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I stumbled, lungs burning as I landed back on my own feet. It only took one second of shock for Cyrus to shake Nash and Blade off. And to my relief, she didn’t come back for me, pacing the alley instead. She held her stitched mask in her hands as she stormed around.
Nash shook her head. “Why the fuck would you do that?”
Hands on my knees, I let a long stream of air blow through my lips as I waited for Cyrus’ answer. But it didn’t come.
Furrowing my brow, I looked up. And only then did I realize that Nash’s frustrated gaze — and her question — were aimed at me.
“Is that a serious question?” I laughed. “She just pinned me against a wall and tried to—”
“We’ll deal with her later.” Blade glared at Cyrus. “We need you safe. You can’t—”
“Safe?”
“Yes, Tess. Your safety,” Cyrus growled. “The thing you just risked by throwing yourself into a sea of—”
“Oh my god,” I laughed: a full-chested sound that echoed down the alleyway. “Is that why you’ve been following me around? You think that you’re protecting me?”
The question was met with silence, but the charged glare that Blade and Nash sent Cyrus’ way spoke volumes.
I scoffed. “News flash: I can survive without you. Did it just fine for ten years. And you didn’t give a second thought to my safety back then. So why don’t we go back to—?”
“You know that’s not true,” Blade cut in, more wounded than angry.
“And you guys are so good at divining the truth.” I pushed past her hurt, grounding myself in the rage that roiled through my chest. “You’re a bunch of control freaks. Don’t like that your little plaything grew a spine and walked away?”
“That’s not what this is about.” Nash grumbled, but I raised a hand.
“Whatever. I’m tired of hearing what you think it’s about. I left, remember? I’m free. Right, Cyrus?”
I waited for her to challenge me; we both knew that I hadn’t really won that last Fright Night. The money she’d given me was a bribe to leave: an excuse to never discuss the monstrous accusations she’d thrown my way.
If Cyrus wanted me back at Feverpoint, all she had to do was be honest about what happened that night. I’d made an agreement, and if she admitted to her part in what happened, I’d have no choice but to see my end through.
Instead, she swallowed hard, throat tightening around the unspoken truth. The black void of her eyes reflected blankly back at me.
“Just what I thought,” I breathed. “I’m out of here.”
Pushing off of the brick, I strode back toward the mouth of the alley, the light of the streetlamp.
Behind me, I heard scuffling: Nash grabbing car keys. Blade hissing something back at Cyrus, who stood frozen in the shadows.
“Wait, Sw— Tess.” Nash jogged ahead of me, stooping to catch my gaze. “Those creeps from the park could be anywhere. It’s not safe for you to go alone. At least let me drive you back to Lola’s…”
“Don’t say her fucking name,” I snarled. “And don’t you ever talk to me again. My safety isn’t your problem anymore.”
I shouldered past Nash and marched onward.
This time, Cyrus did move. Her bootsteps pounded against the pavement at a familiar tempo: the sound of pursuit I’d grown to fear during our Fright Nights.
The hair prickled at the nape of my neck as she drew closer. I pulled my jacket around my shoulders, trying to keep my pace steady as I sped up.
But before her shadow could envelope me, something shoved her off balance: Nash grabbed her shoulder, leaning close to her face. “Haven’t you done enough?”
My thundering heart plummeted as I made it to the mouth of the alleyway, and then halfway down the block. Though I kept my eyes forward, all of my attention was directed back toward the alley. It was only a matter of time before one of them chased after me, before Cyrus pushed past the other two and…
I didn’t get to finish the thought before the Cadillac came careening down the block, zipping right past me and hurtling off toward the woods — toward Feverpoint.
This is really it. They’re really going to let me go.
