Burn

He glides a paper onto my desk with a giant red F scrawled across the top.

  That’s impossible.

  “What did you get?” I lean over to Gage whose paper is sporting a neat little A in the corner. I scan the sheets side by side and none of the numbers match.

  “Maybe I confused you when I was repeating the problems,” he whispers.

  Marshall swoops over to the two of us. “Maybe what confused you, Ms. Messenger, is that you didn’t know the answers.” His brows sharpen. “I took the liberty of discussing your disposition with your mother this morning.”

  “What? You said you were going to let me slide.” Did I just say that out loud?

  “She has agreed to procure my tutoring services.” I charge four hundred dollars a month, and with that I can practically guarantee an A. Oh the fun we’re going to have. He bites down on his lower lip suggestively.

  Mom and Tad don’t have a spare four hundred lying around. It might just be cheaper for Tad to ship me off to boarding school. And, of course, he’ll use me as an excuse to deny Mia and Melissa their self-entitled weekly shopping sprees. Soon, I’ll be to blame for all things debt related.

  “When do we start?” I spear him with my anger.

  “Soon as possible.” His cheek pulls into a half smile as he walks away. And Skyla? Feisty becomes you.

  ***

  “I don’t like the thought of you hanging around him,” Gage whispers, while holding me under the awning at lunch.

  A downpour ignited as soon as the bell rang, which leaves ninety percent of the student body huddling en mass like ants under a leaf. You would think with all the rain they get on Paragon, they would offer us more shelter.

  Ellis comes over, spilling his backpack onto the ground. “You guys hear they caught some kids going at it on top of the English building?” He laughs into the words. This is obviously the trivia he lives for.

  “It was Nat.” Brielle closes in our circle. “Pierce came up. He’s all freaked out about losing his brother. He lost his sister like a year ago, and now he’s the only child. Anyway, I guess Nat has been suspended for three whole days.”

  My heart sinks. Of course he’s all freaked out about losing his brother—dead is pretty much forever, unless you’re Chloe.

  “Funeral is Friday.” Brielle smirks when she says it. “Isn’t that weird?”

  “Why would that be weird?” I ask.

  “It’s Halloween,” she whispers as though it were top secret. “I don’t know, it’s just wrong.”

  “Yeah well, I’m not calling off the party.” Ellis growls. “I’m not letting some murderous lunatic ruin life for the rest of us.”

  Ellis is right—ever since I moved here, I’ve been ruining life for the rest of them and flat out ending it for others.

  “Don’t go there,” Gage says it hot in my ear. “You made so many things right.”

  It amazes me sometimes that Gage doesn’t have to read my mind to know what I’m thinking. I pull in closer and let my head dip down over his chest. A violent clap of thunder explodes above us, rattling the windows of the surrounding buildings. I tighten my grip around his waist so hard I think I’m going to push through.

  I look back and both Brielle and Ellis have disappeared.

  “I don’t feel right about going to a party that night—any night ever again to be exact.” I should voluntarily ban myself from ever having fun again.

  “We have to.” He tickles my ribs gently. “It’s the best party of the year.” He rests his lips on the top of my head momentarily. “I’ll even wear a costume if you want.”

  “Really?”

  “Really. Anything.”

  “OK, how about a vampire?”

  “Except that.” He averts his eyes as though he were rethinking the situation.

  “Come on, vampires are cool and super sexy. It’s what I really want you to be. I’ll be Frankenstein’s daughter. I’ve got the neck, remember?”

  “Yeah, well, my dad wanted me to let you know it’s time for the stitches to come out.”

  “I’ll leave ‘em in until Saturday.” I shrug. “Tad saw them and thinks they’re some Goth experimental stage I’m going through.” I feel better talking to Gage—being with him. He has a way of removing the grime from the world and letting me see things clean and new the way he wants me to, if only for a moment.

  Gage leans in and kisses me without reservation. He pulls back and his eyes linger into mine.

