Page 105 of Forged in Rain

I’m still glancing between them suspiciously when she slides over to the driver’s side and gives me an impatient frown.

“What?” I ask, watching Rand take off down the street.

“Get in!”

“Iris, why are we driving that dick face’s car?” I ask, sliding into the seat and closing the door behind me.

“Because I’m sure my mom knows exactly where I am if I drive my own. Speaking of which, gimme your phone.”

“Why?” I ask, clutching it in my hand. She only rolls her eyes and grabs it away from me. I huff, which is ignored as she powers it off and drops it on the pavement.

“Iris,” I screech, watching my last connection to anything tumble onto the road, reminiscent of my previous phone.

“I told you to leave it behind. Relax. You want Mom watching you wherever you go?”

“Why did you give it to me in the first fucking place, then?”

“Because I didn’t know she’s a part of this,” she says sourly, accelerating onto the freeway.

“Fuck,” I mutter, staring out the window.

We’re quiet for the first hour, Iris humming to the music under her breath. Other than the compound, this is as far as I’ve ever been from Iris’ home, but there’s not much to see as we leave the big city behind and begin to climb a mountain.

It’s really dark. The roads are winding and twisty, covered in looming trees and stars. Somewhere along the way, I fall into sleep, exhausted from everything that’s constantly barreling down on me. I’m worried about my family. I’m concerned about Cyn and his sister. Shit, I’m worried about me, and when I close my eyes, all I can see is their faces rolling in a montage through my brain.

Not only that, but Pam’s ridiculous plans are at the forefront of my thoughts. I haven’t heard from Hate, and I don’t know what that means, but it’s not good news. If McCafferty wanted my information so badly, what’s he waiting for? Unless he doesn’t need me anymore, which means I’m fucked.

Iris is right, it’s all about to come to a head, but I just wish I knew what was coming. I can’t believe I’m saying it, but our plan to off John was better than Pam’s plan. How could she get caught up in this? All roads lead back to death, and I’m not particularly interested in dying.

I wish my dad would call me. I wish I could talk to Cyn. I wish I could worry about my schoolwork and normal teenage fucking mores. Gah.

“Wake up,” Iris mutters, and I stir, flipping my eyes open. We’re stopped but no longer on the road. In fact, it’s almost as if she drove right through trees and bushes to get wherever we are. I can’t see a fucking thing, and I’m just about to ask where the cabin is supposed to be when a light comes on before us.

I can see now that we’re tucked behind a series of trees a hundred yards from a small cabin, beside which a small sedan sits. It’s nothing to write home about, but I suppose it would do for a small family as a vacation home.

I can’t see much more than a silhouette in the small window beside the door since curtains cover the glass, but I suck in a breath anyway. Holy shit, is that John? My bones crackle, and I stiffen, rubbing my chest with a wince when the still healing bruise throbs beneath my touch.

What the hell are we doing? This is so fucking dangerous.

Iris is watching the house with a blank expression, and I fight the shiver that raises goosebumps on my arms. What the fuck?

“Iris?” I whisper, flinching when she turns, and I see nothing of my cousin shining back at me.

“Here’s the thing, Rainy,” she says, her voice far too calm. “If I don’t find John, I’m fucked.”

“Which means what?” I whimper, glancing at the cabin once more.

“It means, if I don’t do this, I die. I don’t want to die, Rain. I don’t. Do you understand?”

Even with these words, her voice is eerily calm, and I cock my head to the side and try for an even tone, but I fail miserably as I ask shrilly, “What? Fuck, Iris.”

“I told you we would have to do things we don’t want to do. Well, this is one of them.”

“I don’t understand. What are you saying?”

She glances at the cabin, shadows dancing over her face in the moonlight, before her brows drop over her eyes, and she chews her lip. “John won’t ever give up. He always said if he goes down, I go with him.”

“So?” I ask, rubbing my chilled arms.

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