Page 153 of Endless Anger
“No, you stupid bitch. But I’m not an idiot. I would never win a fight against that mindless brute. He talks with his fists, and we all know he loves to put out fires by creating bigger ones.”
A moment passes, the two of us staring at each other.He knows.
He knows Asher set the fire at Lethe’s that day three years ago, and he knows it was for me.
How he knows isn’t relevant, but it’s clear that Beckett is aware Asher’s connection to me runs a lot deeper than some random hookups.
Nausea churns in my gut, burning a path up my chest. Shit, shit,shit.
Is that why I was blamed? To keep the fire’s memory alive and keep school apprehension toward me at the forefront of everyone’s minds? If no one liked me, it wouldn’t matter when I suddenly went missing.
To anyone other than Asher, who they would attack when he came to find me.
Because he would find me. That much I do know.
I can feel him searching right now in my soul, because that’s how deep our bond is. That’s how well I know him.
He’d follow me to the ends of the earth, no matter how I’d ventured to them.
Except that’s apparently exactly what Beckett and his cohorts want. They think Asher Anderson and his siblings are a blight on the existence of Fury Hill, and they used me to bring him to their level.
This plan has been in motion foryears.
And I fell right for it.
Swallowing, I push down the mounting panic as it rises in my throat. Freaking out won’t do anyone any good, and seduction is no longer an option. I need a practical escape, something I can use to get Foxe out too, and then come back for Willa.
My eyes flicker to her, roving over her form as the second hooded figure joins his buddy, stepping on the bottom of her foot until she pleads with them to stop.
They’re the first words she’s spoken, punctuated by mouthfuls of blood dribbling down her chin, and my heart aches with the sheer agony rippling through each syllable. After a few moments, the masked pair seems to grow bored; they walk off, disappearing through the one exitin the area. Light spills in, and I wonder how many tunnels and other openings there are here.
A sawing noise echoes through the corridor a few minutes later, drowning out the sound of Willa’s sobs. Sadness pierces my chest as I wonder what they’re doing to Eli—how they probably started with him and are working their way through us.
“Beckett,” I say, lifting my chin. My wrists chafe against the rope, but I work them from side to side behind my back anyway, trying to get enough slack to slip out. “Do you realize how bad this is going to look for you? Maybe the Fury Hill PD can overlook one or two students here and there, butfourdead people at once? Found in the same area, mutilated and tortured? There’s no way that’s getting brushed under the rug.”
He turns, shrugging. “My family owns this town. I’ll be fine. Besides, I’m not technically doing anything. I’m not even reallyhere. In a few days, when someone reports one of you missing and Dean Bauer opens an investigation so that he looks good to the school board, they’ll find nothing but charred remains.”
“You’re going to start a fireunderground? Do you realize that can collapse soil and incinerate the entire Primordial Forest?”
“What the fuck do I care? If I can take out half the acreage around campus, that’s even better. Room for developing it instead of letting greedy conservationists keep it for themselves.”
“They’re greedy, but that isn’t?”
His face turns bright red. “I’mallowedto be. My entire life has been shaped by how this town acts and how?—”
“You’re a little boy murdering for his mommy and daddy,” I spit, leaning in with a glare. “Your life was shaped by your fuckingprivilege, and it’s insulting for you to insinuate otherwise just because you want to look good for your future investors or bosses or whoever else?—”
I don’t see his hand as it sails through the air toward me, but I certainly feel when it connects with my cheek, sending me flying. Sprawling out on my stomach, my chin bounces off the rocky ground, scraping so hard I see stars.
“Shut the fuck up and just wait for your boyfriend.” Beckett slides his mask back into place and pulls his hood over his head. “I don’t want to have to do that again.”
Silently seething, I watch him head out of our cavern the same way the other two exited and then wait a few more minutes to see if I hear his footsteps returning. When only the sounds of Willa’s soft sobs are audible, I spring into action, finally managing to slide one of my wrists through the bindings.
Pain ricochets up the side of my face, but I can’t pay attention to that now.
With one arm free, I bring both in front of me; blood drips down my fingers from where I’ve been rubbed completely raw by the rope, but there’s no time to care.
Launching myself across the cave, I land hard on my knees next to Willa, my hands trembling as I lift them, trying to figure out what the hell I’m supposed to do.
