Page 70 of Under the Bed

“Who could’ve done that?” Panic laces into her tear-soaked voice. “Who could’ve killed our friend?”

“Breathe, Val. The police will figure it out soon. They always do.” Unless my dad bribes them, that is.

“Y-you’re right.”

“I’ll talk to you in the morning.” The handle of the pocketknife digs holes into my palm. “Go to bed. Lock your doors and stay safe. That’s what I plan to do.”

“You’re right. I will.”

“We’ll talk tomorrow. Promise.”

“Promise you’ll be okay?” She sniffles, grieving Marina’s death while I have Marina’s finger hidden at home. “I can’t lose you too. I can’t.”

“I’ll be fine.” I never will. As long as Kaleb’s life is on the line, I’ll always be one step from losing it. “Go to bed, please. We’ll worry about the rest in the morning.”

“Okay.” Her whisper is muted by my pulse. It’s hammering in my ears on my jog out of this place. “I love you. Stay safe.”

I’m out in the street, crossing to the alley where I parked my car. “I will. Promise.”

“Say it. I need to hear the words.”

“I’ll stay safe,” I promise.I hope. “Love you. Bye.”

The call disconnects.

I get two seconds of silence. Two seconds of walking peacefully toward my Range Rover.

“You’ll never be safe from me.”

His voice sounds from behind me as his gloved hand wraps around my mouth.

The pinching in my neck.

My palm opens on its own, releasing the pocketknife into my coat.

I’m too weak to do or say anything. My vision blurs around the edge.

I’m mildly aware that I lost the fight.

I don’t even have it in me to feel anything other than this…

Drowsiness.

Darkness consumes me.

Before it whisks me away, though, I feel Kaleb’s hand flat on my stomach, pulling me back to his big, muscular body. Cold latex presses against my cheek.

His mask.

“Sweet dreams, Shi.”

My eyes roll to the back of my head.

“The real nightmare will be right here when you wake up.”

12

KALEB

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