What Lies in the Dark

by Jessica Sorensen

  I’m going to have to be careful about my every move, which means the number one item on my list needs to be finding out if the town is bugged or has spies, and if so, where or who they are and who put them there. That way, I can plan accordingly.

  Noting the time, I rush out of the office. Since I want to remain inconspicuous and am currently covered in dirt, I run to my room to change out my clothes, pulling on a black T-shirt, jeans, and a pair of lace-up boots. I quickly brush out my hair, call it good, and jog out to my car, ready to hit the road.

  As I’m climbing in, the sunlight reflects against the glass vial hanging around my neck. The reflection briefly creates the strangest green glow and heats warmly against my skin.

  Put your guard up. Now. They’re around.

  Swallowing hard, I cup the necklace and cast a discreet glance around the neighborhood crammed with rundown homes similar to mine. Other than a few dogs, a bird, and an older man sitting out on his porch in a rocking chair, no one is around.

  I’m about to arrive at the conclusion that dead Sawyer is as crazy as me, when the man on the porch locks eyes with me. He stares at me for a beat or two, then his gaze zeroes in on the necklace.

  Feeling super uncomfortable, I end up looking away and ducking into the car. Then I start up the engine, lock the doors, and tuck the necklace inside my shirt collar.

  “What was that about?” I ask Sawyer as I fasten my seatbelt and shift the car into drive.

  Like usual, he doesn’t answer.

  Sighing, I drive forward, more than aware the man is still watching me and the necklace is glowing brightly.

  It only dims when I exit the neighborhood and the man slips from my view.

  Chapter 3

  LOCATION: SHADOW COVE HIGH

  TIME: 3:12 PM

  DATE: TUESDAY, MARCH 23RD

  I pull into the school parking lot three minutes before the bell rings. Then I remain there until the final bell rings to avoid running into the hall monitor who will for sure write me up for ditching, even though I didn’t technically ditch. But, giving her the old excuse that the mayor’s son injected morphine into me and dumped me on the shore of the lake isn’t going to fly.

  As I sit and wait for the bell to ring, I fiddle with the glass vial, trying to replicate the strange glowing color that emitted from it earlier. No matter how I angle it, shake it, or flip it, the glass remains plain, old, and non-glowy.

  “Maybe I just hallucinated it?” I murmur. “Maybe I’ve hallucinated everything over the last couple days?”

  If that’s so, then it means you can’t really hear me. Do you want that, Mak? Not to hear from me ever again?

  I let the glass vial fall against the hollow of my neck. “No, not really. But I also don’t want to be crazy, either.”

  No one ever does.

  “Maybe it’d help if you told me some more. Like, why can I hear you at all? What does this necklace do? What the hell is going on in this town? And while we’re at it, can you tell me where Dad is, because he’s the only person I know who would understand what I’m going through …? And I really miss him.” I suck in a deep breath as tears sting my eyes.

  I wait for Sawyer to respond, but he doesn’t. I wonder why. Why does his voice come and go?

  Before I can analyze the question, the bell rings. Shoving my door open, I hop out, lock Dixon’s computer in the trunk, and start across the parking lot. By the time I reach the sidewalk in front of the school, students are pouring out from the entrance.

  More than a handful of people glance in my direction. Nothing new about that—they were doing that to me yesterday after the rumor spread around school that Bria and Sawyer had made a suicide pact. It didn’t bother me as much yesterday, but after talking to Liam about secret societies, the morphine incident with Lispy Larry, and overhearing Don Jennings and the mayor whispering about eyes and ears everywhere, I’m a bit on edge. Still, having come from a family who’s been ridiculed for years now, I’m a pro at holding my head up high and pretending to be more chillaxed than I am.

  Yep, that’s me, Makayla “Mak” Evingston, badass detective, eavesdropping extraordinaire, and pro badass pretender.

  When I enter the school, I head down the hallway toward the main office so I can sneak into the lost and found room and look for my backpack. If the wrong person, like say, Dixon or Liam stumbled across it and realized it was my bag, it more than likely is at the bottom of a dumpster by now, along with my phone that I can’t afford to replace.

