Page 140 of I Dare You
“Hello, you asshole, don’t talk about me like I’m not in the room.”
“Jupiter—” I warn, turning to glare at her.
She smirks, thoroughly enjoying this.
“She did that because in her fucked-up way, I think she cares about me and wants to punish those who harmed me.”I hate to admit it, but that’s why I think Jupiter did what she did.She did the same with Smokes.
“Is that true, Jupiter?”Kit asks, addressing her for the first time.
She folds her arms, a shield to keep him out.She too has suffered at the hands of evil, which is why she is the way she is.It’s hard to remember that sometimes.
“Yes.Those assholes who hurt Hallie don’t deserve to live.They destroyed her.You wouldn’t know, since you weren’t the one to pick up the pieces.I was the one who protected her.Not you.”
Kit lowers his eyes, ashamed.“I know that.I’m grateful to you, Jupiter, but you can’t go around hurting people.”
“Why not?”
“Because that’s not how life works.”
“According to you, perhaps,” she rebukes.“As I see it, an eye for an eye…”
Kit appears to be taking it all in.
To be honest, it’s a relief that they’ve finally met.
“Why are you doing this?”he asks Jupiter.
She takes a moment to process his question.“Because I know how it feels to be helpless, to fall victim to monsters who change you forever.I’ve only done what Hallie can’t.I pick up the pieces when Hallie falls apart.”
My tongue feels heavy.To hear her confession changes everything.
“I protected her, Kit, so don’t look at me likeI’mthe monster.Wouldn’t you do the same thing?”
Kit lowers his chin, shrouding his beautiful face behind his hair.It’s like a halo, which seems appropriate, as he is nothing but an angel.
“Yes,” he replies softly.“I’d do anything to keep her safe.”
I’ve never felt more loved.
“What happens with Jack?”Jupiter asks, revealing she knew it was him all along.“He needs to pay for what he did to Hallie.”
“And he will,” Kit replies, suddenly appearing plagued.“We just have to play it cool.The cops will be out in full force after Rebecca’s death.”
“You don’t think he’ll run?”I ask.“I mean, even though Rebecca was our collateral, we still have the confessions of the girls.Why can’t we go to the police with the evidence?”
“Because the Blooms own this town.I’m sure the evidence will be lost.Or perhaps the girls will be paid a friendly visit to retract their claims.They’ll instill the fear of God in them.They’ve stayed silent because victims fear disbelief the most.
“They fear that what happened to Rebecca will happen to them.Their confessions now mean nothing.They finally gathered the strength to confess, only to be called liars.They will recant their confessions, one by one.
“That’s why my way is best,” Jupiter says without feeling, as she’s clearly done her research.
“And that’s thanks to you,” Kit says angrily.
He has every right to be mad because Jupiter is right.With Rebecca dead, the girls will be scared they’ll soon follow suit.Our plan was solid, but with Rebecca dead, Jack is now in control.
Jupiter shrugs, unbothered.
“So you’re basically the Robin Hood of murderers, is that what you’re saying?”Kit questions Jupiter, trying to wrap his head around Jupiter’s motives.
