“But … that’s insane.”
“I’m right there with you, buddy,” Marcus said, laughing maniacally. “It took me a week to realize it was really happening. After that I started planning my revenge. Do you know how surreal it was to go to my own funeral in my sister’s body? Creepy.
“I couldn’t take a shower for a week because the idea of seeing Laura’s naked body was so gross,” he continued. “I smelled so bad my mother finally insisted I reintroduce myself to soap. She assumed poor Laura was grieving.”
“What happened to Laura?”
“She hung around in my new brain with me for a little bit,” Marcus replied, his eyes flashing with annoyance. “She kept nattering on and on about me leaving because that was my only true escape. I kept telling her to shut up … and then she would go away for days sometimes and I thought I’d won … but every time she came back begging me to do the right thing. She always was a moron.”
Jack couldn’t decide if he was lost in a nightmare or if this was really happening. If this was a nightmare, his only hope was Ivy finding him to drag him away. Maybe he was still unconscious. That was a more reasonable assumption than believing Marcus somehow managed to body jump.
“Where is Laura now?”
“She left,” Marcus replied. “She was there when I dug up the gun and she called me a bad man.” His tone was mocking. “She said that karma was going to get me no matter what. I knew that wasn’t true. If karma was going to get me I would’ve died on the expressway that night.”
“You did die that night,” Jack said, his voice wavering.
“Nope. Now I get to finish what I started. I’m going to kill you, Jack. I’m going to make it hurt, too. When I’m done, I’m going to find a way to get your precious Ivy. I’ll send her along to the other side soon after I’m done with you. Your biggest problem is that I want to take my time. You’re going to have to do some suffering before I let you die. I hope you’re ready for it.”
Jack’s heart thudded at the thought of Marcus putting his hands on Ivy. “Leave Ivy alone.”
“Is that all you care about? What about you? Don’t you want to beg for your life?”
“I’ll beg for Ivy’s life if it makes a difference,” Jack offered. “I won’t beg for myself.”
“Have it your way,” Marcus said. “Ivy is dying, though. I’ll just bet they bury you guys next to each other. It will be sweet and romantic. I can’t wait to see how she screams.”
“WELL?” Laura asked, her voice close to Ivy’s ear.
“You were right,” Ivy whispered. She stepped away from the half-window of the old Winchester house and dug her phone out of her pocket. “Keep watching them. I have to make a call … and then we’re going in.”
“What are you going to do when we get inside?”
“Save Jack … and hopefully figure out a way for you to get your body back.” Ivy pressed the phone to her ear and waited for Brian to pick up. When he did, he sounded irritated. Ivy cut him off before he could get a full head of steam. “I know you think I’m crazy, and I don’t blame you. I’m not at my house, though.”
“Where are you?”
“I crawled out the window and stole my father’s car,” Ivy replied, her voice even. “He’s probably panicking right now, but I had to find Jack. He’s at the old Winchester house on Cedar Creek Road. Do you know where that is?”
Brian was flabbergasted. “How did you find him?”
“You won’t believe me if I tell you,” Ivy answered. “He’s in the basement and he’s tied to a chair. I’m going in after him.”
“Don’t you even think about it!” Brian roared. “The one thing in this world Jack wants above everything else is for you to be safe. If you go into that house, you’ll both be in danger.”
“If I don’t go into that house, Laura is going to torture Jack to death,” Ivy countered. “You’re on your way. I can distract her until you get here.”
“No!”
“I’m hanging up my phone now,” Ivy said, eerily calm. “I’m going into that basement. I’m going to save Jack. I’m going to need you to save me. I’m turning off my phone so it doesn’t give me away. I … if something happens, tell my father I’m sorry. I can’t leave Jack, though.”
Ivy cut off Brian’s colorful swearing and disconnected her phone, powering it off before Brian could call back. She pocketed the device and squared her shoulders before moving toward the front door. “I’m coming, Jack.”
“I WON’T let you hurt Ivy,” Jack said, glancing around the basement for a hint of something he could use as a weapon. He had no idea how he was going to get out of his bonds, but he’d been shifting his wrists and managed to loosen them, although only marginally.
“What is it about that chick?” Marcus asked, twirling around the floor-to-ceiling beam. “I mean, she’s hot. I can see that. You’re hopelessly in love with her, though. I can’t remember ever seeing you like this with a woman.”
“Ivy isn’t like any other woman in the world.”
“Is it the pink hair? Is that what does it for you?”
“The whole package does it for me,” Jack replied. “You need to stay away from her.”
“Oh, we both know I can’t do that, Jack,” Marcus said. “You ruined my life and I’m going to ruin yours. The truly sad part is that you won’t be alive to see Ivy die. Maybe I can keep you alive long enough to figure out a way to get her, too. I would love to watch you try to save her. That’s my idea of fun.”
“I will kill you,” Jack seethed, yanking
