Chapter 26
TWENTY-SIX
DON’T CLIMB THE LADDER
LAURA
Connor and Sarah stumbled toward the loft an hour or so after he ripped my heart clean out. I’d done my best to drown out the rejection with apple pie shots, but no amount of liquor would help me get over my ex.
Downing the rest of my drink, I dropped my red solo cup on the ground, crunching it under my leather riding boot.
Let Tom and his merry band of assholes clean up the field tomorrow.
Stomping toward the dwindling crowd surrounding the bonfire, I asked Grant, “Have you seen Kimmy?”
He looked away from the pink-haired Ben Franklin he was sitting next to and shook his head. “Not for a while. She and Linc disappeared before the fireworks started.” Lifting his cup toward the trees, he added, “I’d check the tree house.”
That got Tom’s attention. “They better not be fucking in the tree house.” He smiled down at Sarah’s short, fat friend. “I wanted to take you there later.”
She shoved him away, flipping her wild red curls over her shoulder. “I told you, I kind of have a boyfriend.”
“Mm-hmm.” Tom pulled her back under his arm. “Kind of isn’t the same thing as having. I still have a shot.”
Rolling her eyes, she hid her smile behind the rim of her cup and let him pull her away from her friends.
Who the fuck are these girls?
“Anyone want to come with me?” I glanced around the fire, and only one of my friends made eye contact.
“I would, but I’m too drunk,” Maggie said, wobbling on the hay bale as if to prove she was wasted.
There was a chorus of “yeahs.” Not a single person even bothered to stand.
“Fine,” I huffed and stomped off down the hill toward the trees.
The night had cooled, chilling my sweat-covered skin the further I got from the blazing fire. I glanced over my shoulder at the tent the guys had set up for us and contemplated grabbing my jacket.
Not worth it.
All I wanted to do was get Kimmy and go home. It wasn’t like we hadn’t driven these back roads drunk before. Besides, her parents’ house was just down the road.
“Kimmy!” I shouted, pulling out my cell to use as a flashlight.
There was no answer, and I sighed.
I guess I’m going to the treehouse. I’d better not see Linc’s ass—again.
The gentle hum of bugs followed me deeper into the small woods. I hadn’t missed the whole nature thing while I was away at school, and I could honestly say I wasn’t thrilled to be reliving my “glory days.”
Rounding the last turn, my steps slowed. A dim light shone in the tree house, but there was no noise.
“Kimmy? Linc? You up there?”
Nothing.
I stepped closer, the bright light of my phone landing on the ground beneath the rope ladder.
What is that?
At the base of the tree was a puddle of dark liquid. I squatted, shining the light directly on it.
My heart raced, and I fell back on my ass, dropping my phone.
It’s fucking blood.
“Kimmy?” I screamed. Shuffling backward, I whipped my head back and forth, searching for my injured friend.
The boards of the treehouse creaked, and the light went out.
Swallowing, I slowly stood. “Kimmy?” Her name came out as a whisper, my throat too tight to be any louder. My heart thumped wildly as I inched closer to the tree.
“Are you up there?” I said, grabbing a hold of the rope ladder. Every fiber of my being screamed for me to run, but my best friend was somewhere hurt. I couldn’t just leave her out there alone.
I hooked my foot in the bottom rung of the ladder and hoisted myself up.
Swatting away a mosquito, I looked up into the dark opening, and the treehouse groaned. A hand fell into view, and I called out, “Kimmy?”
There was a scuffling inside the tree house, and then something heavy fell, knocking me clear off the ladder and onto my back. Gasping for air, I struggled to sit up, only to find my legs pinned under a heavy weight.
What the—
Spots filled my vision as I shoved the wet lump off my thighs. Every inch of my body hurt, but I managed to free my legs.
Huffing out a relieved laugh, I wiped the sweat from my brow and paused. The smell of copper filled my nose, and I slowly brought my hand in front of my face.
“No,” I whimpered, my gaze drifting away from my bloody fingers to the heap in front of me.
I scrambled to my hands and feet, searching the ground around me for my phone. Every reach made my sides scream in pain, but my fingertips finally grazed cracked glass.
My hands shook as I pointed the flashlight toward the shadowed mass.
“No,” I sobbed, scrambling forward as if I could do anything to help.
Linc’s body was contorted into an unnatural shape, his head bent backward as his lifeless eyes stared into my very soul.
Before I could process the horror in front of me, a second body dropped on top of Linc, a wild arm hitting me on top of the head.
Even face down, I knew it was Kimmy.
Shrieking, I struggled to my feet, then took off down the path, losing my phone somewhere in my escape.
Someone killed Linc and Kimmy.
My chest burned as I struggled to take a full breath. The stylish boots, which had been a great idea when Kimmy and I were getting ready, hindered my movements and slowed me down.
Without warning, a large body collided with me, knocking me down a slope. I hit branches and rocks, coming to an abrupt stop against a tree trunk. Blood gushed from deep cuts on my arms and hands, and my jeans were ripped all over.
“Gotcha,” a dark figure said, stepping out of the shadows.
“Who are you?” I asked, dragging my bloody knees to my chest for protection.
They chuckled, pulling a huge hunting knife from its sheath. I shrank back as they got closer, attempting to make myself as small as possible. It didn’t stop them from grabbing a handful of hair and yanking me to my knees.
Staring at the knife, I knew there was only a small window of time to get away. I linked my fingers together and swung, hitting them right in the crotch.
The hand in my hair let go, and my attacker doubled over with a grunt.
Take that asshole.
I scrambled to my feet, feeling every bruise and cut my body had endured. Taking a deep breath, I ran in the opposite direction of the treehouse, praying I would make it back to my friends in one piece.
Listening for footsteps, I tore through the trees, ignoring the burn in my thighs as I pumped my legs as fast as they could go.
I broke through the tree line but didn’t stop.
“Help! Someone’s trying to kill me!”
The few people around the bonfire rushed to my side.
“Holy shit, Laura. What happened?”
I glanced back at the trees. “Kimmy and Linc—they’re—he.” My voice broke, and I let out a sob and then another, collapsing into Grant’s arms.
Kimmy and I had been best friends for my entire life. She was my other half. And now she was—
“Laura, where are they?” Tom’s quiet voice cut through my spiral.
“The tree house.”