Page 83 of The Monster I Am
“Took you long enough,” he teases. “I was certain H was going to hold you hostage up there.”
“Fond memories,” I joke. “You scared the shit out of me.”
Tai laughs, offering me his hand. “Sorry, Peach Queen.”
“No, you’re not.”
It doesn’t take us long to start catching up to the others, the sound of our footsteps echoing like an acoustic dream. The structure of the tunnel doesn’t do much to help my lack of confidence. It’s obvious that whenever this was dug out, they did it quickly. On the plus side, whoever constructed it at least had the decency to put some basic supports in place to make sure the earth doesn’t come down on top of us. In an earthquake though? We’d be screwed. Let’s just hope life doesn’t have a warped sense of humor. Knowing my luck we’d get our first earthquake. Hell, maybe even another stupid piece of space junk smashing into Ridgeview Valley.
“Nothing so far,” Parker comments. “There’s not even any footprints in the ground.”
I frown, pointing my flashlight down. “You’d think there would be some from the fire. We know they used the tunnels to disappear.”
Rylan hums in agreement. “Covering their tracks possibly. Or the ground is soft enough that it corrected itself.”
Soph swings her head to look back at me, arm linked through Parker’s. “Is this how you spend your time? I should come on your adventures more often, Bex.”
“I don’t fucking think so,” Tai grunts.
“It’s cute that you’re so protective,” I direct at him, grabbing his hand in mine.
I expect some witty clapback but Tai just nods sharply. “I have to be.”
The words linger, tainted with toxins I know aren’t aimed at me or Soph. She called me a few days ago in tears, struggling to breathe or make sense. When I was finally able to calm her down, she filled me in on their father’s antics.
I really wish I could say I was shocked, but the company George Beckett keeps already speaks volumes. There’s no doubt in my mind that this is all coordinated by the three older men. I’m just stunned that I haven’t personally met their father yet. The other two seemed to have no issue cornering me and making threats. But I guess why waste his time when he can bully Soph?
I’m not going to lie. It took everything in me not to get in my car and drive over, fully prepared to punch the man in the smug face. If I didn’t think it would make things worse for Tai and Soph, I probably would have.
Soph had reassured me though that Tai had it under control. I believe it—though it still doesn’t bring any fragment or concept of peace. Neither of them are safe.
None of us are.
It feels like the tunnel goes on forever. I keep wondering if we should abort the mission, worried I’m wasting everyone’s time. Mentally, I remind myself that those firebugs came down here to escape, so, surely, it’s nottoo far.
Still, there’s a growing niggling feeling of anxiety the farther we get from the library. Hunter and Arch can handle themselves, but I feel responsible for their safety regardless.
“Stop overthinking things.”
I glance over at Tai, noticing his frown. “I’m okay.”
“Everything will be fine,” he says soothingly. “Besides, we’re not too far from the school. It just seems like it because we don’t have any bearings.”
“How do you know?” I ask curiously.
Tai holds his screen toward me. “I’m tracking our whereabouts.”
My eyes widen as I recognize the familiar stalking app, our little heads bobbing along. “You might actually be a genius.”
“Hey! That’s what I keep telling everyone,” he grins. “But yeah—we’re only two miles from Cedar Heights.”
The other slow slightly when they notice we’ve stopped. Rylan walks from the head of the pack, obviously having heard Tai’s comments.
“Which direction are we heading?” He questions, and I hold the phone out to him. He takes it, scanning the map. “Town Square? That makes sense oddly enough.”
A sudden thought pops into my mind. “Oh, great. We’re near the damn crater. I swear if an asteroid comes down, I’m going to haunt all those asswipes. They will never have a moment of peace. I’ll float up through their desks and banshee scream at them with just my head.”
Ry smirks. “Yeah… Even in death you’d be difficult to get rid of.”
