If she kills me, at least I died well fucked
Imade Oliver take me back to the dorm for one last night.
It took relentless convincing. I told him I needed to grab more of my things before moving in entirely.
That part was true. The rest? A lie. Trying to explain that once I’m in his bed, I know I’m not leaving.
Goodbye, girls’ trips; hello, beautiful cage.
I convinced him with other ways, which made him relent as he exploded in my mouth.
It's why I’m sitting in my room, trying to occupy my mind in any way I can while the message sits like a weight on my phone. Threaten me? Fine. Threaten the people I care about? You’ve crossed a fucking line.
Unknown:
It’s followed by picture after picture of people I care about. Then Oliver. Him pinning Amelia in the library. No matter how you spin it, it looks bad. But worse, the video loops with the only words leaving his lips.
“Word of advice: ‘don’t kill the messenger.’ It exists because most people do. Do you understand?”
He has been protecting me; it’s time I protect him, even if I know this is so fucking stupid. But what choice do I have? I won’t risk Unknown sharing that video. I won’t risk another person dying.
The clock glares 1:13, and I stare back like it’s judging me.
With a quiet sigh, I shove the fluffy covers off and swing my legs out of bed.
I move through the bathroom on autopilot, splashing water on my face and trying not to think too hard about what I’m doing.
If I think too hard, I won’t do it at all.
When I come back into my room, I put on black jeans, a long-sleeve shirt, a hoodie, and running shoes.
I drag my hair into a high ponytail, and then my hand goes to the drawer where James’s gift sits.
The knife he got me after I was taken. I swallow past the lump in my throat as I slide it into its holder, tucking it under my hoodie, where I can reach it fast.
I keep my phone on me too, sliding it into my back pocket with the screen pressed against my skin. Oliver has my location in case something happens. I slip out and start walking toward the garden on the far edge of campus. It’s silent in a way that makes every tiny sound feel amplified.
My shoes tap against the stone path, and the echo follows me, mixing with the faint rustle of trees in the distance.
I keep my head up and my shoulders tight, scanning every shadow and every corner as I move.
The fountain comes into view, and I slow, my instincts screaming that this is exactly how people end up on the news.
Still, I keep going until I’m close enough to hear the soft trickle of water.
“What the fuck are you doing, Lyra?” I pull out my phone and check the time, my thumb hovering over the screen. 1:27 a.m.
I press the iron gate open; its soft, complaining creak makes my stomach tighten. I slip through and let it ease shut behind me, careful not to latch it. I move toward the far corner of the garden, keeping my eyes on the opening the entire time, refusing to let myself relax even for a breath.
A rustle from behind me makes my head snap up. I watch Molly slip through the gate.
“Molly?” My eyes widen. What the fuck? Molly isn’t…Is Molly unknown?
She stops when she sees me, just as startled. “Lyra? What are you doing here?”
“What am I doing here?” I take a step back, my heel catching on the edge of a stone. “You didn't text me to meet you?”
Her face twists, genuine confusion pulling her brows together. “No, I didn’t,” she says quickly. “I got a text from—”
“From me.”
The voice cuts in smooth and sharp, and my stomach drops before I even fully turn. Jade steps through the gate, shutting it behind her with a snick.
Molly’s head jerks toward her.
She’s dead.
How?
What?
“Jade,” I say. “How are you alive?”
“Oh yeah, that.” She shrugs like it’s no big deal. “Turns out cliffs aren’t as fatal as people think. After Blaine pushed me, I slid down, managing not to break anything. I woke up and got out before anyone came.”
“Blaine.” I fight my voice from rising.
“You're fucking lying, Blaine would never.” Molly’s voice is full of disbelief.
“Wouldn’t he though?” Jade cuts in. “He’s in love with Lyra, and after finding out what we did, I’m surprised he didn’t kill you as well, or Oliver.” She tilts her head. “Actually, that’s very shocking.”
Molly’s eyes fill with tears. I stand in a complete state of shock. Blaine pushed Jade off a cliff. Jesus, fuck.
“So, then what’s going on?” I ask, keeping every ounce of cool I have.
