Page 104 of Half Truths (Secret Society 1)
“You’re really going to go to the police?” She asked, wide-eyed. “You’re willing to throw your father under the bus?”
“I can’t think of any other solutions.” I put the papers back in the manila envelope and started walking back toward the entrance.
“Let’s go this way. It’s faster,” she said, walking in the opposite direction, typing on her phone as I followed. “I just don’t know about my mom, you know?”
“What don’t you know? You saw the exchange between her and Lana.”
“That doesn’t mean she’s guilty of anything.” She glanced at me, opening the side door that led to one of the tunnels. I walked in first, and she followed behind me, our feet tapping on the stairs as we walked down at the same pace.
“So you think she’s innocent?”
“I think she was probably jealous, but I can’t imagine just handing this over and letting her take the fall for that.”
“But it could be what saves Lana,” I argued. “If she’s still alive.”
The halls were dark, a sign of no people walking through them, which wasn’t uncommon on a Sunday afternoon. The overhead lights flickered when they sensed our approach, buzzing as they illuminated over us. Unlike in the past, when I’d been nervous about walking these halls, I felt no fear. The adrenaline overrode my sense of everything else, even direction. I was following Hailey, hoping she knew where the hell we were going as we spoke. We took a right turn at the end of the tunnel and were met with another dark set of stairs. The lights flickered on as we approached and we ran up, Hailey ahead of me. She opened the door and stepped out, holding it for me.
Once outside, two things happened simultaneously: I tried to assess where we were and realized we were nowhere near the streets and that the exit had led us to the entrance of the woods. The other thing I registered was that Deacon was there, smile on his face as he looked at me right before he whacked me on the side of the head with a shovel.
Chapter Forty-Two
I was floating.
No.
Falling.
Moving.
Swaying.
My head felt like someone was pounding on it from the inside and out. I groaned. Or maybe someone else did. My movements weren’t my own. My body rocked back and forth. Someone was carrying me. As I tried to peel my eyes open, I could see the trees above me, the sun peeking through the branches. I focused on the sounds of crunching on scattered leaves and branches beneath us. The person carrying me was wearing boots. I opened my eyes wider. Deacon. Deacon was carrying me. I tried to scream, but it came out a groan.
“Pretty doll.” He looked down at me and smiled.
I shook my head, the dreadful thought of him doing something to me sending a jolt through me. I moved my body, tried to thrash in his arms so that he’d drop me, but he held on tighter. I realized, the moment I tried to lift my arms, that they were tied. My feet were tied as well. I stood no chance. Not with the massive headache and disorientation I felt. Not without knowledge of where we were going or even a voice to ask. My tongue felt like dead weight in my mouth. Where was Hailey? Where the hell was Hailey? I looked around, my eyes moving to and fro, but saw nothing. I focused on the crunching beneath us, trying to figure out if someone else was walking with us, but couldn’t tell. Why would Hailey let Deacon do this to me? So that I didn’t go to the cops about her mother? Jesus. She could have asked me not to say anything to them. She could’ve not brought this information to me in the first place. The swaying was lulling me to sleep. The swaying and the headache and the heaviness of my eyes. I shut them, my head hitting Deacon’s chest with the movement. He smelled like farm animals and mechanic. It was the last thing I thought of before I completely passed out again.
Chapter Forty-Three
I awoke to the sound of two female voices. Hailey. Hailey and Ella? I tried to make out what they were saying in their hushed whispers and quick chatter. The sun was setting now. I could barely see the trees above my head. I’d been set down though, no longer in Deacon’s arms.
“Hailey.” My voice was scratchy and weak.
They stopped talking. I heard the sound of boots pounding into the fallen leaves and branches as someone walked up to me, then saw Hailey as she crouched beside me.
“You want to know why I’m doing this,” Hailey said.
“Hailey.” I wheezed.
Fuck. I hadn’t needed my inhaler in a long time, but my chest felt tight and knowing I didn’t have it on me made me feel eager for it.
