Chapter 2
Chapter two
Rylan
My calves scream with fiery agony as my lungs fight to pull in breaths of air.
Ever since Friday night, I’ve been locked in survival mode, using all of my energy to run or feign some semi-realistic portrayal of composure. It’s exhausting, and it’s as though I’ve forgotten all the basics on how to function.
Lawless Dragons blasts through my earbuds, but even with the fast beat, I can’t seem to find my normal pace. I can’t even remember how to breathe correctly, but at this point, I don’t really care anymore.
The pain feels good, and that’s all that matters.
A few people give me courteous nods as I run past them on the trail, but they may as well just be invisible. It makes me sick seeing people happy. Everyone has continued on with life, blissfully unaware of how fucked up it is.
I can’t crucify them, even though I want to. Innocent people just enjoying their morning walk don’t deserve my wrath. It’s not their fault.
It’s mine.
I should have been there with Bexley. I never should have left the dance to go for a walk.
I thought I was doing the right thing letting her have a private moment with Tai.
Well, as private as a public dance can be.
The idiot had been bragging all day about his outfit, and I wanted to be the bigger person—even if I wanted to strangle him for the genius idea of matching Bexley’s costume. Goddamn Sophia for spilling it to him.
I had considered also turning up in some type of matching attire, but then shit would be weird.
The last thing I needed was to cause even more of a scene.
Word had already gotten back to my father about our kiss, likely thanks to Liv’s big mouth.
He wasted no time berating me, and even though I made up some poor excuse about it all being an act, he didn’t care.
I should have followed her.
After she sauntered off, making that damn comment about not wearing any underwear, it took everything in my willpower not to chase after her through the sea of bodies.
Tai had begged me for the first dance on the way to the academy, so begrudgingly, I watched her leave, knowing he’d be close by waiting.
It was a simple miscommunication. I ran into him outside, the two of us laughing about being on the same wavelength when we crossed paths on the football field, thinking we were doing the other one a solid.
When we finally decided to head back inside, it took way too long for me to check my phone when I couldn’t find her. It never occurred to me that something could go down and she would take off to Cedar Heights. I assumed she was hiding somewhere with her friends, enjoying the dance.
And it still haunts me.
Bex: Dickhead Lannister and I are on our way to Cedar. We suspect someone might be trying to start arson attempt 2.0.
When Hunter didn’t answer my call, I wasn’t worried at first. Well, it did cross my mind for a brief moment that perhaps I’d walk in and find them both on the verge of a mutual homicide attempt but that’s just a normal Friday. Easy peasy.
But then Hunter called and said they were trapped inside the burning building.
Even still, I was somewhat calm. After all, there’s nothing we can’t fix or sort out. We’re the Kings of Willowbrook. It’s my job to deal with situations like that. I immediately started directing Tai, making calls, and working on a plan. Everything would be fine.
The severity and seriousness didn’t quite register until Bexley said those final words to us.
“Look after yourselves. Tell everyone we love them.”
She was saying goodbye. She was telling me she was about to die.
Fuck.
We were so close. Why wasn’t I faster? I’m supposed to be fast.
“You look like shit.”
I barely hear the words, pausing in the parking lot to remove my earbuds. Tai is standing next to my truck, phone in hand with the screen facing up.
“Stalking me again?”
He nods. “It brings me such joy.”
Our usual banter is devoid of the playful and expressive emotion that would usually accompany it. But to everyone else, they probably wouldn’t notice.
“This is early for you,” I remark, trying to catch my breath.
Tai gives me a tight smile. “Maybe I’m just an early bird now.”
“Couldn’t sleep?”
“Not a wink.”
I let out a sigh, leaning against the cool metal. “At least it’s Friday. Just one more day of this bullshit.”
“I can’t believe it’s been a whole week,” Tai says quietly. “Feels like forever but also—”
“Like it happened last night,” I finish for him, understanding completely.
The past week has been a blur of appearances.
We’ve just gone through the motions of turning up at the academy every day, stoic and unfazed.
I had hoped that by doing so, I’d be able to keep a watch on everyone, maybe spot suspicious behavior.
