The Darkest Star

by Jennifer L. Armentrout

  “Have you heard anything?” I asked, putting my camera away.

  “Yeah.” James dropped his bag onto the cement ground. “It was Colleen.”

  “What?” I gasped.

  He climbed onto the table and sat next to me. “I was talking to a few guys. One of the teachers was standing nearby, talking to Jenny—the girl who’d found her in the bathroom. From what I could hear, it sounded like Colleen had been … you know, gone for a while. I don’t know how Jenny could tell that, but that’s what I heard.”

  “Holy crap.” Heidi lowered her phone to her lap. “Oh my God, that—”

  “Doesn’t make a lot sense?” Zoe finished for her, the corners of her lips turning down. “I thought the last time she was seen was at Foretoken on Friday night.”

  “That’s right.” I glanced at Heidi. She was staring straight, her face pale. “Her purse and shoes were found in the alley. There’s no way she’d been in that bathroom since Friday.”

  “I used that bathroom yesterday,” Zoe pointed out. “Someone would’ve noticed. At least, I hope so.”

  “She was in the last stall and it was unlocked,” James explained, rubbing at the back of his neck. “Supposedly Jenny went in there and saw that the door was cracked open a little. She didn’t think anyone was in it, so she pushed it open, and there … was Colleen. Said she was slumped next to the toilet.”

  “God.” Heidi shuddered. “That’s just horrible.”

  My stomach twisted as I folded my arms. Part of me had been hoping that she’d run away to see her boyfriend, like Zoe had suggested. Deep down I think I knew that hadn’t been the case, not when her shoes and purse had been left behind in an alley, but I didn’t think this was what had happened.

  Zoe slumped against the table. Tight curls fell forward as she bowed her head. “She’s in my communications class. She was just there, you know, on Friday.”

  “And you guys saw the posts about Amanda, right?” Heidi folded an arm across her stomach. “I saw this morning that she still hadn’t returned home.”

  Zoe nodded slowly. “I saw that.”

  Silence fell between us, because seriously, what did any of us have to say? We’d all suffered some sort of loss, whether it was before the invasion or afterward. Both of Zoe’s parents were gone. Heidi’s uncle had been in the army and had died fighting. James had lost an aunt and a cousin. We all knew what grief felt like. Been there, done that, and we had the emotional baggage to prove it. And we all knew what the surprise of death felt like. It was that alarm-like jolt every time you realized someone was no longer there when they had just been there. And we all also knew what fear felt and tasted like. Still, with all our experience, none of us knew what to say.

  “I heard something else,” James said quietly.

  I was almost too afraid to ask. “What?”

  “You heard Jenny screaming about her eyes, right?” He reached up, turning his baseball hat around to the front. “They were … I heard they were burned out completely.”

  Zoe sat up straight. “Burned out?”

  James nodded as he leaned around me. “Nothing but the sockets left.”

  “Oh God,” Heidi moaned as my stomach churned some more.

  “That wasn’t all,” he added, looking around at all of us. “She had burn marks—like, the skin was charred. At least that was how Jenny described it. Like she’d been electrocuted.”

  Zoe’s lips parted as icy fingers of dread trailed down my spine. Oh no. My gaze connected with hers, and I knew she was thinking the same thing I was. There were two ways a person could end up looking like they were electrocuted. One way was touching a live wire and not living to regret that really bad life choice. The second was far scarier than accidentally dropping a plugged-in hair dryer into a tub. There was something out there that could kill, and when it did, it often looked like electrocution … if there was anything of that person left behind.

  A Luxen.

  * * *

  Buses pulled up out front, and school was officially canceled for the day. We walked to our cars, the usual excitement of an unexpected day off nowhere to be found.

  “Are you guys going home?” Heidi asked, digging out her keys.

  “I am.” Zoe stopped in front of the older truck she drove. “I think I’m just going to go back to sleep and pretend today hasn’t happened.”

  Heidi smiled faintly. “I was telling Emery about what happened, and she wants to meet up and grab something to eat, you know, if you guys are interested.”