  Speak of the devil …

  “Hey, Mak, missed you in English today,” Dixon sneers as he walks by.

  He has on designer jeans, a button-down vest, and a watch that probably cost more than my car. And, as usual, he’s sporting his infamous my-shit-don’t-stink smirk that some girls consider sexy. Personally, I think it makes him look constipated, but I’m probably biased.

  I continue onward, not wanting to get into it with him … yet.

  Unfortunately, Dixon thrives on getting under my skin and reels around to follow me.

  “I was worried you were sick or something.” He strides alongside me. “No one would blame you if you were. I mean, first your brother offs himself, then your father abandons you, and then your mother turns into a whore. Then this whole suicide pact with Bria happens.” He smirks. “It really sucks. For Bria, anyway. She was a helpless victim in your family’s crazy.”

  I slam on the brakes, unable to keep my lips zipped any longer. “The bathroom’s that way.” I point in the opposite direction.

  His brows slightly dip. “Yeah, so what?”

  “Well, I figured, since you look like you’re constipated, you probably need to try to go.” I gesture at him. “I mean, that’s what that tense, contorted look on you face means, right? Or is that just how your face always looks?”

  His eyes narrow into slits. “You think I give a shit about anything you say? You’re just a waste of space. Nothing more.”

  “If that’s true, then why are you here, standing beside me, talking to me?” I raise my brows.

  His eyes darken as he leans in and lowers his voice. “To remind you of where your place is in this town.”

  Two things happen simultaneously in that moment. 1.) I catch the strangest, overwhelming scent of lake water. And 2.) The glass vial begins to warm against my skin again. Since it’s tucked beneath the collar of my shirt, I can’t tell if it glows green again. And I’m not about to look down my shirt and check while I’m in front of Dixon.

  “Thanks for the reminder.” I battle to keep my voice as even as I can, while inside, I’m a nervous wreck.

  Dixon smells like lake water? Does that mean he was up by the lake? Did he help Lispy Larry haul me up there? If so, then maybe Dixon is part of the secret society. Liam did say people with the right last name are part of it, which basically means you have to be wealthy and popular. Dixon and his family definitely fall into that category. Then again, Liam also said he and his friends are part of a club that pissed the secret society off, and Dixon is in his circle of friends.

  “Take care, Mak.” Dixon backs away from me, his smirk returning. “I’d say see you around, but I’m going to be pretty busy preparing for the skate competition. You know, the one you can’t afford to enter because your father bailed on your family and left your mom to take care of everything.”

  I bite down on my tongue, resisting the urge to declare I will be competing. Until I get the reward money from him for his computer and actually register for the Shadow Cove’s Skate Charity Event, it’s too risky. Plus, it ruins the surprise of telling him that it was his money that paid my entry fee. Still, when he throws me a wink, I want to declare it to the world right then and there.

  With him gone, I start for the office again.

  As I round the corner, I run into Kennedy and Embry.

  Kennedy’s eyes widen. “Oh, my God, what the hell happened to you today?” she hisses as she strides toward me, her heels clicking against the floor. “Firs
t, you blow us off for lunch, and then you don’t answer any of our texts or calls …” She drifts off as she reaches me, her forehead creasing. “What’s wrong? You look upset.”

  Guess I’m not as good at pretending as I thought.

  “Something happened to me today.” I glance around the hallway at the few lingering students and teachers. “I can’t talk about it out here in the open. Meet me in my car in, like, ten minutes?”

  She exchanges a worried glance with Embry then looks back at me. “Sure, but where are you going?”

  “To get my bag and phone from the lost and found,” I tell her. “Well, that is, if it’s there.”

  “You lost your bag?” Embry tucks a strand of her blazing red hair behind her ear as her brows furrow. “That doesn’t sound like you. You never lose shit.”