  “I think I’m falling in love with you, Skyla.” His dimples dig into the sides of his cheeks, as though somehow highlighting the importance of what he’s saying.

  The sky ignites with splinters of lightning that spider across the sky in pink and lavender hues.

  I pull him in and lean my head up against his shoulder. Logan catches my eye from the doorway of the building across the way. Lexy is talking to him, but his full attention is locked in my direction.

  I close my eyes and listen to the thunder roar over Paragon like a lion on fire.

  “I love you,” Gage whispers directly into my ear.

  “I know.” I can feel it, deep, in the marrow of my bones.

  ***

  As soon as I get home, my mother whisks me away downtown. Turns out I’m magnificently late, as she phrased it, for my appointment with Dr. Booth.

  Branches whip across the window of his office as we sit across from one another with matching folded hands, somber expressions, which I’m sure reflect boredom more than any other emotion.

  “There’s rumor of a killer roaming free on the island.” He leans back without perforating his bleak expression. Dr. Booth is the psychiatrist I pretend to see in order to appease my mother and Tad.

  His dark mat of hair, coupled with his squared off glasses gives him a comical quality I can’t quite pinpoint.

  “Are you the killer, Skyla?” There’s no change in his affect. He may as well have asked if my mother and I plan on picking up fast food on the way home.

  I don’t say anything, don’t dare posture myself, or so much as blink.

  His fingers press together at the tips as he rocks back into his seat. “Thought so.”

  ***

  I’m still reeling from my appointment with Dr. Booth. He saw right through me. It’s like I have the word killer etched on my forehead or something.

  I run my fingers over the tiny paper butterflies pinned to the wall as I wait for Logan. I remember how Gage made them come to life for me, how he let one go and it flew to the ceiling like magic.

  Logan shows up close to ten-thirty. For a while, I thought he wasn’t coming and started to fall asleep on the floor.

  “Hey, sorry I’m late.” He gets on his elbows and lies down beside me.

  His cologne smells fresh as he brushes my lips with a quick tender kiss.

  “I had someone quit tonight, so I had to close.” He gives my back a gentle rub. “Heard Gage made his move. He came home and threw the L word around all over the place.” He looks startled, afraid, as though it rocked his very existence to witness it.

  I don’t know what to say to that. Gage is diving in deep, and he’s starting to pull me down with him.

  “Anyway, I’m not here to talk about Gage.” He lets out a heavy sigh. “Just wanted to let you know that I found out a little more about Holden Kragger.”

  “What?” I’m thirsty to know anything.

  “Their family owns a coffee shop out by Rockaway Point. They were always there. That, and the fact he and his brother were infamous for the way they treated girls.”

  “I heard Nat is dating his brother.”

  “Sort of. Lots of people are dating Pierce.” His fingers twitch in air quotes when he says the word dating. “Turns out, there’s an entire list of girls from East he toys with on a regular basis.”

  “Oh,” I say, just taking him in. It feels strange with Logan sometimes. As if all this time I’ve spent with Gage has severely punctured something in our relationship.

  “Is that all you h
ave on Holden and Pierce?” I ask biting the tip of my finger then tracing his lips with it.

  Logan leans in and gives a slow lingering kiss. His features soften as he pulls away. He studies me with an infinite sadness masked by the weakest smile. “One more thing. I’ve been combing through the copies from the book of Counts with my uncle. We’re able to see some kind of hierarchy. It has a list of regional leaders and locations in the back. There’s an infrastructure in place, that’s for sure.”

  “Locations? Like Paragon?” A spike of adrenaline shoots through me.

  “Like Paragon,” he says without blinking.

  “Who’s in charge of the Countenance here?”

  “A man named Arson.”

  “Arson? What the hell kind of name is that?”

  Logan shakes his head just barely. “Father of Holden and Pierce.”

  “Oh no, I killed a Count.”

  “Oh yes, Skyla.” He looks at me with a magnetic intensity that seems to weld our souls together. “Looks like our holy war is well underway.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  My Ride

  Driving rain strums relentlessly against my window, vexing me with its wild tapping thumps, until I manage to crawl out of bed and head downstairs for breakfast.