“I needed to kill two birds with one stone.” She smiles. “Literally,” Jade adds, and the smile turns mean.
I glance at Molly, who shifts closer to me. We aren’t friends. We aren’t even civil. But whatever this is…it’s not about feelings. It’s about getting out.
Molly’s voice shakes. “I’m confused.”
“So am I,” I manage, even as my fingers slide into my hoodie pocket, finding the cold shape of the knife. The comfort it gives me is instant.
Jade’s gaze flicks to my pocket, then back to my face.
“Let me make it simple,” she says. “I’m here to kill Lyra.
” Say what now? “And Molly,” Jade continues, turning her head slightly, “your little slap today made this work so well for me. Everyone already thinks you’re unstable.
It couldn’t have been more perfect timing. ”
I don’t move. I don’t blink. My eyes keep sliding to the gate behind Jade, to the path beyond it. I can run. Then what, though? Her release the video? Go to the cops?
Molly’s chin lifts. “Jade, what the hell are you talking about?” she snaps. “Why have you been hiding? Why didn’t you go to the police about Blaine?”
Jade’s smile stays in place. “I didn’t go to the police because hiding in the shadows and watching was just so much better.
” Jade pulls out a knife, turning it in her hand like she’s done it a hundred times.
“Killing Amelia and Leo was surprisingly easy. Framing Lyra was even easier, but of course Oliver had to show up and ruin it.” Her eyes slide to me.
“Serena’s little tip about seeing you out didn’t even help. ”
Molly gasps. “You killed Amelia and Leo?”
The words hit in sequence, each one landing heavier than the last. “I thought my killings were poetic. I mean, Amelia was the one who hit you with the rock, Lyra. It's tragic that she died the same way. Leo…well, if it makes you feel better, I fucked him while he was unconscious for a little payback.” I feel sick. I cover my mouth, hand shaking. She steps closer. “I thought dressing like you and throwing on a wig would’ve been enough, but I guess not.”
I glance at Molly and see tears filling her eyes, her face going pale. “How could you? We were friends.”
Jade laughs, sharp and ugly. “Friends?” She shakes her head. “No. Pawns. Both of you. Everyone. I moved you around like pieces until I got what I wanted.” Her smile widens. “And now we’re here.”
“To kill me,” I say. Even though every word feels like a physical slice to my skin, I don’t let it show. The more I learn, maybe I can figure out a way to get out of here. Clearly, this has been a plan in the making. We all made it so easy for her to move us around like chess pieces.
“Catching up,” Jade replies, pleased.
Molly’s hand brushes my sleeve. I look at her, and she looks back, and we don’t have to say anything. We’re getting out. We’re getting out, or we’re dying here.
“What happened a year ago, you said, was going to be a fun prank, but Amelia and I told you it was too far. Told you and Leo! We tried to stop you both.” I look at Molly for a brief second, shocked. “Amelia didn’t even know about Leo raping Lyra.”
This time, I can’t help the sound of my lungs filling with air. Jade looks bored, twirling that fucking knife.
“Why?” Molly forces out. “Why kill Lyra?”
Jade’s tone turns light, like she’s pitching a storyline so lost in her own delusions.
“You were already jealous. You were already angry. Blaine still loves her, and you can’t stand it, so you snap.
” She lifts the knife slightly. “You kill Lyra in a jealous rage. She fights back. You get cut. You bleed out too.”
She’s insane. Fully. Calmly. Insane. I tighten my grip on my own knife, swallowing hard. Oliver said when he looked into Jade, he didn’t find anything to raise suspicions. So she’s crazy for no fucking reason?
“You realize it’s two against one. We could take you.”
Jade’s smile doesn’t move. “Try.” Her eyes flick between us. “I’ve had plenty of practice taking down more than one person.”
I don’t even get time to process what she means. Jade moves. Fast. She lunges straight for Molly; Molly doesn’t even have a second to step back before the blade sinks into her stomach.
Molly’s sound isn’t a scream the way you think it would be. It’s a garbled sound of shocked, breathless disbelief, the pain not yet hitting her. I rip my own knife free and lunge for Jade, catching her on her side before she twists, and her knife slices my forearm.
