Page 72 (1/2)

A loud ringing blares in my ears I lift a hand to ht spins, shadows dancing on the walls The electric lantern rocks on the floor beside me Junie wraps her hands around it and carefully sets it back on the table

I open my mouth, but words won’t coht Talk is overrated I’m more of an action person myself" She steps over rips a knife "I got rid of Tabatha I can get rid of you, too"

Junie’s the traitor? The thought chugs throughhead That means she killed Terrence, too?

"Why? Why did you kill Terrence?"

"I’everyone in itkeeps getting in the way of ether It’s too much pressure on Caden If this place falls, then he can be free We can slip away and be together"

I stare up at her, one eye blinded by the blood running froh me She’s crazy!

Rap! Rap!

The beat of knuckles on the door sends Junie’s head popping back up Her wild eyes fasten hard to the left as Caden’s deep voice drifts into the room "Junie, sorry to wake youis Davy in there with you?"

I open my lips wide, but Junie pounces on ainst her s the knife into my throat The sharp point pricks my flesh, and I feel the warm ribbon of blood trail downopen My eyes strain from the door to her face She does the saht red-handed by Caden isn’t part of her plan

"Don’t come in," she cos open a half foot

"Sorry, Junie Have you seen Davy?"

"No" Her gaze flicks toas she pushes the blade in deeper More blood runs, a pulsing chug, hot on ain, and with it one, she’ll finish me Stick my body somewhere else He’ll never know she’s the one Life in the co to infiltrate her way into his heart Nausea rolls throughin my veins My hands curl into fists atto kill me anyway Either now or later At least I canmy mouth, I bite down on the inside of her hand until the metallic taste of blood runs over my teeth She cries out Her hand flies off s open and slalimpse of Caden’s horrified expression as I jerk to the side, trying to roll away as she pushes down on the knife I kneould coushes That’s the cost The price I’ to pay I know that, but it doesn’t stop the pain and terror