  “I’m going to pass.” Zoe opened the driver’s door. “Maybe next time?”

  Heidi nodded as she glanced over at me. “What about you?”

  Truthfully, the last thing I wanted was to be alone. “Are you sure it’s okay?” I waved good-bye to Zoe as we skirted around her truck.

  “Of course!” Heidi nudged me with her arm. “You’re the most amazing third wheel, remember?”

  I laughed as I pulled my keys out. “So does that mean you and Emery are officially a thing?”

  “I think so. We had a really great time last night.” As we stopped by my car, she hitched her bag up on her shoulder. “And we made plans for later in the week, too.”

  “Awesome. You still need to fill me in on everything.”

  “I will,” she promised, brushing her hair back. “We’re going to that restaurant near the park—”

  “The one with the stacked waffles?” My stomach grumbled despite everything. “I’m totally in.”

  We split up, and I ended up following her through downtown. At one of the stoplights, I checked my phone and there were still no messages from Mom. I tossed my phone back into my bag and thought about last night. The panic and fear of thinking someone had been in my house felt like nothing compared to what had happened to Colleen.

  My empty stomach continued to twist anxiously. If what James had said was correct, then it was likely a Luxen had done that to her. But why? Why would a Luxen possibly grab Colleen from the alley, hurt her, and then leave her body in a bathroom at school?

  Why would anyone do that?

  An insidious thought crept in. Anyone, human or not, would only leave a body in such a public place if they wanted the body to be found in a very public way.

  But why?

  I didn’t have any answers.

  Heidi was already out of her car and waiting when I pulled into the parking garage. I grabbed a spot where I could simply pull out when it was time to leave, because I sucked at backing up in crowded parking lots, then snatched up my purse off the backseat and shoved my phone into a little pocket in my bag.

  I joined Heidi in the dimly lit section of the garage. “Make today feel normal and tell me about your date.”

  “It was a lot of fun. After dinner, we did the most normal and corniest thing possible. We went to a movie.” Heidi paused as we reached the escalators to take us to the street. She always had to look down and wait several seconds before stepping onto an escalator. “I had an amazing time. I really like her.” Her cheeks turned pink in the sun. “I know I keep saying that. I probably sound like a dork.”

  “You don’t. You sound adorable.”

  She smiled, but it was brief. “I’m sorry. It feels so weird talking about the date after what happened.”

  “I know.” I sighed as I touched the railing. “Going to breakfast feels weird too, but honestly, I’m glad we are. I really don’t want to be sitting at home, mentally playing police detective.”

  Heidi snorted. “Ditto. Especially when my mind immediately goes to dark places. Like, I’m already convinced there’s a serial killer in our midst, picking out his next victim.” She stopped, looking at me. “Both Colleen and Amanda have blond hair.”

  My eyes widened as I absently touched my blond hair. “Uh, thanks for making that connection.”

  “Sorry.” She smiled weakly. “I’ve been watching way too much true crime TV.”

  “You may not be far from the truth, though.” I shuddered. “I mea
n, both having blond hair probably doesn’t mean anything, but if Amanda really is missing—”

  “It has to be tied to Colleen,” she finished the thought. “It’s way too much of a coincidence.”

  I started to tell her about what had happened last night, but stopped myself. After this morning, voicing what I thought had happened to me just seemed so stupid compared to what did happen.

  We reached street level and walked the half block to the restaurant. Opening the door, I looked back at Heidi. “Is Emery here or should we grab a table?”

  “She’s meeting us, so we should grab a table.” She followed me in, pushing her sunglasses up onto her head.

  Since it was Tuesday, we didn’t have to wait, and were immediately seated at one of the booths. I took the seat across from Heidi, sliding all the way to the window. I picked up a napkin, and started fiddling with it. “Did you know Colleen very well?”

  Heidi had grown up in Columbia, unlike Zoe and me, who were transplants after the invasion. I was pretty sure Colleen was from this area too.

  “When we were younger, like in elementary school, we used to play together during recess and sometimes afterward, but we kind of grew apart when we got to middle school. I don’t even remember why. It was something that just happened. Now…” She trailed off, resting her head against the booth. “I wish I knew why we stopped being friends.”