But unless I’m way off course, no one is a frontrunner in the list of suspects yet.
It’s frustrating. Someone must know something.
From what we’ve been told, someone from Cedar Heights overheard a private conversation during the dance which spurred Bexley into action.
The thought alone makes me angry. Bexley was right. It was someone from Willowbrook who started this mess.
I was too hasty dismissing her suspicions. If I had just stopped and taken it seriously, maybe we could have avoided all this.
We took too long to let go of the feud and focus our attention where it was needed. It’s our fault for being distracted, wasting precious time on stupid pranks and being obsessed with breaking Bexley.
She was never going to break. I can see that now.
Hindsight really is a bitch.
God, it was fun trying, though. Just not in the way I originally thought it would be.
“You don’t normally run this early,” Tai points out. “I assume Max is being an ass.”
I nod. “He’s been hounding me all week. Never misses an opportunity to remind me that I’m his biggest disappointment. I just didn’t have it in me to listen to it so early.”
Tai gives me a crestfallen frown. “Dad yelled at Soph last night. Told her to shut up and stop crying.”
“What?” I snap angrily, welcoming the change of topic regarding my own sperm germ.
“Yep. We nearly exchanged blows. Mary stepped in before I could take a swing at him.”
I shake my head. “I’m surprised there haven’t been more fights this week.”
“Should we arrange for fights tonight?” Tai asks hesitantly.
Pausing, I shrug dismissively. “It would feel weird not having Bexley there. Especially after the last fight night.”
“Still strange we went from Hunter kidnapping Bexley to her saving him.”
A small smile touches my lips. “No, it’s not,” I tell him. “I knew that was there. You idiots just couldn’t see the real Bex.”
Tai lets out a defeated sigh. “This is messed up, Ry. Something bad is going to go down. I can feel it.”
“Let’s hope not,” I answer, unlocking my truck. “We won’t be able to control it at the moment if it does.”
“I’ll meet you at school,” Tai deflects, clearly uneasy at the thought too. “I’m going to swing back home and pick up Soph so she doesn’t have to deal with that asshole.”
For the first time in my life, the day finishes too quickly.
I had wistfully hoped that when I got back home, I’d be alone and could self-destruct in peace. But as usual, I was wrong.
“Rylan,” my father greets sternly, waiting by the staircase. “My office. Now.”
There’s a threat to his demand, voice riddled with hostility and disgust. I’m left with no choice, fist clenching the strap of my bag as I follow him to his office.
He drags out the encounter, taking his time to sit down behind his desk, letting the silence hang uncomfortably between us. Finally, he cups his hands together, shooting me a cold glare.
“The accountant has brought some disturbing information to my attention,” he starts, eyes narrowing. “Care to explain yourself?”
I shrug. “I’m not sure what you’re referring to.”
It’s not a lie, per se. It could be any number of things I’ve done. I learned from a young age to let him lead the conversation.
Like a true politician, my father is good at catching you out in lies. He can twist words better than anyone I know, and chances are, he already knows the truth before you admit it. He just loves to watch you squirm, see what you’ll admit when you crack under pressure.
It’s better to let him fill in the blanks rather than admitting to something that might not even be on the agenda.
I receive the infamous Max Astor scowl, eyebrow shooting up as he reaches for a nearby folder that’s conveniently at the ready.
He flicks it open and I can easily spot the obvious bank statement, several lines highlighted neon yellow.
“Transaction to a wildcat conservation…”
“Charity donation,” I interrupt calmly. “For tax purposes.”
His eyes narrow suspiciously. “Lump-sum cash withdrawal.”
Nonchalantly, I shrug again. “Probably bets at the warehouse. I don’t remember.”
The thing about being raised by a pathological manipulator is you learn to be sneaky too. It’s a downright lie. I know what that transaction is, and it has nothing to do with bets and everything to do with a certain funeral.
Dad continues, clearly using these transactions as a build up to the real issue.
“Payment to the Ridgeview Medical Center,” he reads in an oddly calm tone. “Last week.”
And there it is. The real reason for this lovely impromptu meeting.
“Donation,” I say simply. “To help with your campaign. You always say that giving back to the community is worth its weight in gold.”
