“Then we need to trick him.” How could they get Brian and Jonas together?
“Yes. Before it’s too late.” He bit his lip, and then stared down at his comforter.
“What do you mean?” She thought about the paper. Was it parchment paper? The perfect match to her other notes from Jonas. “Did he leave me another message?”
William sat up, wrapping his arms around her again. His face was so close to hers, causing Laney’s heart rate to increase dramatically — an obvious distraction tactic. His smell was so different from Jason’s; it was natural, only a faint scent of his shampoo. She closed her eyes, taking in the moment, and then his lips touched hers. He was gentle, savoring each touch. His lips moved to her neck and then slowly to the sensitive spot behind her ear. She exhaled, trying to settle herself, but he made it impossible.
Somewhere deep in Laney’s subconscious, a voice cried out about the note in William’s pocket. The voice was silenced as William laid her down on his pillow, straddling her body as his hair hung loose, brushing her face. He held her hands above her head and bent over to kiss her lips again. He moved his lips to her arm and out to her fingertips. His hand slid under her shirt, moving along her waist. As he moved his lips back to her neck, Laney knew she’d given up in a complete surrender. Her body wanted his and nothing else, not even a silly little note.
William moved his mouth to her ear again and whispered. “I love you, Laney.”
She was certain that he could feel the hammer of her heart pounding against her chest. Although her mind and heart were consumed with love for him, she knew he’d made a tactical error.
“Then tell me what’s in the note.”
“You’re incredible.” William sat up and pulled her toward him. He held her head against his chest, his heart beating at least as fast as hers. “You have a one-track mind.”
“You make it extremely difficult.” Laney looked up at him and smiled. He bent over and kissed her lips again, causing her to think about giving up her possible win, and pushing him back down on the bed.
“At any moment you could have removed the note from my pocket and I wouldn’t have realized, or even cared.”
“A little tough with my arms pinned above my head.” Laney shifted on her side with her head propped up by her elbow. “So, will you tell me what’s in the note from Jonas?”
“I should’ve known you’d figure it out.” He stood up and pulled the paper from his pocket. “Promise me that we’ll talk about this before you march out to the forest to take on Jonas by yourself again.”
“I promise.” What else could she say?
William unfolded the parchment and handed it to her. The familiar script of Jonas’ handwriting ran across the page, but it seemed a little rushed, almost wild in nature.
You took me for a bluffer. Now your friend is dead. Maybe your precious grandfather is next? You know I’m not messing around, Delaney.
Laney crumpled the paper and threw it into the trashcan, her heart crumpling along with the note. “I need to go to him. He won’t give up until he gets what he wants.”
The thought of her grandfather, hardly able to defend himself, was beyond comprehension.
“We’ll be with him.” William moved toward her, reaching for her hands, a look of concern in his eyes. “We can protect him from Jonas.”
“Sure, just like you protected Jason. He was your roommate, living with you, and you couldn’t protect him!” The anger finally surfaced, but it wasn’t directed at William even though her words attacked him.
“I know.” His eyes remained on hers.
Regret filled Laney, seeing the lines of anguish on his face.
“But he is safer with us than if we leave him alone.”
William lay Laney down on his pillow. He cupped her face in his hands, her eyes heavy with the weight of the past two days.
“Sleep here, love.” William whispered. “We’ll go to Grady’s house tomorrow. Jonas won’t do anything tonight. He’s waiting for our next move.”
“Promise?” Laney shifted onto her side, surrendering to the exhaustion.
His lips touch her cheek. “Promise.” William wrapped his arms around Laney, keeping her warm and secure.
Chapter 21
The morning light illuminated the room through the large window, And Laney soaked in the warm sunshine on her face. Stretching out on the bed, she thought about the events of the day before — her time saying goodbye to Jason, the ominous note, William’s revelations about the Gate Keeper, and William saying I love you. She lingered a little longer on that last one, wishing she’d returned his words instead of using them to manipulate him.
She lifted William’s arm, maneuvering out of his embrace. He was still asleep, so she tiptoed around the room, gathering her things. He was so beautiful with his shirt off, and she realized that his creation was out of her hands. Her words could never describe him, a person definitely created by a higher power. She knelt down, compelled to touch him, outlining the scar on his arm. He was startled by her touch. The scar was the one thing she knew she’d crafted with her words. A ping of guilt echoed in her stomach and radiated to her heart.
“Good morning.” She leaned down and kissed the place she’d just touched.
He shifted onto his side, propping himself up with his elbow. “Good morning, love.” William reached down, lifting Laney onto the bed next to him. He wrapped his arms around her again and she felt whole.
“I guess this will be our last morning like this for awhile.” She rested her head on his chest. “I’m afraid my father might even break out the chastity belt.”
“Your father sounds like a sensible man.” William raised his eyebrows. “I know someday I’ll be protective of our daughters.”
His words rang in her head, making her heart leap.
“Don’t worry, that won’t be for awhile, especially with chastity belts around.”
“I’d better go wash and pack up before Grady gets here.” Laney twisted her body out of his hold. She wasn’t sure what to say to William’s promises of a future. The thought of Jonas ready to pounce made the future seem uncertain. “Meet me in my lobby at ten.”
