CHAPTER TWENTY-FOURMary Jo
Mary Jo
I’m startled awake by Jayden jumping out of bed. He flies to the closet, flinging the doors open. He’s breathing hard like he just ran a marathon.
Cole shoots up beside me.
“Gun, where’s the gun,” Jayden mutters. He’s shirtless, and his back glints with sweat.
“Fuck.” Cole jumps up and darts over to Jayden. “Leave it alone, man. It’s not real.”
Jayden swings for Cole, who ducks and puts his hands up. “It’s me. You’re having a flashback. You’re safe.”
Jayden’s gaze bounces around wildly. He looks right through us. He then goes back to the closet.
“Jayden!” Cole grabs his arm, and Jayden flings him off almost faster than I can track and throws him on the bed. He starts rummaging faster. I hear beeping.
“Shit.” Cole jumps up and pulls me to the other side of the room, putting himself between Jayden and me.
Jayden swings around, a pistol in his hand.
I freeze. The pistol is black and matte, with iron sights. He briefly flags us with it before pointing it around the room. He had a gun in this place the whole time?
“Where is he?” Jayden’s chest heaves.
Cole freezes. I’ve never seen the look in Jayden’s eyes before. He looks like a cornered animal. He looks…afraid.
“Don’t move,” Cole whispers to me. “He won’t hurt you.”
I’m not so sure. And the look on Cole’s face tells me he’s not so sure either.
“Where is he?” Jayden demands again.
“He’s not here. He’s dead. You’re having a flashback.”
Jayden looks at us, and for a second, I think he really sees us. He takes a step back. Then he starts wildly looking around again.
“Jayden,” Cole whispers.
Jayden jumps and looks back at us. “What are you doing here?”
“You’re at the cabin. They aren’t here. They’re dead. You had a bad dream.”
Jayden trembles. He runs a hand through his hair and blinks. He lowers the gun to his side.
“Give it to me,” Cole demands.
Jayden stiffens. Cole walks slowly up to him, still keeping his body between us. “You’re safe. I’ll keep you safe.”
He shudders and hands the gun over. Cole puts it in the closet again and sits next to Jayden on the bed.
I’m still standing there. The two talk in low tones. I tiptoe downstairs and curl up on the couch. I wasn’t supposed to see that. I wasn’t supposed to see any of that.