get him out of here before he gets worse.”
“Az!” Eden shouted. He fought his eyes open, found her. She’d backed against the wall, her hand held out in front of her, palm up. For just a second, he thought it was there for him to reach for, a lifeline, as Kristen and Gabe dragged him into the hall.
And then he saw her eyes, heard the broken moan in her voice. “How could you do this?”
The door slammed shut, cutting her off, a key twisting in the lock. He collapsed, her frantic pleas to open the door shattering him.
“Take him, Gabriel. I’ll take care of her.”
“Kristen…” Az gritted his teeth, felt her hand on his back as she crouched next to him. “Don’t hurt her. Please.”
“I won’t hurt her,” Kristen said. “As long as you don’t Fall.”
CHAPTER 17
Az is alive. Every time Eden thought it, her heart jump-started. Liar. Over and over and over the word ticked through her mind. He lied. He did this to me. But he’s alive. She sunk to the floor. Maybe someone would come. Gabe. Gabe wouldn’t just leave her there. Not again.
Eden slid closer to the door, eyeing the keyhole, pushing Az out of her head. The sun set.
The first time she heard the sound, it was close to noon. She barely registered it, the sound or the time, until it came again, the soft pat of an open palm.
“Who’s there?” Her voice cracked, sore and unsteady. She swallowed hard, pressing her ear against the wood, straining.
From the other side came three whispered words. “You killed Marcus.”
Eden jerked away, slamming her hand against the door. “I didn’t mean to! That wasn’t my fault!”
A hiss silenced her. “They’re going to hear you!” Eden waited through a long pause before the voice came again. “I don’t care if it was.” On the other side of the door, fingernails clawed a trail upward, Eden’s wide eyes following the tiny scritches from floorboards to knob. “I have a key,” the voice said.
“Then open the door.” Eden’s calm command surprised her.
“Only if you agree.” Desperation twisted the last word into a question.
Eden stepped back from the door. “Agree to what?”
“Marcus was an accident. Do it on purpose.”
She rocked back from the wood, shocked into silence.
“I heard Sebastian talking to Kristen. He said you’re dangerous, that she needs to get rid of you.” The tone shifted to panic. “There’s not much time….”
Another voice cut in. “Give me the key.” Someone slammed against the door, a shoulder hitting the wood. “I said, give me the key, Jacinda.” A second later the knob twisted. Eden backpedaled, sliding away across the floor as the door opened.
Adam smiled. “Hey there, stranger. I’ve come to spring you. You game for a daring escape?”
Eden jumped to her feet as Adam tossed her the empty backpack he’d been holding.
“Pack.”
She didn’t hesitate, scooping what she could from the drawers, cramming tank tops and a pair of jeans into the bag. Underwear and a sweatshirt filled the rest of the space. A bit of yellow peaked out from under the abandoned clothing. The envelope, the picture of Az. She shoved it in, knowing it would be wrinkled by the time they got out of there, not sure why it bothered her or why she was bringing it at all.
“Done.” She turned to face Adam. Behind him stood a girl, dark circles under haunted eyes, her shoulder drooping against the doorframe. Her skin was pale enough to show every thin vein lining her arms. Eden had never seen anyone look so worn through, so completely exhausted.
“Help me.” The plea seemed to emanate from her every pore.
“Go back to your room, Jacinda.” Adam snagged the bag from Eden, throwing it over his shoulder. “You ready?” he asked. Eden didn’t answer. She’d locked eyes with the girl.
“Adam, wait.” Hope flared in her eyes when Eden spoke, her fingers tightening against the doorframe. “I can’t leave her.”
“Fine, she can follow out the front. But we’ve gotta move. Kristen’s been gone all morning. And there’s nothing she loves more than the dramatic entrance.”
Eden stared at the girl. “That’s not what she wants. Leaving here won’t change anything for her.” You can’t do this, her mind screamed. You can’t just kill her. But it wasn’t like that at all. “You really want me to do this?” she asked.
Jacinda’s nod was immediate. “I wasn’t some messed-up kid having a bad day. I made my choice. I didn’t hurt anyone, because no one remembers me. And instead of