Jade’s smile sharpens. “There you are. Fighting back. Make it more believable.” She clutches her side.
When she lunges, I take a step into her instead of back, catching her off guard as I drive the knife into her thigh.
“Fucking bitch!” she screams, shoving into me, and my grip slips. My knife skitters across the stone, spinning out of reach.
“Lyra—run,” Molly chokes, eyes wide and wet.
My chest caves in, but I know Jade will follow me. I stumble up and throw open the gate. I run. My shoes hit grass, then pavement. I don’t stop to look back. No one is on campus, and any residence hall is too far. I make a split decision. One I hope I won't regret.
My heart is beating so hard it makes my vision pulse. Throwing myself into my car, it takes precious seconds for me to steady my hands as I peel out of the lot. I need Oliver. He’ll know what to do. He always does.
Trees blur past the car window. My body is trembling so violently, I can’t tell if it’s adrenaline or shock or both.
Molly’s face won’t leave my head. Her eyes.
The way they went glassy. The blood. I reach for my phone in my back pocket, my arm stinging from the slash.
My fingers fumble, causing my phone to slip, bounce once, and disappear between the seats.
“Fuck!” I lean down, one hand still on the wheel, blindly clawing for it. I glance down for half a second.
That’s all it takes.
Headlights explode in my rearview mirror.
By the time I look up and slam on the gas, a car crashes into me from behind.
My body whips forward, the seat belt snapping tight across my chest. My head cracks against the window hard enough that everything goes white.
Glass splinters. The car fishtails, tires screaming, the whole world tilting sideways.
“No, no!”
Another impact. This time from the side. The window gives completely, exploding outward. My shoulder wrenches as my body gets thrown into the center console, pain detonating so sharply I can’t even scream.
Then it stops. The car shudders once and goes still. For a second, there’s nothing but the tick of cooling metal and my own broken gasps. Every inhale feels like my ribs are tearing apart. Smoke curls up from the hood. The air reeks of burning metal and gasoline.
I force my hand down again, ignoring the scream of pain in my leg, and finally, my fingers close around my phone. I sit back up, shaking, and hit Oliver’s name.
It rings. “Please…” I cry. “Oliver…please.”
Nothing.
It keeps ringing. Three. Four. Voicemail. “Pick up.” A sob breaks free. “Please, please, please. I need you!”
It rings again. No answer.
My vision starts to tunnel. Panic rises so fast it makes me nauseous.
I stab at the screen. 9-1-
Before I can hit the last number, something slams into the car again. My world tilts. And then it goes black.
“Wakey, wakey.”
Ice-cold water hits my face like a slap. I jerk, choking on a gasp that immediately turns into pain. I blink, trying to make sense of shapes and sound. Asphalt under my back. Cold air on my skin.
“Let’s go,” a voice says.
I try to move and almost vomit from the pain.
Click.
I lift my eyes. Jade stands over me with a gun. Where did she get a fucking gun? There’s a gleam in her eyes I’ve only seen once before. The night I was sitting, bleeding, waiting for my brother.
“Get the fuck up! Or I’ll shoot.” She motions the gun upward.
Jade watches like she’s enjoying it. The air is damp and bitterly cold, sinking into my bones.
“If you shoot me, it’ll be clear I was murdered.”
“You're right. I’ll use the knife to make it look like you were running after killing Molly.”
I manage to get upright on one leg, dragging the other, and the sound I make is humiliating. “Enough of the dramatics,” she says, like she didn’t just try to kill me with a car. She jerks her chin toward the other vehicle, not looking much better than my own.
“Why not just kill me here?”
“Because we need to chat. Talk about why I’ve done so much to try to ruin your life. You know I’m not crazy. I’ve just been pushed. It’s not all my fault.” I swallow hard, forcing air into my lungs.
Oliver will find me. Oliver will get help. I repeat it over and over because I need something to hold onto. I don’t make it far before I have to stop, gagging, and I throw up. Then again, a few steps later, my whole body refusing to cooperate.
“Move,” Jade snaps.