It was almost dark when the doorknob rattled, sending Claire into a heart-pounding terror seizure; she advanced slowly, and whispered, Who is it?
Shane.
She unlocked fast and opened up. Shane came in, head down, carrying a tray on which sat two bowls of chiliwhich made sense, because it was nearly the only thing Shane knew how to fix. He set it down on the edge of the bed, next to Eve, who was sitting like an unstuffed rag doll, limp with grief and dejection.
Eat something, he said. Eve shook her head. Shane picked up a bowl and shoved it in her direction; she took it just to avoid wearing it, and glared at him.
Claire saw her expression change into something else. Blank at first, then horrified.
Its nothing, Shane said as Claire came around to see. It wasnt nothing. It was bruises, dark ones, spilling over his cheek and jaw. Shane avoided looking at her. My fault.
Jesus, Eve whispered. Your dad
My fault, Shane snapped back, got up, and headed for the door. Look, you dont understand. Hes right, okay? I was wrong.
No, I dont understand, Claire said, and grabbed his arm. He pulled free without any effort at all and kept walking. Shane!
He paused in the doorway and looked back at her. He looked bruised, beaten, and sullen, but it was the desperation in his eyes that scared her. Shane was always strong, wasnt he? He had to be. She needed him to be.
Dads right, he said. This town is sick, its poisoned, and its poisoning us, too. We cant let it beat us. We have to take them out.
The vampires? Shane, thats stupid! You cant! You know whatll happen! Eve said. She put the bowl of chili back on the tray and got off the bed, looking tear streaked and forlorn but more like herself. Your dads crazy. Im sorry, but he is. And you cant let him drag you down with him. Hes going to get you killed, and Claire and me, too. He already She caught her breath and gulped. He already got Michael. We cant let him do this. Who knows how many people are going to get hurt?
Like Lyssa got hurt? Shane asked. Like my mom? They killed my mom, Eve! They were willing to burn us up in this house yesterday, dont forget, and that included Michael.
But
This town is bad, Shane said, and looked at Claire, almost pleading. You understand, right? You understand that theres a whole world out there, a whole world that isnt like this?