  “I didn’t lose it. I dropped it. I’ll explain in the car.” I swing past them, calling over my shoulder, “Text Ev and see if she can meet us there, too.”

  I take off, crossing my fingers that my bag is at the lost and found, and that I can get in without being spotted. Otherwise, I’m going to get accused of ditching and get afterschool detention, something I don’t need right now.

  When I reach the office, the door is closed. I peer through the window. Ms. Finkleson is at her desk, leaning back in her chair and laughing at something on her phone. The lost and found room is across from her desk on the opposite side of the room. It dawns on me that, right before I was doped up and hauled off, she had called me down to the office over the intercom, more than likely because they found out I snooped through the school’s security footage. Another reason remaining unnoticed is a good idea. So, how am I going to get in there without being seen?

  “Mak?”

  I whirl around, my heart hammering inside my chest. Then I relax a drop at the sight of Rylen standing behind me with a hint of worry in his eyes.

  Let me stress the drop part, since the last time I saw Rylen was right before Lispy Larry injected morphine into my system. Rylen had just asked me out on a date and gave me the most awesome bearings, which are also currently inside my backpack. Then he walked me into school, only to part ways to meet up with Dixon. The two of them then whispered something to each other before Dixon looked back at me and sneered.

  I don’t want to believe Rylen has any part of what’s going on, but as of now, I need to be cautious.

  “Hey,” I say, forcing a smile.

  “Hey.”

  He’s wearing a grey-knitted cap over his chin-length black hair, his jeans are faded but in an intentional way, and his sneakers have a bit of paint on the toe. He’s also sporting an immense amount of confusion as he stares at me.

  “Am I going crazy or were you not here for school today? I know you were here this morning when you”—a tentative smile touches his lips—“agreed to go out with me, but then I didn’t see you in any of our classes together or in the hallway or at lunch.”

  “Yeah, I had to go home for the day. My mom couldn’t reach me on the phone and needed me to come home ASAP. That’s why I got called to the office.” I hate that I have to lie to him, especially if it turns out he isn’t involved, but I don’t see any other choice right now.

  “Is everything okay?” he asks worriedly.

  “Yeah, everything’s cool. My mom just found out about Bria and wanted to talk and make sure I was okay.” Man, Everleigh was right. I am a chillingly good liar.

  The crease between his brows deepens. “Are you doing okay with that? And with the rumors going around?” He swiftly shakes his head. “You know what; forget I asked that. The last thing you probably want is for me to bring it up.”

  “You’re fine. I’m the one who brought it up. And I’m fine, I promise. I’m actually sort of a champ when it comes to dealing with rumors.”

  “You shouldn’t have to be. This school sometimes …” He shakes his head then sighs. “You know you’re awesome, right?”

  I smile for reals this time. “Oh, I completely know that. It’s cool you finally caught on, though.”

  He smiles sincerely. “I didn’t just catch on. I’ve known for a long time. Since middle school, actually, when I first saw you at the skate park.”

  “Really?” Shock whips through me. I didn’t even know Rylen was aware I existed back then.

  The first time we spoke to each other was at the beginning of freshman year at the very first skate competition I went to. I took third place, and he took first. He congratulated me, something none of the other competitors did.

  “Yes, really. I remember you showed up and completely schooled everyone at the park, and everyone spent the entire day bitching and complaining over getting their asses handed to them by the newbie. Personally, I thought it was pretty badass … Thought you were pretty badass.” His cheeks flush a little.

  So do mine.

  “But, yeah, anyway.” He nervously clears his throat. “You still are.”

  “Thanks.” My cheeks warm even more. Jeez, I’m so not good with guys. Well, guys giving me compliments and what I’m pretty sure is flirting with me. Where is Kennedy when I need her? “So are you.”

  His smile conveys his nervousness. “It’s nice to hear you say that. When I asked you out earlier, I wasn’t sure if you were really into it or not.”

  “I am.” Am I, though, after the exchange I witnessed between him and Dixon earlier? “I’ve just never been asked out before, so it kind of surprised me.”