Sharp blue eyes narrow on me, scanning for telling signs or flinches of deception. I stay composed, holding his gaze.
You can’t break what’s already broken.
Last Friday Night
The sound of approaching sirens does nothing to ease my sickening panic. Simply, it’s because the flames are so high that I can’t even see where they reach.
Cedar Heights is fully ablaze in this particular section, smoke billowing into a suffocating thick cloud of smog.
My heart stammers painfully, and for the first time, I feel utterly fucking useless.
Hunter and Bexley are somewhere in there. And I can’t get to them.
And judging by the sight of these flames, I don’t think the firefighters can either. It’s horrifying watching just how fast the fire is spreading and the roar it makes as it engulfs the wooden structure mercilessly.
I’m not sure if I’m just locked in or listening for voices, but a rhythmic thudding followed by the faint sound of smashing glass in the distance catches my sudden attention. Before I know what I’m doing, I’ve taken off along the grassy edge of Cedar Heights, Tai quickly on my tail.
I don’t know why, but something in my gut tells me to follow the noise. It could just be the sound of the building imploding, but I need to see for myself.
My legs push me fast, heart sinking into my fucking feet when I hear a familiar voice shout, “Hey!”
I skid along the ground, ignoring the pain shooting through my knees at the abrupt stop. I only just manage to catch sight of Hunter through a tiny broken window before Tai crashes into me, sending us both scrambling to regain our balance.
“We need to smash the rest of the glass out of the way,” Hunter urges.
“Move!”
Tai punches the window in with his clothed fist, and immediately the heat is sucked out through the window toward us.
My skin starts to break out in beads of sweat from the intense heat, and the panicked voices in my mind wonder just how hot it is inside that room where Hunter and Bexley are obviously trapped.
Taking a deep breath, I hold it in, shoving my face through the gap to assess what we are dealing with.
My eyes find Bexley’s, an eerie glow making her usually green irises appear amber. There’s an odd look of resignation on her face, and when I glance at Hunter, I’m sick to find the same matching expression.
I don’t know what to do.
There’s no time to waste but… what do I do? I’m paralyzed by the choice.
The fire is already in the room with them, and it’s clear we might just have enough time to grab one of them before it fully engulfs the tiny space for good.
Black smoke hits me square in the face, forcing me backwards as I wheeze painfully. Tai curses next to me, immediately launching himself forward to take my place while I try to catch my breath.
We’re now working with zero visibility, so painfully, all I manage to blurt out is, “Just grab someone, Tai.”
Just grab whoever you can reach.
He grunts, body tensing, and I can tell he’s got a hold of someone, trying to lift them up. I launch forward, limbs entangling with Tai’s as I feel for sweaty, hot skin and dig my hands into them.
I’m not even sure who we have until the unmistakable voice of Hunter yells out, “Stop!”, and I feel the crushing, agonizing blow to my chest, realizing which one I’m about to lose.
Present Day
I probably shouldn’t be here right now. If I were to wager a bet, I’d say my father is tracking my movements. But frankly, I just don’t give a shit right now.
Entering the Ridgeview Medical Center, I ignore the staff that try to speak to me.
It’s late. And knowing my luck, they will try to kick me out. But if they want to do that, they better call security because I’m not leaving quietly.
To my surprise, I’m not the only one here.
Tai is sitting on a chair in the hallway, a steaming styrofoam cup in his hand. He glances over at the sound of my approaching footsteps, giving me a tired smile.
“Figured I’d see you here soon enough,” he says knowingly. “Soph’s just talking to the doctor.”
I nod, taking the vacant seat next to him. When the doctor emerges a few minutes later shooting us both a small nod of acknowledgment, we jump to our feet, pushing the door wide open.
“Geez,” Soph gasps as the door hits the wall. “Could the pair of you be any louder or more obnoxious?!”
“Quiet isn’t really their forte, Soph.”
My eyes land on Bexley immediately, welcoming the much needed wave of calmness that starts to roll through me at the sight of her. She laughs weakly at her own comment—a soft, tiny smile breaking out on her face at our arrival.
I can’t help but return it, relieved that whenever I’m in this room, my world feels complete again.