be long before I could leave.
It wouldn’t be long before I killed her.
It wouldn’t be long before the ritual began.
It wouldn’t be long before there was nothing left of the world but my brothers and I. The Horsemen. The thought made my stomach tighten. That’s why I was chosen, right? I knew it was but it made my body quake and I wasn’t sure why?
***
Lizzie
“Earth to Lizzie,” Millie said, waving her hand full of Cheez-Its in front of my face.
“Huh?”
Trevor squeezed my hand from under the lunch room table. “You seem a little out of it today. Are you okay?”
“She’s seemed out of it since Monday. It’s Wednesday, Lizzie, time to get better, comrade.”
I faked a smile. “I’m fine, just tired.”
Brett chugged down the rest of his chocolate milk and wiped his milk mustache off. His shaggy blond hair moved when he shook his head. “But we were talking about the game Friday while you were in some other world. Do you want to go with Millie and meet up for the tailgate afterwards?”
I nodded. “Of course, that should be fun.”
Not that I didn’t think it would be fun to spend time with all of them, but I couldn’t stop thinking about Darrton. I hadn’t seen him since Sunday. He had been eating the food I set out, but I never saw him. It made my stomach feel sick. Where was he? Was he off killing someone? The entire situation was making my head hurt but just knowing he was roaming around scared me. What scared me more was that his “brothers” had to have his presence to perform this ritual. What if his brothers come here?
“Also,” Millie said. “I was thinking it might be time for a movie night. My parents are going loco about my room so maybe we could do it at your house?”
I choked on my Kool-Aid. “My house? I’m sorry, have you met my family?”
Millie rolled her eyes. “Your dad is never there, your mom doesn’t care, and Samantha...well we can handle that little wench.”
I sighed and covered my face. “I can ask my mom tonight.”
Brett nudged Millie and she gave him I’m-getting-to-it glare. “Um how about you call her now and ask?”
“You want to do it tonight? Why?”
She shrugged. “I have a Spanish test coming back tomorrow that I failed. If we wait until Thursday, they will say no. But by Friday they will have forgotten so I can go to the game. Just call her, Lizzie.”
Trevor glanced around and put his hand on mine to stop me from pulling out my phone. “Mrs. Ought’s at two o’clock. Maybe go to the bathroom?”
I looked over my shoulder. Mrs. Ought was patrolling the cafeteria. “Okay, guys, you owe me.”
“Oh, comrade, you know we love you.”
“You better,” I mumbled under my breath as I walked toward the bathroom.
There was no one in the bathroom. I checked like three times, looking under the stalls.
I dialed my mom’s number. “Hey, Mom.”
“Hey, Lizzie. Is everything all right? I’m kind of getting groceries right now. Did you start your period again and forget a tampon?”
I groaned. “No, Mom. I had another question. Do you think it would be okay for Millie, Trevor, Brett, and me to have a movie date tonight at the house?”
She giggled into the phone. “Of course, Lizzie. Why wouldn’t it be? Oh! I can make some of those asparagus cookies you guys liked so much last time.”
Gag me. “Uh, maybe some chocolate chip ones instead? Millie is allergic.” A little lie won’t hurt.
“Damn and I know you and your sister liked those so much. I’ll just make some of those, too!” she said.
I rolled my eyes. “Okay, Mom. I have to go. I’m in the bathroom talking to you. See you when I get home.”
“Bye, bye, hon.”
Whew. Thank God, that’s over.
“Bravo, Lizzie.”
Oh shit.
I turned around and glanced at Rachel. She was standing near the doorway. She was tapping her high-heeled toe on the floor and clapping her hands. “Got a date with Trevor tonight, huh?”
I slid my phone into my pocket and shrugged. “What’s it to you?”
She smiled and took a step toward me. “Trevor doesn’t belong with someone like you. He is just confused. Don’t get your feelings hurt when he comes back to me, crawling on his knees.”
“Okay, Rachel, when he does, I’ll even let you say ‘I told you so.’”
She gritted her teeth and pushed her platinum hair from her shoulder. “Listen here, you little bitch. You keep thinking that he won’t leave,