Page 23 of Hallow Hill at Halloween: Part Two

“I didn’t mean it was understandable that your ex would choose someone younger, or anyone, over you. I meant that I understood what you were saying.”

“Oh. If this turns out to be a prank…” I warned.

“You can bring me before the Bureau when you get out of here.”

“I can’t judge my own case.” I remembered enough to know that much.

I heard Jeff laugh softly and the sound helped me inch toward belief that he was real. “That is true. You’d have to hire an assassin.”

“Laugh all you want, but I do know at least one.”

“I’m not laughing. I’m as sober as a judge. But I know something you don’t.”

“What?”

“I’m really, really, really hard to kill.”

“I believe you, but it doesn’t matter. I’m not hiring anybody to kill you.”

“I know.”

“Then what are we talking about?”

“Getting you out of here.”

I didn’t take a lot of time to think that over. We were in complete agreement about getting me out of here. And maybe Keir and Evie had sent him. “What do I do?”

“I’m guessing you see random bits of light.”

Jeff’s extraordinary hearing picked up the tiniest friction of fabric. “Are you nodding?”

“Yes.”

“I want you to try something, but first I want to talk about what you can and can’t do.”

“Okay.”

“Again, do you trust me?”

“Stop asking her that. You sound like a horny teenager,”Bulent interjected.

“Shut it. I can’t carry on two conversations at once,”Jeff told him.

“Do I have to?” I had to ask because trust was the one thing I didn’t want to give easily.

“It will certainly make things easier.”

“For you or me?” I didn’t wait for an answer. “Alright. But just this one time.”

“Good. Here it is. It’syourdream. You’re held here by your own belief. You can do anything you want.” I opened my mouth to protest, but he forged ahead. “There’s no point in arguing because I’m sticking to my wicket. The only thing stopping you from reaching the light before the light disappearsis your belief in limits. Like, for instance, limits to your speed.” He paused for a couple of heartbeats. “Are you following this?”

“Yes. It’s the secret, right?”

“I… guess.”

“You know.The Secret?”

“Rita…”

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