I need to make this quick.
Before I open the Uber app, I get a call from an anonymous number. I decline the call to try and open the app, but before I can, the number calls again.
I decide on instinct to pick it up. “Hello?” I say.
“Thank God!” a familiar voice yells into the receiver.
“Danna? Where have you been?”
“I have a lot to tell you,” Danna says. “First off, are you safe?”
I look down the road and behind me into the woods. I half expected to see Jack and Jill jump out with Chase smiling behind them. “No, not really. A lot of stuff has happened since I saw you. My phone is about to die, and I need to get out of here.”
“Okay, so listen. I need you to come back to the house you ran away from today.”
“You were there?”
Danna sighs. “I really need you to get here, and soon. Do you remember where the house was?”
“Somewhat near Bryce’s neighborhood,” I say trying to retrace my steps in my mind.
“Do you know how to get to Bryce’s home from where you are?”
“Yeah, I’m near the main road. I can find my way.”
Danna gives me some quick instructions on how to get to her from Bryce’s neighborhood. “Be careful!” she says. “All of them are looking for you now. Do not trust anyone. Get here as quickly as you can, as safely as possible. Lance will be driving around looking for you.”
“Lance?” I ask utterly confused.
Danna laughed. “I know, right. He is with us. Without him we would all be dead already. It’s especially important that when you get here you—” The phone call ended abruptly as Danna was trying to tell me something important.
Great. Another beautiful day in Ryland.
∞∞∞
It’s dark by the time I get close to the abandoned home.
I am back where I started, and unsure how to feel.
I trust Danna, but I do not trust Lance.
After what Chase tried to do, I feel like I could be walking into a trap. I am walking right into the Beast’s plans.
I wait outside in the large backyard of the property, watching the house. I cannot see any movement inside. All the shades and curtains are drawn. No one has entered or exited the home in the last hour.
Something is telling me to just go and knock on the backdoor. My head is telling me I am being stupid, again.
I managed to get away from Chase somehow. I am not sure I could do it again if I had to.
I’m starving, hungry, and my legs are sore. I have never run this much in my life.
Danna would not tell me to come here if it wasn’t safe though. My head and my instincts are in agreement with that, for a change.
I come out from hiding and slowly make my way towards the backdoor of the abandoned house. A car whizzes by on the road nearby, and I duck to the ground right away. It almost sounded like a sports car. It could be Chase.
An image of Jill intrudes my thoughts. I can see the vicious dog, drool coming from its lips, running towards me.
I cannot do it again.
I stand up and run towards the backdoor. Lights from a car shine into the backyard.
It feels like my heart is about to bounce out of my chest.
I knock furiously, until it starts to open slowly.
Jaxson opens the door and looks at me in shock. Firmly in the grip of his large fist is a kitchen knife.
Chapter 9
Lance
I drive up to the side street of the Smithson’s house. I need to be careful who sees me. If a nearby neighbor notices all the activity, we could all be caught.
I need to be careful, but I also need to know if Elle has made it here safe. I have been driving around all day looking for her.
It is starting to be dangerous for me to be in public now as well.
I am not sure what Chase would do when he woke from his forced slumber. Would he talk to his dad? Would my father know what happened?
Chase was right. The number of rules I broke today could be damning. They could order me to be killed.
I have not received any texts or calls though. Not from any other members, Chase, or my father. I am leaning towards that’s a good sign, but you can’t be too cautious.
Ryland is a dangerous place now. It is time to leave.
The Smithson house won’t be a haven for us for much longer. When I park my car, I open the door and can hear screaming from the Smithson’s backyard.
I run quickly toward the source and find Jaxson putting pressure on his fist. “She can fucking bite.”
I can hear movement in the dark yard behind me and run towards her. I manage to get close to Elle and tell her to stop while being cautious about how loud I am being.
She does not listen. She starts to scream.
“Stop, Elle!” I demand, but she only runs faster, and her screams grow.
I finally tackle her to the ground and shove my hand firmly over her mouth. “No more screaming. No more running. Stop! You’re going to get us all killed. Do you understand?” I look at Elle and see the tears forming. “Listen, make this easy, please. Come back to the house, and we’ll tell you everything. I’m going to let go of you now, and you’re not going to scream, okay?”
I ease my grip from her mouth, and she shrugs my hand away. “You are a fucking piece of shit!” she yells.
I cover her mouth again and pick her up. “Nothing with you is easy, Elle.”
Chapter 10
Elle
I manage to settle, after a while. I sit on a couch that is covered in plastic and Danna sits beside me holding my hand. When I am calm, the three of them take turns explaining everything
