Page 47 of Inferno

“Traumatic event?” I wrack my brain to figure out what he’s talking about, but the only trauma I’ve experienced is the fire.

No. Not, it can’t be.

“I can see things clicking into place,” he taunts.

“Josh? Josh Greene?”

“Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner, folks.” He sweeps his arm to indicate the front door of the rundown farmhouse. “Come inside to claim your prize.”

“Why? Why are you doing this? We both survived.” I shake my head. “I don’t understand.”

Without warning, Josh stomps toward me and grabs my arm. “Come inside, and I’ll give you all the gritty details,” he snarls, no longer feigning a jovial demeanor.

I stumble as he drags me up the steps and through the doorway, and seconds after the door slams behind us, he shoves me to the floor.

“You were supposed to die!” he yells, spit flying from his mouth. “You were supposed to die with the rest of them, but he saved you. That stupid man saved you, and now you’re shacking up with his son.”

Oh, if only he knew the truth.

“That man saved your ass too,” I quip, scooting away from him.

“And because of that, my brother’s dead!”

“Your brother? What does your brother have to do with any of this? Wasn’t he in high school at the time?”

Josh’s expression morphs, and pure evil shines through his eyes. “Who do you think set the damn fire?”

Wait, what?!

“That doesn’t make any sense. Why would he set the fire with you in the building?”

I’m trying like hell to wrap my mind around what he’s telling me, but so far, he’s not making a whole lotta sense.

“Try and keep up, bitch.” Josh steps closer to me and leans down so he’s a mere foot from my face. “My brother and I had it all planned out. We spent months figuring out the best way to cause the most chaos. He started the fire, sure, but it wasn’t supposed to kill him. We were gonna meet at the soccer field across the street, but I didn’t show. He got worried and went into the school to try and find me. Little did he know, I’d already been carried out by Dean Haskins, the motherfucking hero of the story. And my brother died for his efforts.”

“I’m sorry he died, Josh,” I lie. “But that’s not my fault. Why are you taking it out on me?”

“Because you’re the only one left from that day,” he says matter-of-factly. “There’s no one else to make pay for my suffering.”

Josh Greene is delusional. He’s certifiable. Not only was he on his way to being a felon when he was in elementary school, but now he’s out for more blood. There’s no saving him. But I need to save myself and Steph.

“Where’s Steph, Josh?” I ask. “She has nothing to do with this.”

“Where’s Steph? Where’s Steph?” he mocks. “She’s in the bedroom upstairs. Want me to take you to her?”

“I’d like that, yes.”

He grabs me by the hair and hauls me to my feet. I try to keep up with him, but it’s difficult. My scalp stings, my stomach hurts, and my heart is pounding.

But he’s taking me to Steph, and as soon as I have her, I can work on getting us the hell out of here.

“I must warn you,” Josh says when we reach the top of the staircase. “Steph may not appear exactly as you remember her.”

I yank out of his hold, hair being torn from my head in the process. Shoving past him, I race from room to room, searching for my friend. Josh stands there, watching and laughing.

The last room is the only one that the door is shut, and I swallow past the lump in my throat as I grip the doorknob. I push the door open and immediately fall to my knees.

“Nooooo!” I wail.

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