38. Thirty-Eight
38
THIRTY-EIGHT
MILA
S leep eventually claimed me, wrapped in his loving embrace. When I woke, it was to the sound of birds chirping and the early morning sunlight streaming through the curtains. Archer was still lying beside me, his eyes closed and a contented expression on his face. I reached out and ran my fingers through his tousled hair, a small smile tugging at my lips. A wave of gratitude washed over me as I watched him stir awake. He pulled me closer, wrapping me in his arms.
“Good morning,” he murmured, his voice husky with sleep.
“Good morning,” I replied, feeling a rush of warmth at the sight of him looking at me with such tenderness.
But as I shifted to get up and start the day, a loud knock on the door shattered the peaceful atmosphere. Archer stirred beside me, his eyes fluttering open with confusion and caution. We exchanged a quick glance before he got up, his hand brushing mine reassuringly. I held my breath as he made his way to the door. My heart pounded with a sense of unease.
Theo and Kai’s voices spoke low and urgent, but I couldn’t hear what they were saying. I wrapped a blanket around me and approached them, my ears perking up when I saw Archer’s shoulders tense. Kai and Theo stopped talking and wouldn’t meet my eyes.
“What is it?”
Archer’s expression darkened, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his face before he composed himself. He turned to me briefly, his eyes locking with mine.
“Archer, what is it?”
He hesitated momentarily, his jaw tight as he looked at me, his eyes filled with worry.
"There's been an incident," Archer began, his words hanging heavy in the air.
“An incident? What kind of incident?”
“Maddie is missing.”
“Missing? What do you mean missing?”
“She isn’t on the property, and her phone was left here,” Kai responded.
“Okay, well, I’m sure she will find her way home. She always does. What’s different now?”
I looked at Theo and Kai, seeing the gravity of the situation mirrored in their expressions. Theo's usually jovial demeanor was replaced by a steely resolve, while Kai's hands clenched into fists at his sides.
“What aren’t you telling me?” I asked as I cycled my stare between the three of them.
They looked at each other, then settled their eyes on their feet.
The morning's tranquility shattered around us, and when he didn’t say anything else but instead glanced at the boys, a sinking feeling settled in my stomach.
"We think the man that Lacey went home with was Alexander Benson.”
“What? Are you sure? How did he get in?”
“We caught him on surveillance taking his mask off in his car,” Kai confirmed.
“I-I need to call her and make sure she’s okay.” I stumbled back to my end table and unplugged my phone. I had several text messages from my father but nothing from Lacey. I checked the time.
Noon.
I hit her number, pressing the phone to my ear. It rang and rang.
No answer.
I called again. My heartbeat quickened with every passing second—every unanswered ring.
The phone continued to ring, each tone cutting through the tense air of the room like a sharp blade. My heart pounded in my chest, dread creeping its icy fingers down my spine. The sudden silence as the call went to voicemail only fueled my rising panic.
“Lacey, it’s me,” I started, my voice wavering slightly despite my attempts to sound calm. “Please, please call me back as soon as you get this. It’s urgent.”
I hung up and re-dialed her number, hoping beyond hope that she would answer this time. But once more, it went to voicemail.
“She’s not answering,” I said, turning wide-eyed to the boys. “Oh god, what if something happened to her?”
Archer stepped forward, his expression firm but his eyes betraying a hint of fear. “We don’t know if Benson is involved yet, but we can’t take any chances.”
“Wait, we share our locations with each other,” I gasped, scrolling through my apps until I found Life360. Tapping it, I waited for the GPS to refresh her location. When her picture showed up, I zoomed in until I could see exactly where she was.
St. Mary’s.
“It says she’s at St. Mary’s. Why would she be at St. Mary’s?”
“We’ll find her,” Kai said as he turned to leave.
“No. I’m going with you.”
“Why don’t you stay here? Let the boys go and get her,” Archer said.
“I’m not staying here and waiting to see if they find her. What if she’s passed out somewhere or hurt? I’m going.”
I didn’t wait for him to respond. Instead, I hustled into the closet, throwing clothes on and following the boys downstairs. During the entire drive, I kept trying her phone, each unanswered call sending me further into despair. We pulled up to St. Mary’s, and I hopped out of the car, not waiting for anyone before I set off toward her last known location. There were classes every day, so the campus was relatively busy as students rushed to get to their classrooms after a drunken Saturday night bender. I moved toward her bubble, scanning the faces in the crowd to see if I saw her sitting in the quad.
My feet carried me toward her last known location, a sense of dread creeping over me with every step. Please be okay, please be okay, a constant mantra ran through my head as I headed up the stairs into the cathedral. It was dimly lit, the scent of old wood and incense heavy in the air as I stepped into the vast space. Sunlight filtered through the stained glass windows, casting colorful patterns on the stone floor. My eyes scanned the pews, searching for any sign of Lacey amidst the hushed silence of the cathedral. As I approached the altar, a figure caught my eye—a flash of familiar blonde hair shadowed above.
