Page 83 of Even in the Dark

Phil notices too. “It’ll die down,” he says, leaning in so only I can hear. “The fascination people have with you—give it a few more weeks, and they’ll have moved on to some new event or whatever to gossip about.”

I don’t say anything. Not sure I believe him. Still hope he’s right, though.

A couple minutes later, the entire Thiels family shows up. Scarlett’s wearing a bright green coat that makes her peach-pale skin look like it’s glowing and her eyes even greener. Her lips shiny from that watermelon gloss. She’s stunning, and it makes me even more uncomfortable. Makes me suspicious, but not sure of what. Maybe just Eli’s claws still tearing into my conscience.

She does this thing where she leans in and squeezes my bicep. Almost like she’s hugging my arm or something. I don’t hate it.

She pulls back right away. Knows I’m not a guy who likes people getting up in my personal space. Guess I blasted that message loud and clear last week in my room.

“Hey,” she says, kind of breathless, like they all jogged over from the car. Her nose and cheeks are pink from the cold. “How are you?”

“Okay.”

Our eyes meet. Hers looks happy. No idea how mine look. Probably tired and suspicious.

“So…” She wiggles her eyebrows. Kind of playful. Doesn’t seem in character for her but I like seeing her like this. Lighter. Less uptight. “Your first dance recital.”

“Yup.”

She leans in again until I can feel her warm breath against my cheek. Smell her watermelon lips. “Full disclosure…” she says softly. “These things are pretty deadly.”

I nod once. Great.

A few minutes later, we follow the rest of the crowd into the auditorium, which is as stunning as the lobby. Soft wine-red seats. Ornate gold details everywhere. Feels like I stepped into an old movie or something.

Our seats are with the Thiels towards the front of the theater, right in the middle of the row. Don’t love that. Not gonna say anything, though. Kenz ends up sitting with Sadie, so Phil sits next to me on one side and Scarlett on the other. Feels really close. Our arms keep brushing against each other.

Then our feet.

Thighs…

Knees.

Scarlett leans in. “Buckle in,” she whispers. “It’s a whole hour before intermission.”

Think I’m supposed to smile. I don’t. Feels like there’s not enough air in the room. Like there’s so many people sucking it in, there’s hardly any left for me. Or could be the way Scarlett is so close. Our bodies touching.

“They’ll reel you in… Use their soft little bodies and plump lips and wide eyes to distract you, so you won’t see what they’re really doing. Slowly luring you in…”

Music starts up, so loud it rattles the walls. My nerves. My composure. Lights flood the stage. A swarm of girls file out and do this whole dance routine which, honestly, is pretty impressive for a bunch of eleven and twelve-year-olds. Kenz is right—Chloe’s a good dancer. She looks happy up there. No scowl or scheming eyes trying to catch you doing something she can rat you out for. The dance ends. Music fades.

Then the lights go out.

It’s pitch black.What the fuck?

I wasn’t prepared for this. Should have occurred to me they’d turn the lights out in between numbers.

It’s fine, though. It's just a fancy theater. An audience. Kids waiting to file back out on stage.

Feels like another place, though. ’Cos that’s the thing about total darkness—it hides what’s real and makes it easy to feel like you’re in the worst places with the worst people, doing the absolute worst kinds of things. The kinds of things people only do under the cover of total black.

I feel sweat starting to pool against my lower back. My hands going clammy.

Turn. The fucking. Lights on.

“You alright?” Phil whispers, and I almost deck him, I’m so on edge.

“Fine,” I say, jaw clenched tight as my nerves.

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