Page 162 of Dare To Live

“I think if you’d left it longer, I wouldn’t have done the first one you sent me.”

“The panties on the door handle?”

She nods. “But I was still on a high from the peas. It seemed daring and naughty, and I liked the feeling. And then the first time at the bench—”

“You didn’t even try to put on a show.” I give a mock sigh of disappointment.

“It was such a crazy feeling, a powerful feeling. There I was in the dark, knowing someone was out there watching me take my top off.”

“Did it turn you on?”

“It was terrifying and yet …” She licks her lips, and nods. “It did turn me on, and I didn’t understand it. When you brought me out here again and had me stand there, almost naked blindfolded, I thought my heart was going to beat its way out of my chest. I was so scared … and then you touched me, and there were two of you … your mouths and fingers touching my body …” Her voice turns breathless. “I’d never been touched like that before. I couldn’t think straight.”

“But you liked it.”

We’ve reached the chapel and I slow to a stop before we reach the doors.

“Yeah, I liked it.” Her voice is quiet, and we both look at the building in front of us.

Dropping her hand, I take a step forward. “Could you give me a minute?” I don’t know what’s going to happen when I walk inside. I don’t want her to watch my breakdown if I have one.

You’re such a fucking idiot. The girl isn’t going to fall out of love with you just because you shed a tear or two. I’m going to haunt you for the rest of your fucking life if you don’t cry over me.

My lips twitch at the voice in my head. He’s been quiet for the past day or two. Logically, I know it’s not Kellan’s voice, it’s me imagining what he would say, but it’s enough to make him feel close.

I reach out and push the door. It swings open easily, and the thought that someone must have been looking after the building passes through my mind. There’s no way it would be in such good condition otherwise.

Taking a deep breath, I step inside and let the door close behind me. My eyes immediately go to the altar at the front of the chapel, and in my head, I see Kellan’s body lying on top of it. My footsteps are slow as I walk down the center aisle, my fingers trailing over the pews as I move. The moonlight shines through the stained-glass windows, giving the place an eerie yet colorful glow.

When I reach the altar, I take a slow walk around it. There’s nothing to show that anything bad ever happened here.

Did you expect there to be?

“There’s not even any bloodstains.” I rest my palms on the top of the stone. “The only reason they haven’t removed the altar is because Churchill Bradley had it carved out of stone instead of it being wood.”

Maybe he was sacrificing people. Aren’t most of the sacrificial altars made from stone?

I laugh softly. “Maybe. Is that how you want me to tell the story? That you were a sacrifice to gods unknown?”

Sounds better than the second-prize target of a psychopath.

“Yeah, I guess it does.”

Chapter 91

Arabella

Turning away from the chapel, I glance through the dark trees, their branches swaying eerily in the breeze. Everything is still and silent. There is no sign of life. Yet I can’t shake the feeling I’m being watched.

Ghosts.

I shiver at the thought and sweep the beam of the flashlight around. Maybe it’s Kellan’s spirit. An image of the gray eyed boy with the charming smile flits through my head.

I can still remember the day we met.

Eli dumped me miles from the Academy with my suitcases. I’d been forced to walk the rest of the way in the pouring rain. Draped in exhaustion and soaked to the skin, I was ready to give up when the gates of the school came into sight.

Kellan was waiting for me. He’d been warm and welcoming. Sweeping me up in his playfulness, he made me smile again. After walking me to my dorm room with my bags, he had vanished. The next day I learned that he was Eli’s best friend.

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