  His brows spring upward. “No one’s ever asked you out?”

  I shrug. “People in this town aren’t a huge fan of me or my family. It’s cool, though. Between school, work, and skating, I don’t have a lot of free time anyway.”

  “I guess I must be pretty lucky then, if you’re making time to go out with me,” he teases with a grin.

  I mirror his grin. “Oh, you definitely should.”

  We stand there, stupidly grinning at each other for probably way too long. Then Everleigh comes rushing up and ruins the moment.

  “You need to hurry up,” she says, shifting the handle of her bag higher onto her shoulder. “Kennedy needs to get home before four-thirty today.”

  A total lie, but I catch on to what she’s doing—getting me to hurry my butt up before Kennedy has a meltdown.

  “Sorry, I was distracting her,” Rylen apologizes, backing away. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Mak.” He pauses. “Or maybe at the skate park later today?”

  I waver. “I might not make it down there today. There’s just too much going on right now.”

  He starts to frown, but then shakes off the look. “All right, then. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  I throw him a wave then turn to Ev. I wait until Rylen has vanished down the hallway before I say, “Sorry. He just started talking to me, and then I got distracted with the conversation.”

  “It’s fine,” Ev says. “Kennedy’s just worried, and you know how she gets when she’s like that.”

  “Yep, like a caged Gremlin baby.”

  Ev slightly smiles, but then frowns. “Why weren’t you in school today?”

  “I’ll get to that as soon as we get to the car.” I peer into the office window again and grimace. “Just as soon as I figure out a way to get into the office and …” I glance back at Ev, realizing a much easier solution. “Can you go into the lost and found and see if my backpack’s in there so I don’t have to explain to Ms. Finkleson why I wasn’t in school today?” Why didn’t I do that to begin with? I think the morphine must have left my brain a bit groggy or something.

  Ev nods then slides her backpack off and hands it to me. “Hold this so I can just say it’s mine and avoid getting drilled with questions.”

  I take her backpack, slip it on, and then step aside. “Thanks, Ev. I totally owe you one.”

  She offers me a small, nervous smile before drawing open the door and stepping inside. I don’t dare peek through the window while she’s in there, worried Ms. Finkleson will spot me. Deep down, I realize facing my pun
ishment for not being here today and maybe breaking into the security footage is inevitable. However, if I play my cards correctly, I could get my mom to phone in my absence. That is, if I tell her the truth about what happened to me. That just leaves the problem with being busted for going through the security footage, if that’s the reason I was called to the office this morning.

  Don’t tell Mom, Mak. I hate to say this, but she can’t be trusted, Sawyer whispers through my thoughts.

  I tense. What are you talking about?

  No response.

  Come on, Sawyer; you have to give me some answers. I start to pace the vacant hallway, unable to stand still any longer.

  “Be careful, Mak. Things are about to get dangerous.”

  I nearly jump out of my skin as Sawyer’s voice, as clear as mine and Dixon’s hatred for each other, floats up from down the hallway.

  “Sawyer?” I whisper as I creep up the hallway. “Are you …? Are you here?” As soon as I ask that, I become hyperaware of how insane I sound.

  Sawyer isn’t here.

  Sawyer is gone.

  Has been gone for a while now.

  Then, who’s mimicking his voice and pretending to be him?

  As soon as the question crosses my thoughts, the glass vial illuminates from underneath the collar of my shirt.

  My gaze skims the hallway as I place my hand over the base of my neck, covering up the glow. No one is around, except Trysten Wellbroking, a guy in my grade who runs in the same circle as Liam and Dixon. Nothing too strange about that, other than he seemingly appeared out of nowhere and is leaning against a locker a ways down the hallway with his gaze fixed on me.

  Don’t understand why that’s odd? Take a look at what I know about Trysten:

  Full Name: Trysten Wellbroking.

  Age: Seventeen.

  School Status: A senior at Shadow Cove.

  Current GPA: 3.0.

  Extracurricular Activities: None that I know of.