Page 81 of Shadows Within
“Things are fine. Goodbye, Professor.” I look back at him as I walk up the stairs. The same nauseous feeling that I had during my first flashback fills my stomach. I shove the door open and scurry across campus. I need to get home.
I head straight to my car, open the door, throw my bag across to the back seat, and press the lock button. I tightly grip the steering wheel and try to control my breathing.
Blow out the candles, smell the roses.
I repeat it.
Blow out the candles, smell the roses.
I open the center console in search of my emergency sour gummies stash. It’s empty.Shit.
I reach into the back for my bag and pull out my other rescue pack. I tear into the wrapper and dump some gummies into my hand. I find a yellow one, pop it into my mouth, and close my eyes.
Just when I think the agony is over, I’m taken back to that night.
The room is dark. I feel so drunk that I’m starting to fade. My legs feel heavy as I crawl across the bed.
As my head lands on the pillow, the door opens. It’s too dark to see who’s coming in. “Soph?” I moan.
She doesn’t respond. Two more figures pile into the room. I want to tell them that I’ll be here for just a few minutes, but I can’t get the words out. Three of them surround the bed—one at each side. The tallest figure stands at the bottom of the bed.
They say something quietly to each other. I can’t see their faces, but the tall one’s body looks familiar. He doesn't have abad posture of a hand in his pocket like the others. The way that he carries himself is different.
The tall one stands up straight. Clearly, he’s the leader of the pack. He places his hands on the bed but doesn’t come toward me. He just leans there.
I open my eyes.Another flashback.It was different this time. I focus on my breathing and close my eyes to try and make out their faces, but I can’t. I just want to know who they are.
I reach for the next gummy in my hand and my phone dings in my pocket. I pull it out.
Callum:Where are you?
I left so fast, I forget to call him. The only way I’m off the hook from him escorting me is if I call him after the lecture, preferably before I walk out to the car. He knows that my class got out twenty-five minutes ago.
Scarlett:Just on my way home. See you soon?
I place my phone down in the cup holder, put the car in reverse, and back out of the lot.
What Money Can’t Buy
Callum
I watch her from across the parking lot, yet she doesn’t see me.Did she really think I’d leave her alone after the note?She stares at her phone. Her cheeks are flushed, like she’s been bothered or out running.
I swear if she’s hiding something else from me, I will have to fuck it out of her. It isn’t safe for me to have this kind of aggression, not toward her. My grip tightens around the wheel.
She pulls her mirror down and looks at herself. But she isn’t trying to fix her makeup. It seems like she’s supressing a cry. Her ocean blue eyes turn icy. I can’t handle it. My teeth press together, and my chest rises and falls at a noticeable speed.
Scarlett is tough, there’s not much that she can’t handle. But when I see her upset, I turn into a predator. I feel the urge to hurt anyone who even looks at her the wrong way. I want to feel their bones break in my hands and watch as they squirm under my shoes, their glare meeting mine as they suck in their last breath. I want to take everything from them, because even though I don’t want to admit it, a piece of me disappears every time anything happens to her. I’d give her all of me just to keep her safe.
She pushes the mirror back up and pulls out of the parking lot. I start the engine and keep a far enough distance, so she doesn’t see my car. She’s been high alert lately and pays attention to everything, but I’m always two steps ahead of her.
Her last class was Elliot’s. As much as I hate that slime ball, I don’t think he’d try anything in class, but maybe I’m giving him too much credit. I need to figure out why The Society trusts him.Should I ask Harrison for another favor?I can’t. He’s too tied up in overseeing a few of the bigger drops right now.
I pull up the contacts list on my phone and click on Leo.
“Callum.” His voice echoes as if he’s also in a car.
“Do you have a minute?”
