Page 142 of Graves

Is Koh already gone?

I walk along the platform and spot him about a hundred feet ahead. He’s turned away from Luke and takes a step forward while Luke stands behind him with his arms crossed.

What the hell is going on?

I call his name, but an incoming train pulls in on the other side, drowning everything out.

I’m too winded to run. When Koh steps even closer to the edge, I hold my breath in horror.

What the…?

“Koh!”

The closer I get, the clearer the situation becomes. But is this what I think it is?

Luke stands there with a smug grin, watching as Koh takes another step toward the edge.

I shout again. This time Koh pauses. But the danger isn’t over—because the moment I hear the train approaching behind me, Luke takes a step closer.

Is he seriously about to…?

“No!”

I sprint forward, crashing into a woman, but I don’t have time to apologize.

At the last second, I grab Koh’s wrist and yank him back from the tracks.

The train rushes past, lashing our hair around, and slowly comes to a stop.

“What are you doing?” I snap at Koh, shaking him by both shoulders. “Were you trying to kill yourself?”

No matter how hard I try to snap him out of it, he’s not really here. He’s looking in my direction, but his gaze is lost somewhere in the middle distance.

I consider slapping him to bring him back, but Luke pushes between us.

“What the hell?” he growls, tugging Koh to his side. “You have no business here. He doesn’t want anything more to do with you.”

I freeze as the pieces click into place. “So that’s how it is. I suspected something was off, but this?”

“Fuck off, you junkie.” Luke’s voice has taken on a threatening edge. “Or I’ll make sure you—”

Without letting him finish, I shove him hard. He stumbles and almost falls on his ass. Unfortunately, only almost.

Koh slowly comes back to himself and looks around, confused. “What… Aran?”

I hear the relief in his voice, but there’s something heavier than joy at seeing me. Fear flickers in his eyes, and it scares me to my core.

“Fuck, Koh, what were you doing?”

Just the thought of being too late and losing him forever throws my emotions into an uproar. My heart is racing and my hands are shaking as I drag him even farther away from the tracks.

“I don’t know what you mean,” he mumbles, disoriented. His gaze jumps from one point to another, and when he sees Luke, I feel his muscles tense.

“He’s fine,” Luke insists, his hand clamping down on Koh’s arm.

Seeing the blood drain from Koh’s face as Luke approaches is enough to make something snap inside me. Without thinking, I swing and land a right hook. Luke’s head snaps back and he drops to the ground.

Several bystanders have been watching our argument. A few phones are already pointed at us, but I don’t care right now. I seize Koh’s wrist and pull him after me.