Page 99 of Shadows Within
“Come on, this way.”
We head behind the temple. I lead us down an abandoned road that used to be for the funeral director to bring the hearse in.
“Harrison,” I lay Harrison down on the ground then I take off my belt, using it for a tourniquet on his leg. “Stirling will be here soon, just stay with us.”
Harrison moans. “Don’t worry about me, you idiot.” I chuckle.Only Harrison.
Two minutes later, Stirling’s car whips around the corner. He quickly jumps out when he sees Harrison on the ground.
“What the fuck happened!” He helps me pick Harrison up and we load him in the back seat.
Sophia’s head pokes up from the passenger window. As soon as she spots Scarlett, she gets out and runs over to her. They cling to each other and cry, as Stirling and I stuff Harrison into the car.
“I’ll explain it all later, right now we need to get somewhere with a first aid kit, preferably where no one can find us,” I say to Stirling.
We all pile into the car. Before I open the passenger seat door, I look to The Society—a dynasty that’s about to crumble.
And I’m going to be the one to destroy it.
Lake House
Scarlett
The car is warm. As we drive further from Millhaven, the metallic taste in my mouth gets stronger. I force down the saliva that builds. I watch as bare trees pass through the window.
I haven’t been in Stirling’s sports car since he picked me and Sophia up that night four years ago. Now, Harrison lays in the back with us—his head across Sophia’s lap and his legs across me. His blood has stopped flowing onto the seat. I glance at the rip in his jeans, just above his knee that got shot. I try not to stare at the hole left by the bullet.It’s a clean shot, and the bullet doesn’t look too deep.My stomach turns.
Stirling places all his focus on the road. I feel bad for him, always pulled into things. My eyes are drawn to Callum, but I don’t look at him. I close them and think of how the cold gun barrel felt against my head. I can’t stop replaying the image.
He almost killed me and then told me he loves me.
I look at Sophia to force the thought out of my head. We’ve been driving for almost an hour, and she hasn’t said much. She might be in as much shock as I am.
When we first got in the car, Sophia told me that she was tied up and taken in a car down a side road. She was then released to her dad. Originally, she thought that he would pay her ransom, but he was the one who helped organize everything. Sophia was only taken so they could get to me. She was never in harm’s way—she’s too important. She told me that she tried to call me, but I lost my phone when I was at her house.
“Dad.” I whisper. I need to tell him that I’m okay. Except, he doesn’t know about anything.
He doesn’t know that I was kidnapped and almost killed. Or that Mom was there. Or that we’re on the run from some of the most powerful men in the state.
We pull into a long driveway. The trees aren't well maintained, and I can’t spot a house at the end. Brush covers the entire laneway. Once we get close enough, I see a small, quaint yellow house. It’s not like ones in Millhaven.We’re in the country.
The car pulls up toward the back deck and the sun glistens off the lake. We come to a stop, and my door opens. Callum holds it. As I slide out of the back seat, his eyes don’t meet mine. Instead, he faces Harrison. Sophia gets out on the other side, then comes around to stand with me. Stirling steps out and helps Callum pull Harrison out of the car.
“What is this place?” Sophia asks.
“It was our grandmother's family cottage, no one in our family uses it. It’s not up to their standards—as you can see.” Stirling looks at the small yellow bungalow with its unkempt gardens.
“Grab the bag from the back.” Stirling yells to me and Sophia.
We grab a leather duffle bag and follow the guys inside. Stirling walks around to the other side of the house and comes out the back door, letting us in.
“We don’t spend much time here anymore.” His eyes lock on the empty flower beds.
As we walk inside, dust fills the air. White bed sheets cover some of the furniture, and what’s exposed looks like it hasn't been touched since the 70’s. I glance at a couch with a mix of pastel colours and checkered patterns—it’s almost comforting.
“I need to wash up, is there a bathroom?” I ask quietly.
“Just down the hall, last door on the right.”
