Total pages in book: 55
Estimated words: 53529 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 268(@200wpm)___ 214(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53529 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 268(@200wpm)___ 214(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
So what now, Huff? The clock is ticking, and Los Angelenos have no clue some of them will die, they only know the city has gone bonkers—not so unusual, really. But I don’t know where to start looking for Morris.
A very risky idea plows into my head. If I can’t go to him, maybe I can get Morris to come to me. I just have to warn my parents and River first, because if I do this, their necks will be on the line, too.
I log into my app with the encrypted calling feature and dial Mom.
“Hello?” she says.
I almost can’t speak. It’s the first time I’ve heard her voice in over eight months. It reminds me of home.
“It’s really good to hear your voice, Mom.”
“Huff?” Her voice cracks. “Is that you, baby?”
“I need to see you and Dad. Where are you?” I ask.
I zipped to my parents’ new house over an hour ago. They bought a place in Texas in some private community by a lake. It’s your basic track home, but it’s cute. My mom has a nice garden out back, and Dad has a workshop for his projects.
We spend the first twenty minutes hugging and trying to get Mom to stop hyperventilating. They knew I wasn’t dead, but Kyle told them they’d never see me again. “For their own good,” he’d said.
“So your plan is to go public.” Dad paces their living room, which reminds me of our old one because it still has Mom’s favorite bookshelves stuffed with knickknacks, photos of us as kids, and a little memorial statue of an angel for Joy. Their old overstuffed floral couch is here, too.
God, I missed them. I can even smell the faded scent of Mom’s signature cooking—usually something with bacon. Quiche, spaghetti, salad. She puts bacon in just about everything. It’s a miracle my dad isn’t a brick of solid lard.
“Yes,” I say, sitting on the couch. “I found a reporter who’ll do the interview.”
“What’s Kyle say? Is it safe?” Mom nibbles her thumbnail while sitting next to me. I look more like her with our dirty-blonde hair and blue eyes. Kyle looks more like my dad with darker features.
“This is one hundred percent my choice, guys. Kyle has no say.” I don’t want to tell them what’s been going on with Kyle. It’ll sound like I’m throwing him under the bus when I have no solid proof he’s up to something.
“Huff, this sounds risky.” Mom reaches for my hand and gives it a squeeze. The gesture only cements the fact of how homesick I’ve been. Not that this is the house I grew up in, but being isolated from family has made it ten times harder to deal with the aftermath of my transformation. Other than a few calls with Kyle, I’ve been on my own, trying to accept my life is changed forever.
“It’s risky,” I admit, “but someone has to try to save these people.”
“Like you did the people in Paris,” she says. “We’ve never been prouder.”
“Kyle told you?” I ask.
“He tells us everything that’s going on. You must be heartbroken about River. Poor, poor girl.” Mom shakes her head remorsefully.
My entire body tenses. “What about River?”
“Kyle said you knew,” Dad tells me.
“No. I don’t.”
Mom and Dad exchange worried glances.
“Her parents had her locked up,” Dad says.
What? “Why?” I stand, ready to fly out of here and go get her.
“After she visited you a few weeks ago, she was inconsolable,” Mom says, sounding forlorn. “She finally broke down and told her parents she saw you. They still think you’re dead, so they didn’t believe her.”
Fuck. My rage starts percolating.
Dad chimes in, “Kyle said it was best to let her get help so she could move on from you.”
Percolate turns to rage. I’m about to lose control. Breathe. Breathe. Breathe… I’m going to hurt someone.
“I have to go.” How can they fucking lock her up? How could Kyle keep this shit from me?
Something inside snaps. This charade and hiding were meant to protect the people I care about, including River, but now it’s made her life even worse. It’s one more reason to move forward with my plan to deal with Morris.
“I’ll be back later,” I say.
“Where are you going?” Dad asks.
“I’m going to tell the world I’m still alive.” Anyone who wants a piece of me can come and get it. I’m not hiding anymore. “Then I’m going to find River. You two be careful, okay? And stick to the plan.” They need to send me a pic everywhere they go and make sure they keep their location apps active on their phones. This way, if anyone messes with them, I can be in there in a split second.
They nod, both knowing that I’m about to change everything for all of us.
“Are you sure about this, Huff?” Mom asks.