Page 44 of The Fight

My stomach sinks.

I don’t even hesitate as I swipe to answer it, pressing it to my ear. “Hello?”

At first, there’s nothing but a brief, unnerving silence, and then a voice crackles through the receiver. Blake’s voice.

“I told you you should have stayed away.”

I freeze, the words hitting me like a punch to the chest. My pulse races, and a cold shiver runs down my spine.

Before I can react, I hear the same voicein person, clear as day, coming from behind me near the edge of the church.

My heart skips a beat as I spin around. The feeling of dread floods through me as I spot Blake standing there, barely ten feet away. My hands go cold as the phone and Shay’s jacket slip from my grasp. But before I can react or even open my mouth to speak, he lunges forward.

I turn to try and run away, but a sharp, quick blow lands on the back of my head. My legs give out from under me, and I reach for the stone wall, but it feels like it’s moving further away,

“Shay…” I manage to whisper.

The ground feels uneven, and everything starts to blur. The last thing I hear before everything goes black is the sound of Blake’s voice again. Too close. Too haunting.

“I tried to warn you.”

Then, there’s nothing. No light, no sound, no air. Just darkness swallowing me whole.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

BLAIR

Stepping out of the bathroom, I start toward the foyer, then push open the large wooden doors. I’m expecting to see Blair—she should be waiting for me—but she isn’t there.

I scoff and step further outside. “Come on, don’t play with me, Blair. We have to go.” I’m expecting to hear her voice or even a giggle, something to give away her position, but there is nothing but silence.

My smile falls, and my brows furrow. “Blair?” I don’t even say her name loud enough to be a whisper.

As I take another step, my foot catches on something on the ground. Looking down, I see my jacket crumpled up and my phone lying beside it. I squat down, picking up the expensive fabric with one hand, my phone in the other. The screen is shattered and flickering with black lines.

I glance out to the parking lot and notice there isn’t a single car other than mine. No people either, but a spot down the steps catches my eye. Standing back to my full height, I walk toward it, squinting my eyes as I do, trying to make out the dark stain.

My stomach lurches once I’m close enough to see what it is, and I freeze.

My phone and jacket, blood, and no Blair.

My breath catches in my throat, and panic floods my system. I kneel down quickly, touching the spot just to make sure it’s real. The liquid is cold on my fingers and sends a shiver down my spine.

No.No. This can’t be happening.

“Blair!” I yell out, my mouth working before my brain can even catch up, but there is no answer.

My heart is pounding against my ribs, racing so fast I can’t even think clearly, can’t even catch my breath. I look around again, frantic, searching the parking lot for any other signs of her, but there is nothing.

I call her name again.

Silence.

Pushing myself to my feet, my gaze still darting back and forth, I run toward my Jeep. Throwing open the door, I shove my jacket and phone into the seat, then reach for my keys in my pocket. My hands fumble and shake as I try to put them into the ignition. Once they’re seated, I twist them, then slam the gear shift into drive. My door closes as I peel out of the parking lot.

I tear down the road, my eyes locked on the path in front of me, but my mind keeps going back to the church. The blood. Someone hurt her. She’s hurt.Mygirl is hurt.

I have to find her.

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