Normally, I would have been happy that we’d be together again. But his tone was more stern than romantic.
“I’ll be there,” I said.
For a brief moment, we locked eyes—his royal blues glistening like raindrops. It was obvious he couldn’t linger like he longed to, but whatever it was he needed to tell me was more important than risking a secret stairwell kiss.
He escaped into the hallway before I could convince him to stay any longer.
As I drove from the Eastside to the Westside, I was struck by the number of flyers there were about missing dogs. I couldn’t even count the signs that were taped to the telephone poles along the road. Was a wolf—or werewolf—in fact harming the dogs of Legend’s Run?
My heart pounded as I drove my car along the Maddoxes’ private drive and past the frozen pond where we’d shared our romantic ice skate together. I wondered what Brandon wanted to tell me. I found him pacing by his guesthouse. I hopped out of the car and raced up to him.
“I’ve become a danger,” he said. “Everyone is spotting me now.”
“I haven’t seen you—I still think people are just paranoid, scared of the wolves that showed up at school.”
“How can I know when I don’t remember anything?” He raked his hands through his hair in frustration. “Your friend Abby. She said I jumped out at her.”
“You haven’t hurt anyone—they’re just scared.” I tried to ease his mind. “Besides, there’s no full moon. You’re not transforming into a werewolf. ”
“But does that matter anymore? I don’t know what I’ll do next. It’s in my blood—just like Mr. Worthington—Charlie—told me. No one in town is safe from me after sunset.”
“But, Brandon—”
“I can’t remember anything I do at night. I know I’m the one responsible. The only way to cure this is . . .”
We both paused. I wasn’t sure what Brandon’s resolution was going to be and I wasn’t about to hear it. I stared at him squarely in the face, fear and anger tearing through me. “Not a silver bullet!” I said. “That isn’t the solution! And if you think that for a minute—”
“No,” he said, breaking a smile. “I’d like a cure that doesn’t involve bullets.”
I breathed out a huge sigh.
“But since we don’t have a cure . . .”
“What are you going to do?” One fear was replaced with another. I could only imagine the love of my life pushing himself further away from me and the town. “Are you going to leave?”
“No, the idea is to stay. Confined. For the whole night.”
“What do you mean?”
“My grandparents have gone to Florida for a vacation, so they won’t even miss me.”
“Miss you? Where are you going?”
“I’ll need your help.” He put a heavy-duty padlock in my hand.
“What am I supposed to do with this?”
“I rigged this today,” he said, pointing to several brackets and a latch on the outside of the guesthouse. “All you have to do is put the lock on just before the sun sets. I don’t think I can bust it. And if I do, at least we tried.”
“But you’ll be locked inside your room all night?”
“That’s the idea.”
“What if something happens and you need help? You’ll be trapped.”
“I’ll call nine-one-one. I have a phone and all the amenities I need. I’ll be fine. It’s the people of Legend’s Run I’m worried about.”
“This isn’t any way to live, Brandon—like a caged animal.”
“I don’t have a choice, Celeste.” He cupped my face in his hands.
We sat together in the guesthouse, snuggled together on top of his single bed. I caressed the scar on his hand and snuck in as many kisses as I could before nightfall. The sun began setting behind the trees.
“It’s time,” he said.
“But I don’t want to leave.”
“I’m afraid you have to. You can’t stay in here with me.”
Brandon gave me a long kiss and shooed me out the door.
“I’ll come back before school,” I said.
“Just remember the key,” he said. “I don’t want to get detention for being late.”
As the sun continued to set, he closed the door.
Using all my strength, I pressed the padlock closed. I tugged at it several times, making sure it had truly latched.
I leaned against the door, placing my palm on it. It was as if I could feel Brandon’s energy coming through from the other side.
“You better go,” he finally said.