  I folded the napkin. “We never really talked. Nothing more than the bare minimum, you know? I saw her Friday at the club. We talked for a couple of seconds, and then I think someone called her name and she went back on the dance floor.”

  “I didn’t see her.” She leaned forward. “Do you … Do you think a Luxen really did that?”

  “I don’t know.” Unease blossomed as I lowered my voice. “But why else would she look like she’d been electrocuted—in a school bathroom, almost four full days after she disappeared?”

  Her shoulders tensed as she turned to the window. “Oh, here comes Emery.”

  I turned to look, but she was already out of my line of sight. Nervousness grew as I waited for her join us. I wanted Emery to like me because Heidi liked her so much. Nothing sucked more than one of your best friends’ significant other not being able to stand you.

  A wide smile broke out over Heidi’s face as she scooted all the way over to the window. “Hey.”

  I looked up, plastering what I hoped was a normal, welcoming smile on my face as I waved my hand. “Hi.”

  Emery grinned down at me as she murmured back the same greeting before sliding into the booth next to Heidi. Emery looked over at her, and there was a moment where neither quite knew how to acknowledge the other person. Should they kiss? Hug? Just smile? They were at that adorably awkward stage where every moment and every act counted, the stage I’d never … Wow, I’d never experienced that with Brandon.

  Holy crap, how was I just now realizing that?

  Whenever Brandon and I saw each other, even after the very first date, it was always a kiss and then he’d start talking about the football game he had coming up or I would ask about his classes.

  None of those moments had counted, not for me and not for him.

  They counted for Heidi and Emery, though.

  They hugged, and when they pulled back, Heidi’s normally pale face was flushed and there was a pinker tint under Emery’s deeper-hued skin.

  Ugh. They were so cute.

  I wish I hadn’t left my camera in the car. Taking a picture of them together would’ve been perfect.

  “I’m really sorry about what happened,” Emery said, tucking her dark hair behind her ear. Up close, her green eyes were the muted color of moss. “It’s unbelievable.”

  “It really is,” Heidi agreed. “I was just telling Evie that I used to hang out with Colleen in grade school. We weren’t close over the last … well, in forever, but it’s still so sad.”

  “Did you know her?” Emery asked me.

  I shook my head. “We never really talked beyond the basics.”

  Emery’s gaze flickered to the window and she drew in a shallow breath. “So, not to change the subject or anything.” She focused on me. “Please don’t be mad at me.”

  My brows rose as I glanced at Heidi. “Why would I be mad?”

  “I didn’t come alone,” she said, and muscles I didn’t even know I had clenched in my stomach. “Well, I tried to. It didn’t work out that well.”

  “What do you…?” Heidi’s eyes widened as her gaze focused on something or someone behind me. “Oh my word.”

  I didn’t have to look behind me to know. On a cellular level, I just knew, and my heart started throwing itself around in my chest. My pulse picked up as a shadow fell over our table. I knew it wasn’t our waitress, and I had no idea how I felt.

  But I did look.

  Slowly, I lifted my head and looked to my right, and there stood Luc, his bronze hair a mess of waves and curls. He was wearing silver aviator sunglasses, the kind with lenses so reflective, I could see my own wide-eyed stare in them. My gaze was drawn to the clean, hard lines of his jaw and then lower, over the broad width of his shoulders, and then to his chest.

  His shirt read MUGGLE IN THE STREETS, WIZARD IN THE SHEETS.

  My mouth gaped open.

  “Like my shirt?” he asked, dropping into the space beside me.

  “It’s … nice.”

  “I think so.” He threw his arm over the back of our booth. “Kent got it for me.” The ever-present half grin faded. “Sucks about what happened at your school, to that girl.”

  “Yeah, it does.” I shot a look across the table, and saw that Heidi sort of resembled a fish out of water. “You know the girl who was at Foretoken when she disappeared?” I blurted out before I had a chance to stop myself. Luc and I had briefly talked about her when he found me near the lake. “I talked to her that night.”