My steps faltered, and my breath caught in my throat as I looked up. My heart stopped at the sight before me—Lacey, naked and crucified on a cross behind the altar. Blood dripped from her wrists and ankles, pooling on the stone floor below. Her head hung lifelessly to the side. Her body was gutted, with entrails spilling out onto the ground in a gruesome display. I knew she was dead, but my mind couldn’t process her death. A strangled gasp escaped my lips, and I stumbled back, my hands flying to cover my mouth in horror as the scene before me seared into my mind like a brand. My legs buckled beneath me as my vision started to blur, and I dropped to my knees. A blood-curdling scream echoed around me, and it wasn’t until Archer wrapped his arms around me that I realized the scream was coming from me.
I couldn't breathe. I couldn't move. I couldn't think. My mind was a whirlwind of terror, shock, and disbelief. I wanted to cry, to run, to do something, anything, but my body froze in place, utterly incapacitated .
Theo and Kai rushed to my side, the horror etched on their faces mirroring my own.
"We have to get her out of here," Archer whispered hoarsely.
"We can't leave her like that," I choked out, my voice barely audible.
"We'll call the authorities, but we can't stay," Kai insisted, his grip on my arm tightening.
"I’m not leaving her,” I protested, yanking my arms out of his grip.
He gripped my cheeks. “Baby, there’s nothing you can do for her.”
“I don’t care. I won’t leave her. Please don’t make me leave her,” I begged him, clutching his shirt.
“Okay, baby. Okay. We will stay with her,” he promised, kissing my forehead and embracing me.
As the authorities arrived, I was still locked in a trance, unable to comprehend the horrific scene before me. Kai and Archer supported me as we were led away from the cathedral. The air grew colder as we walked, my body trembling uncontrollably. I couldn't look back at the cathedral. My mind was clouded with memories of our time together—Lacey's laughter, her radiant smile, and the warm embrace she gave me last night. I felt like a part of my soul had been torn away, leaving me empty and numb.
We were questioned by the authorities for hours, trying to piece together the events leading up to Lacey's death. As each detail emerged, I felt a sinking sense of despair that I couldn't shake. Lacey's murder was a cold and calculated act designed to terrorize me—to remind me of how easy it was to get to me and my loved ones. There was no doubt in my mind that Alexander had killed her. We finally left the cathedral, and the authorities took Lacey's body away.
In a state of shock, I numbly followed them to our car. The drive back to our place felt like an eternity, my mind replaying the gruesome vision of Lacey over and over. When we got back, I stumbled into the nearest bathroom, unable to contain the vomit that rose in my throat. I wretched violently, trying to expel the horrible image from my mind and body.
When I finally emerged from the bathroom, I found Archer waiting for me, his face etched with grief and concern. He took one look at me and wrapped his arms around me, pulling me close. I clung to him tightly as my body shook and tears streamed down my face.
"I can't take it, Archer. She can’t be dead," I sobbed into his chest, feeling utterly defeated.
He held me tighter. "We'll get through this, baby. I’ll find him. But right now, you need to rest. We can't do anything until morning."
I nodded weakly, knowing he was right. As he led me to our room, I felt lost, devastated, and scared. My best friend was gone, and her murder shattered me. I climbed into bed, curling into a fetal position as Archer slipped in beside me. His warm body against mine brought me a small sense of comfort, but it was short-lived. My mind was a whirlwind of memories, guilt, and fear as I tried to process what had happened.
Archer held me tightly, his heartbeat a comforting rumble against my ear. The weight of his arm across my chest was a small barrier between me and the world that had just torn me apart.
As the hours ticked by, I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. My thoughts were in turmoil, my mind unable to process the reality of Lacey's death. I could still hear her laughter, our conversations, and the countless memories we had made together. It felt like a cruel joke, a surreal nightmare I couldn't wake up from. But I knew, deep in my core, that Lacey was gone, and I was left to pick up the pieces of my shattered heart and try to find the strength to carry on.
Throughout the following days and nights, I was a shell of myself. I spent most of my time in bed, staring into the darkness, trying to make sense of the horror that had befallen us. Archer tried his best to support me, but it was impossible. The only thing that kept me going was the promise of getting ahold of Alexander and avenging Lacey’s death.
I stood on the balcony, staring out at the grounds, my thoughts as dark as the night. The wind whipped through my hair, and I couldn’t help but feel like I was being swept away by a relentless tide. Gentle hands wrapped around my stomach, and I leaned back into his muscular body, using his strength to stay grounded.
“You need to eat something, my love,” he said softly, his voice a comforting presence in the stillness of the night.
“I know,” I whispered, feeling his warmth seep through my clothes and into my skin. I closed my eyes, feeling the tears gather at the corners. He leaned into me, and his lips brushed my ear.
“I’m going to kill him, Mila.”
I turned to face him, my eyes searching for a glimmer of hope in his. “Promise me,” I said, gripping his arms tightly. “Promise me.”
“I promise,” he said, his voice firm and unwavering.