  The lights flicker in rhythm to the storm as the steady hum of a thousand drummers penetrates the walls with its insistent frenetic pace. There won’t be any peace in our world today.

  “Morning.” My mother yawns and stretches, exposing her pink lace negligee from beneath her terry robe. Mia and Melissa speed past me upstairs, already done with their breakfast. “Hey,” Mom leans into me as I head to the fridge. “I don’t want to say anything around your sisters, but apparently that kid that died the other night was murdered.”

  “Murdered?” The word feels rugged coming from my lips like corrugated cardboard.

  “Yes!” Her eyes widen. “I don’t want you going off alone. Make sure to stick with Brielle or Gage.”

  “Gage?” I ask sarcastically plucking the juice from the counter and filling a glass. “Taddy wants me to break up with him remember?”

  She glances in the direction of his office. “I know you really care about Gage—I like him too. Just for the sake of maintaining household sanity, would you please let Tad think you’ve cooled it on the relationship?”

  I examine her up and down. Is this what she’s become? Why are we sneaking around behind Tad’s back with my relationship status? Shouldn’t she stand up for me and tell him I can see whomever the hell I want?

  “OK,” I reply. Maybe the two of us keeping a secret from Tad is a good thing, in a bonding sort of way.

  Tad and Drake meander into the kitchen. I’ve never noticed until now how much they look alike. Something about this early morning disheveled state makes Drake look like a thinner, younger version of his father.

  “Anyway, guess whose seventeenth birthday is right around the corner?” My mother chirps in an effort to change the subject.

  Somehow I’ve managed to push my birthday as far out of my mind as possible. I’m too numb with the recent horrific developments in my life to have any genuine excitement over it. Then a thought hits me, and I take an emotional U-turn.

  “You know what?” My mood spikes a little. “I think I’m finally going to get my license. Have I mentioned I already have a car?” I restrain myself from jumping when I say it.

  “A car?” Tad echoes, disbelieving. His disapproving tone comes in clear—the one he seems to reserve just for me.

  “Yeah, Logan and Gage have some old beat up car they want to get rid of and they offered to give it to me.”

  “That’s right, Skyla,” Tad starts in sarcastically. “Let boys run around giving you expensive things, and see if they expect nothing in return. That’s exactly how you want to start off in life.” He shags out his paper.

  “Honey,” my mother bites her lip. “He’s right. It’s not a good idea. I don’t think I can let you accept that kind of gift. I don’t care how old or beat up it is.”

  “And who’s going to pay for insurance?” Tad cocks his head. “It’s bad enough we need to fit Drake on our policy.”

  “What?” I look over at Drake shoveling in his cereal.

  “I found an old hatchback for like two thousand bucks,” he mumbles through a mouth full of food. “Plus, I already have my license, so it’s a no brainer.”

  “So Drake can get a car, and you’re going to pay for the insurance, but I can’t?”

  Tad shakes his head with exasperation. “Look, you don’t need a car. You don’t have anywhere to go that you canheigt have that giant of a football player take you.”

  “Oh, so now you want me to use Gage for a ride? He’s suddenly become economically convenient to you?” My blood races through my veins, amping me up to the point I could knock a wall out if I wanted.

  “You’re always with him, anyway.” My mother stirs the leftover pancake batter trying to sound impartial.

  “My situation is totally different,” Drake interjects. “I got a job doing paperwork for Brielle’s mom.”

  I glare over at him. We both know damn well the only thing he’ll be doing is Brielle.

  “I’m paying Mom and Dad back for the loan they gave me with interest,” he continues.

  Mom? Since when did he start calling her Mom?

  “You gave him two thousand dollars?” I place my hand over my mother’s in an effort to stop her frantic mixing.

  “We’re lending,” she corrects.

