Page 208 of Fangs
“Where to?” she asked.
“I want to grab my quilt out of the clinic.” I watched panic flash across her face and reassured her, “You don’t have to come inside.”
A small smile crossed her lips. “Okay.”
As we put our boots on, Mac noticed us.
“Where you two goin’?” he asked.
“I gotta grab something at the clinic, and Sky’s walkin’ with me.”
“You want more company?” he asked, a worried furrow between his eyebrows.
“No, we’ll be okay.”
He frowned but didn’t push. “Okay.”
“Come lookin’ if we aren’t back in fifteen,” I added, managing a half smile.
“I’ll come lookin’ if you aren’t back in ten,” he promised.
When we stepped outside, the sun had almost disappeared behind the mountains, and the sound of frogs croaking was practically deafening.
“Must be spring,” Sky said, rubbing her arms and shivering.
It was chillier than expected, and Sky only wore a thin T-shirt. I shrugged out of my sweater and handed it to her. She tried to protest, but I glared at her until she gave in and put it on. Goosebumps covered my arms, but I’d survive.
After a few seconds, Sky ventured, “Do you think the others?—”
A shadowy figure appeared directly in front of us, materializing fromnothing.Sky and I both came to an abrupt halt, and I grabbed her arm, ready to run, but the shadow seized my shoulders, and suddenly, we werefallingthrough darkness. I tried to scream, but there was no air in my lungs; it felt like we were turning inside out. When it finally stopped, we were still in complete darkness, but there was a ground beneath my feet, and the sickening sensation had stopped. I finally managed to gasp in a lungful of air and screamed. The sound echoed around us in a horrifying way that seemed vaguely familiar. Sky was sobbing, and I pulled her tightly against my body. As the echo of my scream slowly faded, a dark laugh sounded from somewhere to our left. I jerked Sky behind me, turning to face the noise, my heart in my throat.
Light flared, blinding me, as a match lit a lantern, and once my eyes adjusted, I met Hawk’s eyes. He looked awful. His face was pale and thin, and the whites of his eyes were red. As he moved, his motions were jerky and unsteady. My breath started coming faster as I realized where we were—the solitary cell far below the watchtower. Sky and I were inside the cell, and Hawk stood outside the bars, sneering at us.
“Hawk.” My furious voice shook. “What are you doing?”
“I’m executing justice, Bones.”
“Let Sky go,” I snapped. “She hasn’t done anything.”
Sky stepped out from behind me, and Hawk’s eyes widened like he hadn’t noticed her, shock flashing across his face.
“What the fuck is she doing here?” he demanded.
“I don’t know,” Sky said, her voice trembling. “I was walking with Bones.”
Hawk turned a furious glare at me. “You would find a way to fuck this up, wouldn’t you?”
“Me?” I cried. “You’re the one who fucking dragged us here!”
“No,” he said in a cold voice. “I broughtyouhere, and just like always, you dragged an innocent person down with you.”
My breath caught painfully in my chest.
“Hawk, please,” Sky begged. “Please let us go.”
He looked at her, and honest regret filled his face as he set the lantern on the floor and drew his pistol. “I’m sorry, Sky. I can at least grant you a quick death.”
“What?” she gasped, and panic lanced through me.
