“What’s going on?” I ask the closest person to me. Our campus-like, our town was small, news traveled fast. There’s no way this can be about the body—the girl. The police just got there.
He doesn’t even turn to look at me when he mumbles, “A girl who went here got murdered.”
Goosebumps surge up my spine, turning my legs to lead. News travels fast.
“How?” I ask, gaining his full attention.
He turns to me, his brow dipping, “How what?”
“How was she murdered?” I want to inhale the words back into my mouth when his face scrunches up.
“Morbid much?” he accuses.
Am I morbid? Shrugging my shoulders, I shake my head slightly. “Just curious,” I say, but my skin feels like I’ve been swimming in oil. Should I be more affected?
She’s not the first dead body I’ve seen.
Crimson stains. Eyes open and vacant. Mama…
Sliding his backpack up his shoulder, he retorts, “They haven’t said yet, but it’s looking like a big deal, so I’m guessing it wasn’t pretty.” He tilts his head as he studies me. “You look familiar. Do we have a class together?”
“No,” I mumble, moving past him.
I’m only five minutes late when I finally push through the door of my cognitive psych class. All attention shifts to me as I enter. Dropping my bag beneath the desk and pulling out my notepad, I take a seat. A puddle forms beneath me. I’m a drenched rat, pitiful.
Stephan drops into his seat to my right, and I startle. “Why are you filthy and soaking wet?” He swipes at my thigh, thick with black dirt. I try not to flinch from his touch, but my body stiffens.
“I fell. Don’t ask.” I flick through the pages on my notebook to keep my hands busy, scribbling Marco over and over.
“You want my sweater?” he offers, pulling it over his head and placing it on the table in front of me. His T-shirt rides up, revealing a sliver of a tattoo. It takes me by surprise. I wouldn’t have pegged Stephan to be the type to have tattoos.
“You’re one of the good ones. You know that, right?” I tell him, a tired smile hooking the corner of my mouth. It feels unnatural, forced.
“Don’t tell people. I have a reputation to uphold.” He winks.
I hate myself for it, but I hold the wink against him.
Tugging off my jacket, I pull his sweater over my head and sigh. The fabric is still warm from his body. My skin is so cold, I can barely coordinate my limbs. I dump my bag on the chair next to me. Usually, Abigail sits there, poised and professional, agreeing with every person and their views on whatever topic we’re discussing. She doesn’t even notice that she contradicts herself by agreeing with all points. My phone vibrates across the table, drawing attention.
“Sorry,” I mime, holding it up. Guilty.
Charlotte: Just heard a girl from your campus got murdered!
Before I can click off the screen, a photo comes through, blindsiding me. Acid burns my stomach, racing up the throat. It’s different seeing her as a whole and not just legs. Pale, damp skin. Angry welted puncture wounds over her torso, breasts, neck. This poor girl suffered. This was rage. A frost settles over my chest as I stare at the image. Wet strands of hair lay splayed over her face.
Thud.
I know that face. I recognize it instantly. Brown hair. Full lips. Delicate features. It’s Abigail. My stomach dips, and the phone almost slips from my grip.
“Liz?” Stephan cups my face, his large palm warm. It should be comforting. But I feel nothing. I’m numb. “What is it?” He frowns, dropping his hand.
“It was Abigail,” I choke out, looking up at him. He’s beautiful. Light brown hair lays neatly over his head. Baby blues like the Caribbean peer down at me.
“Someone killed Abigail.” I blink. He doesn’t look shocked. This isn’t news to him.
“It’s probably an accident. Nothing happens here, so people get over-excited when something does,” he says to appease me, squeezing my shoulder.
This was no accident. “Did you see the picture my roommate sent me?” I screech, hysteria tingeing my tone.
A grimace mars his features. “It’s circulating the internet, Liz. A picture of her body. It was sent to everyone.”
My insides clench. “Why would people do that?” Everyone in the room gawks at me like I’m freaking crazy.
“Calm down. Grab your stuff. Let’s get out of here. You look like you’re getting hyperthermia.”
I send a scathing glare to the eyes still on me. “What the hell are you looking at?”
“Ms. West,” our Professor admonishes—like I’m the one in the wrong. Snatching my bag to my chest, I sling my wet coat over my arm, my heart skipping a beat when Abigail’s empty chair becomes a crater-sized hole in the room.
“You okay?” Stephan asks when we’re in the corridor.
No! How is anyone okay? “I’m fine,” I state defensively.
Shaking his head and raising his shoulders, he says, “Death intrigues people, Liz. They take pictures. Everyone’s desensitized these days.”
“They’re assholes. She’s a person—a freaking student they went to school with—someone’s child, sister!”
“You want me to take you home?”
Tucking a strand of unruly hair behind my ear, I exhale. “No. I want to walk. I need the air.”
“It’s still storming out.”
“I said I’m fine,” I grate out, pulling his sweater over my head and pushing it into his chest. “I’ll see you later.” Not waiting for his reply, I take off.
Abigail was my seat neighbor. We weren’t friends, but it puts me on edge knowing she was murdered. Murdered. Someone killed her, and people are looking at her naked, violated body, sharing it like its porn—and they’re looking at me like I’m the freak.
I need to get away from everyone.
Four
Sleeping the day away has left me with a thundering headache in the back of my skull. It takes me half an hour to walk to Marley’s, my
