I tripped on fucking air. The fog makes it difficult to see as I move up the path, and I swear I keep hearing people talking or laughing as I walk.

I even swear I hear Ciaran whisper something and flinch away from the sound. My arms bind around my stomach as I force one foot to move after the other, promising my baby that we’ll never see the Devils again. I’m so cold I’m fucking hearing things.

I don’t know what the chances of hypothermia are, but that water was cold as fuck. I stumble, fall, and crawl through the forest as I follow the path, dropping to my knees as I see the parking lot.

I’m pretty sure I got lost a couple of times, but maybe I can get a ride out of here.

“Hey. Why are you wet? Get up.”

I gaze at one of the many students who go to Chesterfield Prep and can’t remember their name as he helps me to my feet.