  One single brow rose above the sunglasses. “I didn’t know you talked to her.” He looked over at Emery, and for some reason, I got the distinct feeling that not a single part of that had been news to him. “What has happened to her is unfortunate to hear.”

  Way unfortunate.

  His head cocked to the side as he leaned forward, extending his arm toward Heidi. The gesture caused his shoulder to press into mine, and I scooted toward the window, earning some space. His grin returned, tipping up on one side. “I don’t think we’ve actually met. I’m Luc.”

  “I know.” She shook his hand. “I’m—”

  “Heidi,” he answered for her. “It’s nice to meet you. Emery has nothing but wonderful things to say about you.”

  Flushing once more, she glanced over at Emery. “Is that so?”

  “Just telling the truth,” Emery replied with a shrug. “Luc heard I was coming to meet you guys.”

  “And I invited myself along.” He returned to his normal sprawl. “I had to do it.”

  “Really?” Heidi replied.

  Luc nodded as he finally pushed the sunglasses up. “I knew Evie would be disappointed if I didn’t show.”

  A strangled-sounding laugh burst out of Heidi as my head whipped around toward Luc so fast, I thought I was going to give myself whiplash. “What?” I demanded. Luc looked at me, and whatever I was about to say died on the tip of my tongue. “Your eyes!” I gasped in a whisper.

  He dipped his chin, and somehow the little distance that I’d gained was lost. “Contacts,” he whispered, winking. “Special ones. And yes, they really mess up the RAC drones.”

  My mouth dropped open for a second time. “That’s a thing?”

  “There are a lot of things that are a thing,” he replied, and I blinked hard. He looked away. “Well, hello there.”

  For a moment I didn’t know who he was talking to, but then I saw the waitress.

  “What can I get you all to drink?”

  The girls got waters, and Luc ordered a Coke. I started to order one of the sweet teas, because I knew they made it the way I liked, with tons of sugar, but I orde
red a Coke.

  “A Coke?” Heidi asked, sounding as surprised as I felt. “Don’t you normally order Pepsi?”

  I did, but I wanted … I wanted a Coke for some reason. Not exactly a big deal. I shrugged. “I guess I want a Coke.”

  “The last time I accidentally brought you a Coke, you threatened to stop being my friend.”

  I laughed. I had threatened that.

  The waitress shuffled off, and I was back to staring at Heidi, desperately wondering how I had ended up eating breakfast with Luc.

  It was weird.

  It felt like eons ago that I’d seen him at the park, and I hadn’t even begun to process the bizarre conversation with him or what had happened over the weekend, and now he was sitting right here.

  The drinks arrived quickly and we placed our orders. Of course, I ordered the tower of waffles and a side of extra-crispy bacon. I grabbed my Coke, gulping down the sugary goodness.

  “Thirsty?” Luc eyed me closely.

  Feeling my cheeks heat, I put my glass down and shot back, “You’re good at pointing out the obvious, aren’t you?”

  Luc’s lips curved into a grin. “That’s my superpower.”

  “Nice,” I replied dryly.

  Heidi cleared her throat as her gaze flickered to Luc. “So, how did you and Emery meet? I never heard about that.”

  “Well, that’s kind of a sad story.” Luc’s finger tapped along the back of the booth.

  Emery toyed with the edge of her fork. “My family didn’t … survive the invasion.”

  “Oh my God, I’m sorry to hear that.” I glanced over at Heidi, and that part didn’t seem like it was news to her.

  “Thank you,” Emery murmured, and then lifted her gaze, looking at Luc. “Things were kind of a mess afterward. You know how everything was. I ended up on the streets and Luc took me in.”

  Surprise flickered through me. “He took you in?”

  Luc nodded, those fingers still tapping behind my shoulder. “I’m charitable like that.”

  “He did the same for Kent,” Emery added, her fingers stilling over her fork. “He’d lost his family too and had no place to go until he found Luc.”

  That piece of information was unexpected, because my impression of Luc was not charitable, but more important, Luc and Emery looked roughly the same age. How in the world would Luc be in the position to take anyone in when he was fifteen?