  “I’ll get a job and pay for my own insurance,” I offer. I can feel my heart drop when I say it. If Drake isn’t paying for his own insurance, it doesn’t seem fair that I have to. I don’t ever remember my mother treating me like a second-class citizen before Tad came along.

  “If you can get a job and pay for your own insurance,” my mother starts off hesitantly, exchanging glances with Tad as if asking permission to continue. “I don’t really see the problem.”

  “Still don’t like the idea,” Tad breathes. “The island is not that big—you can catch a ride with friends or Drake to get around. Besides, now that there’s some serial killer on the loose, I don’t know if I want you driving places alone.” Tad flexes the paper in front of him.

  “Serial killer?” I can barely get the words out.

  “They think there’s a link between that kid that died and that girl who was killed before we got here.” Tad casts a sharp look. “You two watch where you’re going. I don’t want to be the one to point out the obvious, but you’re right smack in this lunatic’s demographic.”

  Drake’s face smoothes over with fear.

  “I’d better keep Gage around just to be safe.” I give a sly smile in my mother’s direction.

  And I’ll get that car and a job. I’ll gladly spend more time away from this place. I’m sure Logan will be more than happy to employ me.

  “Guess we’re going to have to start locking our doors again.” Tad says before losing himself in an article.

  I wonder what he would think if he knew the raging lunatic, so-called serial killer, were standing within five feet of him.

  “It’s all going to be fine.” My mother wipes her forehead with the back of her hand.

  “I don’t know, Lizbeth.” Tad moves his gaze over to me and grips me in a fixed burning stare. “You never know who they’ll go after next.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Get a Job

  Marshall insists we begin our first tutoring session at four-thirty, right after I finish up with cheer. I know exactly what kind of tutoring goes on in his classroom at four-thirty, ever since I accidentally exposed myself to Michelle Miller’s boobs after walking in on one of his sessions.

  I shake out my umbrella and leave it by the door. I find Marshall hunched at his desk, pouring over his laptop. The glow of the screen is the only light available, so I flick the switch and illuminate the classroom.

  “Ms. Messenger.” He straightens. “You’re p
unctual—precisely the reason I think you’d make a great employee. Are you willing to reconsider the position?”

  I look around suspiciously wondering why Marshall bothers to act so strange with no one around to entertain.

  “I do need a job, but I’m gunning for something with a little less of you in it.” I head over and slide a chair up beside him. The ad for the equestrian school is displayed on his laptop, complete with the picture of me looking very, well, almost naked with the exception of angel wings while lying on a horse.

  “I’m inviting the community over in a few weeks to celebrate the opening. Fifty pupils have already singed up.” He closes the lid to his laptop. “I stood outside the grocery store with flyers and shook the hand of every mother I could.”

  “I bet you did.” I pull out my Algebra Two book. “My sisters are among the throngs. Don’t you dare touch them.” I’ll find a way to torment Marshall if he even so much as offers a wayward glance.

  “I wouldn’t dream of such vile things. Besides, the equestrian school comes equipped with competent instructors, none of which include yours truly. I need a stream of real income—teaching provides just enough to keep me on a steady diet of cat food, and I prefer quality meals such as sushi.”

  “Sushi is cat food, glorified as it may be.” I say flipping the pages of my textbook. God, I miss sushi. I haven’t had any since I moved from L.A. “You know, I just realized, I don’t know all that much about you.”

  “That’s where the disconnect is. Tell you what, I’m going to introduce you to my world. Once you see how wonderful it is, it’s doubtful you’ll want to leave.”

  “What’s doubtful is the fact I’ll be going with you. Besides, isn’t death some kind of prerequisite to getting in?” I close the book over my hand and lean into him. “Did you hear about the boy that was killed out by the falls?” I study the blank expression on his face. “It was me…I killed him,” my voice shakes when I say it, and suddenly I find myself fighting tears.

  His features sharpen. “It was made known to me.” He gives a hard blink. “Skyla, it’s not your strength or your blood that will ultimately usher your downfall, it’s that pit in the center of your face you insist on vocalizing with.”