William wrapped a blanket around his shoulders and came over to her. He leaned over to kiss her. “I’ll see you then.”
She left his dorm, feeling the cool air surrounding her. Picking up breakfast in the dining hall, she was light-headed and bore a flood of mixed emotions.
A sudden influx of concerned and weary-looking parents milled around campus. Other students hurried here and there making arrangements to leave early for the Thanksgiving break. Jennifer and her parents passed Laney, her cheeks stained from tears. After a half-hour of waiting in line, she walked back to her dorm room with her breakfast.
A white piece of paper with her name on it was taped to her door. Was it from Missy? Laney realized she’d forgotten to call her. Hopefully, she was had been joking about the search party. Once again, Jonas’ handwriting moved her eyes across the paper.
Delaney,
I have your grandfather. Meet me by the ropes course.
* * *
Fear ran through Laney like an icy river. Unlike his other notes, this one got straight to the point. Stuffing the note in her pocket, Laney ran back down the stairs. She hoped that Grady was still alive. After all, he was only a pawn in Jonas’ game, but then so was Jason. Her body shook. When her feet hit the snow on the main quad, she ran.
The police report ruling Jason’s death a suicide meant the trail was open again. Most students were in the library or their dorm rooms getting ready for finals, so Laney raced down the path alone. Thoughts of her grandfather and whatever was happening to him filled her mind. In no time, she reached the pond.
When she approached the ropes course, she looked around the clearing for Grady but didn’t see him. Laney sat down on the bench to wait for Jonas and her grandfather, but she didn’t have to wait for long. Jonas stepped out from behind the climbing wall, a grin
crossing his face, reminding her of the night he stabbed William outside the tavern. He still wore his period clothing. His black hair was straggly with grease, and his stench crossed the short expanse between them.
His eyes caused her breath to catch in her throat. They were the eyes of a deranged man, someone who was not thinking clearly. He had a rifle slung over one shoulder. The look on his face told her there was little chance of reasoning with him.
“Well, well, Anne. Or should I say Delaney? We meet at last, in the forest. Didn’t you leave us here in your book? I did notice you stopped writing.” He stepped a little closer, making a new trail in the snow. He snorted. “Of course, I always thought you were a little smarter. To fall for the false note trick, it’s really a shame.”
Laney knew she couldn’t trust anything Jonas said; Grady could be tied up somewhere in the woods. Laney wanted to make Jonas suffer for what he’d done to Jason, for what he might do to Grady. Her fists clenched tight, but she kept her mouth shut, planning her words carefully.
“I hope you’re ready to work. I’m tired of this polluted world and its metal machines and its boys who claim to be men.” He chuckled. “It was actually kind of fun killing your boyfriend. I considered it payback for when he punched me in the train station.”
Adrenaline moved through Laney’s veins, giving her the courage she needed. “Jason was a hundred times more of a man than you’ll ever be. You’re a pitiful excuse for a human being and I wish I’d never created you.” She needed to be more careful with her words, but she couldn’t help the hate that spewed from her mouth.
“You make me laugh. Let’s stop this small talk and get started.” He moved closer toward her, placing the rifle in his hands and cocking the barrel — an obvious scare tactic.
“Let’s make a deal.” She pulled her backpack close to her side.
“I don’t have time for deals with you. Now get out the book before I have to shoot you.”
Laney’s skin prickled, causing the hairs on her arm to stand on end under her coat. His gun aimed right at her head, but it swayed from side-to-side.
“You can’t shoot me.” She took short shallow breaths. “If you do, you’ll be stuck here forever. So, I suggest you listen to what I have to say.” Her hands shook, but she knew she was safe . . . for now. Thoughts of torture crept into her mind whenever she peeked at his eyes.
“What do you want? Make it quick.” A light mist of saliva sprayed from his mouth as he stood over her.
“I want William to stay here, but to end the book in a way that makes you happy, too.” It was a long shot, but it was the only hope. “Maybe I could write in a character for you. Someone you could love.”
“You misunderstand,” he snarled, his mouth transformed into a wicked grin. “It was you who ruined my life. You killed my brother. You turned me into an alcoholic.”
Laney trembled. Jonas started circling her, like a predator closing in on prey.
“I don’t care about William Clarke or the rest of his family. They only did what you made them do. I want you to suffer, Delaney Holden. That’s why I killed Jason, and that’s why I am going to kill William, and his family, and leave you alive to suffer through it all.”
Tears welled up in Laney’s eyes. “I . . . didn’t know. It was just a story to me. I didn’t know I really ruined your life. You were my antagonistic character.”
“Was it just a story? It doesn’t seem that way now, does it?” His foul breath on her neck sent shivers through her body. She wrenched her face away to avoid the odor.
“How do you want me to end the story?” Laney faced him. She had to confront the darkest side of her nature.
“Let’s see . . . how about a tragedy? Maybe William dies and then Anne kills herself. Of course, that has been overdone. How about a horror story? I’ve always enjoyed a good massacre.” Jonas reached down, grabbed Laney’s backpack, and threw it on the bench. “Now get out your book and start writing. I don’t negotiate.”
