Bryan appears next to me and laughs. “Easy there, Hooker Girl. I think you’re going to make the woman blush if you keep going on and on like that.”
“She’s fine. It’s just the medication.” Mari says, but I can tell I made her uncomfortable.
While hanging onto Bryan, I add, “I would have said it anyway, probably more eloquently and without the ninja part if I weren’t medicated.” When I finish speaking, my pointer finger is pretty close to her face. I catch sight of my hand and wonder how it got there. Blinking hard, I drop it to my side.
Bryan turns me around and leads me out to the car, but I can hear Sean behind me, saying something that I don’t understand. “You were too good for him.”
“So people say,” Mari replies softly, “and yet I imagine you’ve heard people say the same thing about her.” Sean doesn’t answer. “You’re too quick to judge and too slow to forgive.”
“How could you possibly know that?”
“Because I was the same way. Don’t assume you know him—don’t assume anything.” She’s speaking about a common acquaintance, but I have no idea who. Before I can hear more, my head is lowered and I’m seated in the car. Their voices turn to murmurs and I can no longer hear their words above the rustling of the trees and the engine.
When Sean climbs in a few moments later, I lean into his chest and fall into a deep sleep.
CHAPTER 7
The water is everywhere, dark and cold. Waves pelt into the sides of my face as I gasp for air, but get a mouthful of seawater instead. My limbs are frozen and I can no longer stay afloat. My neck sinks lower into the frozen ocean until my chin touches the waterline. I scream incoherently and manage to kick hard, forcing my neck up again.
Then the process repeats, over and over again, until my legs won’t move. There’s no air, only crushing waves, pressing on me, and pulling me under. My lips part to release a terrified scream that’s been building within me, but there is no noise. Water floods my mouth, choking me, as panic laces its icy fingers around my neck and presses tight.
Terrified, I yell and dart upright. It’s not dark and there’s no water. My fists fly before I can figure out that I was dreaming. I suck in air and try to untangle myself from my bed as a hand lands on my shoulder. I react and my fists fly. Sean catches them and yanks me upright so I’m standing. “You’re all right. You were dreaming, Avery.”
He pulls me to his chest and holds me. As he strokes my head, I can see sunlight pouring into the room through the slats of the blinds. We’re in my dorm room. My heart rate picks up again and I push away from him. My eyes dart around frantically. “Sean, this is a bad place to be. We shouldn’t be here. Like, at all.”
“Avery, trust me. I’ve thought about it and whoever is doing this has to be stopped. This is the safest place for you.”
“But he has a key.”
“Who?”
“Henry Thomas! At least I think it’s him. Amber gave some guy a key and he snuck in here.” I’m grabbing the sides of my head and tugging my hair. My muscles twitch as I force myself to stay still.
Sean nods and takes my hands in his. “Listen, I know you’ve had a hard night, but I need you to do what I ask you to do. We need to stop this. If it’s Thomas, he’ll show up. I have a feeling they won’t wait long. This room is small and made of concrete. It’s easier to protect you here and there are more people around. We just have to wait a few hours until night falls.”
The corner of my mouth lifts. Sean talks like he’s from another time. I lean against his chest and try to calm down. The dream is still with me, the feeling of ice on my neck remains even though it’s over. I’m encouraged to take a shower and shake off the rest of my horrible dream. I let the steamy water beat over me, careful to avoid the stitches, but I can’t stay in for too long. I need Sean. I need his arms around me and I have to hear him say that this will be all right.
After I pull on jeans and a tee shirt, I pad back to my bed and plop down next to Sean. He wraps his arms around me and kisses my forehead. “I’m sorry for this, for all of it.”
I haven’t wanted to think about the cabin, but now that we’re away from it and I’m not in horrible pain, the images from the night before come rushing back. I feel like I’m going to be sick and press my hand to my lips as I mash them together. “I killed someone.”
“You did what you had to do. He wasn’t going to let you walk away. You had no choice, Avery. I just wish I’d gotten there sooner.”