girl in the tank. It’s the girl Chloe killed.
I take in her sharp beauty, full lips, almond shaped eyes. Chloe is so narcissistic she could have killed Emerson for her looks alone. That brings a whole new meaning to looks that kill. I stand and gaze at her sideways. I wonder if Gage found her attractive—if he could have loved her? Why else would Chloe kill her?
Just as I’m about to pluck my phone out of my pocket to take a picture, a hand flops over my shoulder and gives a gentle squeeze.
Chapter Thirteen
The Air up There
I don’t hesitate unleashing a wild drawn out scream. A scream that last for miles, that feels like it’s pulling my intestines out right through my vocal chords.
I can feel myself being lifted. That familiar tuning fork feeling emits all over, and I gasp for breath as I open my eyes.
“Marshall!”
He lifts his finger to his lips and places my feet down safe in a bedroom bathed in moonlight that happens to be my own. I run over and push the dresser over my door and flick the lights on. The alarm next to my bed reads two-thirty.
“Logan and Gage are still down there.”
His eyes track over me with a look of serious disdain. “Are they all you ever think about? Does it ever cross your mind that maybe Marshall’s down there? Gee, I wonder if Marshall’s safe today?” He postures himself as though he were me.
“Very funny.” I fish my cell out of my pocket and speed dial. I meant to hit Gage, but my thanks to my incompetent muscle memory, I automatically hit Logan’s name instead.
“Hello?” He sounds groggy as though he’s been asleep for hours.
“Where are you?”
“I’m in the woods looking for you,” he whispers. “Are you OK?”
“Yes,” I say, looking hesitantly over at Marshall. “I found a backdoor and crawled out a latch. Um, I saw Mr. Dudley, and I hitched a ride home with him.” I’m sure Logan can read between the lines. “How’d you get out?”
“I sold my soul to the company store.”
“What does that mean?” I’m almost afraid to ask.
“I’ll explain another time.”
“What about Gage?”
“He’s out here with me. He says he’ll be over as soon as he drives his car home.”
Marshall cocks his head to the side. Tell him it’s not necessary. I’ll stay the night. It’s the least I could do after you spent the night at my place.
I avert my eyes at his offer. “Tell Gage to get here as fast as he can,” I whisper into the phone.
Marshall looks indignant. I’m not taking no for an answer. I won’t relish having to alter your boyfriend’s limbs in a horrific accident. These things are known to happen.
“On second thought, tell Gage I’ve got Brielle, and I don’t think he should come.” I don’t think those lines were quite as easy to read between.
“OK. Hey, Skyla?” Logan sounds winded.
“Yeah?” I watch as Marshall flops onto my bed backwards and fans his arms out.
“I would have done anything to save you,” he whispers almost secretively, “I’m glad you’re alright.”
“Thanks.” For once I believe him.
I hang up and toss my phone on the nightstand.
“Get up.” I make sure my irritation comes in clear.
Marshall vaults up to the top of the canopy and watches as I get under the covers and turn off the lamp. His body illuminates a gentle shade of butter, and he dims it just right until I can look up without hurting my eyes.
“Where the hell was I?” I’m hoping Marshall will demystify the events of the last few hours.
“None of your business,” he says it curt, lets me know he means it.
“What were you doing there?”
“Second verse same as the first.”
“Emerson was in one of those holding tanks.”
“You wield aggressive observational powers. That, and I believe the tank was labeled.”
“Is she alive?”
“Did she wave hello?”
“No,” I pause. “Did you come because I called you?” A cold shiver runs through me as I anticipate his
I take in her sharp beauty, full lips, almond shaped eyes. Chloe is so narcissistic she could have killed Emerson for her looks alone. That brings a whole new meaning to looks that kill. I stand and gaze at her sideways. I wonder if Gage found her attractive—if he could have loved her? Why else would Chloe kill her?
Just as I’m about to pluck my phone out of my pocket to take a picture, a hand flops over my shoulder and gives a gentle squeeze.
Chapter Thirteen
The Air up There
I don’t hesitate unleashing a wild drawn out scream. A scream that last for miles, that feels like it’s pulling my intestines out right through my vocal chords.
I can feel myself being lifted. That familiar tuning fork feeling emits all over, and I gasp for breath as I open my eyes.
“Marshall!”
He lifts his finger to his lips and places my feet down safe in a bedroom bathed in moonlight that happens to be my own. I run over and push the dresser over my door and flick the lights on. The alarm next to my bed reads two-thirty.
“Logan and Gage are still down there.”
His eyes track over me with a look of serious disdain. “Are they all you ever think about? Does it ever cross your mind that maybe Marshall’s down there? Gee, I wonder if Marshall’s safe today?” He postures himself as though he were me.
“Very funny.” I fish my cell out of my pocket and speed dial. I meant to hit Gage, but my thanks to my incompetent muscle memory, I automatically hit Logan’s name instead.
“Hello?” He sounds groggy as though he’s been asleep for hours.
“Where are you?”
“I’m in the woods looking for you,” he whispers. “Are you OK?”
“Yes,” I say, looking hesitantly over at Marshall. “I found a backdoor and crawled out a latch. Um, I saw Mr. Dudley, and I hitched a ride home with him.” I’m sure Logan can read between the lines. “How’d you get out?”
“I sold my soul to the company store.”
“What does that mean?” I’m almost afraid to ask.
“I’ll explain another time.”
“What about Gage?”
“He’s out here with me. He says he’ll be over as soon as he drives his car home.”
Marshall cocks his head to the side. Tell him it’s not necessary. I’ll stay the night. It’s the least I could do after you spent the night at my place.
I avert my eyes at his offer. “Tell Gage to get here as fast as he can,” I whisper into the phone.
Marshall looks indignant. I’m not taking no for an answer. I won’t relish having to alter your boyfriend’s limbs in a horrific accident. These things are known to happen.
“On second thought, tell Gage I’ve got Brielle, and I don’t think he should come.” I don’t think those lines were quite as easy to read between.
“OK. Hey, Skyla?” Logan sounds winded.
“Yeah?” I watch as Marshall flops onto my bed backwards and fans his arms out.
“I would have done anything to save you,” he whispers almost secretively, “I’m glad you’re alright.”
“Thanks.” For once I believe him.
I hang up and toss my phone on the nightstand.
“Get up.” I make sure my irritation comes in clear.
Marshall vaults up to the top of the canopy and watches as I get under the covers and turn off the lamp. His body illuminates a gentle shade of butter, and he dims it just right until I can look up without hurting my eyes.
“Where the hell was I?” I’m hoping Marshall will demystify the events of the last few hours.
“None of your business,” he says it curt, lets me know he means it.
“What were you doing there?”
“Second verse same as the first.”
“Emerson was in one of those holding tanks.”
“You wield aggressive observational powers. That, and I believe the tank was labeled.”
“Is she alive?”
“Did she wave hello?”
“No,” I pause. “Did you come because I called you?” A cold shiver runs through me as I anticipate his
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