“What’s going to happen to Anne in the forest with you? You can’t kill her because you need her to finish the story.” She wanted him to keep talking so she could avoid the writing.
“I’ll have to let her go, but maybe after a kiss.” He grabbed Laney’s shoulder. Pain shot through her arm.
The bench between them provided the leverage she needed to rip away from his grip. She ran to the other side of an obstacle made out of ropes in the shape of a spider’s web.
“Do you think I’d kiss your dirty mouth?” she spat at him through the web of ropes.
He lunged through the center hole, grabbing her jacket and pulling her against the web. Reaching down into his coat, he removed another rope. Holding her wrists, he wrapped it around her arms, tying her to the web. She lunged forward and sank her teeth into his hand, breaking the skin.
“You’ll pay for that.” He staggered around, gripping his hand.
“I’m not afraid of you.” She moved the rope back and forth, hoping to wiggle free. Laney looked up at Jonas again as he rummaged through her backpack. “How do you expect me to write when I’m tied up?”
“I don’t care if you write with the pen in your mouth, you’re going to finish this story the way I tell you to finish it.” Taking out her notebook, he flipped to the last page of writing.
She worked on the knot.
He squinted at the page, reaching into his pocket again and pulling out a pair of glasses. “So where were we, Anne?” He ran his finger along the writing and read out loud.
“Jonas paced back and forth along the edge of the forest, constantly shooting intimidating glances in Anne’s direction.”
He peered at Laney through his glasses. It was easy to see that he’d once been handsome — before alcoholism and insanity had left their scars. He glanced down and began to read again.
“She sat on a rock with her face in her hands considering her options. Jonas was clearly not the boy she remembered from school. Hatred and jealousy had turned him into a killer, or at least someone willing to kill.”
Holding tight to Laney’s notebook, Jonas moved toward her. His swagger was that of a boy trying to look tough in front of his bigger friends. Yet his feet remained unsteady from the contents of the flask hidden in his pocket. She only had to untie the knot, and hope he didn’t notice the progress she’d already made.
When he reached the net, his face was inches from hers. Caught in his web, the poisonous stench from the spider almost caused her to throw up. To move away from him, she pretended to struggle with the ropes.
Jonas laughed. “Someone willing to kill? I guess you need to revise that part.”
This time she kept her mouth shut, both to keep from saying something she’d regret and to avoid the dreadful smell. Jonas reached through the net, grabbed her chin and forced her to look at him. Anger crossed every line of his face and several sweat beads rolled down his forehead. “Look at me, woman!”
“Please.” Laney whispered. She needed to get away from him.
“Are you begging for your life?” Smugness replaced anger. “I’ve always looked forward to the day I can ruin your entire world.”
“Let’s get this over with.” Laney took a breath of fresh air by lifting her mouth toward the sky.
“You surprise me, Anne. I don’t remember you being so agreeable. I thought you’d put up more of a fight. Honestly, I’m a little disappointed. Torture-forced submission is a lot more fun.”
Jonas handed Laney a pen and the notebook, which was difficult to hold with her wrists tied together, and then walked toward the bench again.
“What do you want me to write?” If he wanted her to end this book, he needed to do the work.
“Let’s start with William stumbling through the forest, injured from the battle. He’ll find us in an embrace on the rock. When I pull my gun, he’ll beg for mercy like a coward.”
“In your dreams,” Laney muttered to herself, pushing the pen to the paper. She had loosened the ropes enough to move
her wrist as if she were writing. Her plan was to write down nonsense. If he didn’t check for a while, she could work on the knot when his back was to her. She almost had the first loop undone.
Jonas continued the story, walking along the perimeter and making sure the trail was empty. “Of course, I would fight him like a man, giving him a chance. But in the end, he’ll meet his death, a bullet through his heart.” He glanced at her. Seeing the pen moving, he smiled, obviously too wrapped up in his story to be aware of her plan.
“I’ll return to you, continuing our embrace where we left off.”
She let him ramble on about his horrible plot line. He even provided several soliloquies for himself that he insisted Laney copy word-for-word after he honorably killed another member of William’s family.
Laney finished off five pages of scrawl before Jonas stopped talking. He sat down on the bench, reached into his pocket, and removed the silver flask. Laney tugged on the last part of the knot.
“You’d better be working back there.” Jonas slurred. He rolled his head and looked at her over his shoulder. His eyes were unfocused.
This was her moment.
Laney held up the notebook. “I’m on it.” Slipping the last inch of rope through the knot, she was free.
While he drank his poison, she put the notebook in her coat and ran. The thin layer of ice under her feet compromised her, but she knew she’d beat a drunk any day in a race. When Laney reached the trail to the pond, she glanced over her shoulder. Jonas was reaching for his gun, but his legs wobbled, sending a stray bullet through the trees above.
“Stop or I’ll shoot!” The empty threat lingered, as she cut the distance to the pond in half. She slipped, rounding the corner off the trail from the ropes course, stopping to catch her breath. Jonas could never catch up in his state, but Laney’s adrenaline kept her going.
Chapter 22
The Weaver Page 18
