Page 4 of Dare To Fall

Kitten: It has to stop. I need to make this stop.

Kitten: Maybe it will just hurt for a moment, and then I won’t feel anything anymore.

The last text was sent over two hours ago. The cell falls from my fingers.

“I have to go.” I whisper the words, and don’t wait for an answer, turning to run from the building.

There’s a shout behind me, but I ignore it as I sprint across the grass and into the trees. She’s not at the bench when I get there, which I shouldn’t be surprised about. I stop and look around.

Think.

She can’t get in the crypt because I have the only key. That leaves …

The chapel.

I take off again.

My lungs are burning when I skid to a stop outside the chapel doors.

“Ari?” My shout echoes through the trees and I push the door open and step inside.

The interior is silent, cold, and at first, I think it’s empty, but then I hear something. A soft breath, maybe?

“Ari?” I repeat her name, quieter this time and walk quickly to the altar, to where she was the last time I saw her in here.

My heart stops.

She’s on her knees, head bowed, her back to me.

“Ari?”

She ignores me. I move closer and crouch down beside her. “Hey. I’m sorry I’m late. Kellan was hurt and I … I needed to make sure he was okay. It took longer than I thought it would.”

Nothing.

“Ari …” I clear my throat. “Kitten, please look at me.”

That gets a response. Her head jerks up, and I get a quick impression of white features before she tumbles backward, one hand outstretched.

“No! Get away from me. Leave me alone.”

“It’s okay.” I catch her hand in mine to stop her crazy scramble across the floor.

“Let go of me.” She tries to fight, but she’s cold and tired, and I’m stronger.

I pull her toward me, then wrap an arm around her waist. “Stop fighting me, Kitten.”

“No. You can’t say that. You can’t.” She twists her hand free and thumps it against my chest. “I can’t do this anymore. Please. Just let me go.”

“It’s okay.” I press my face into her hair and hold on tight while she twists and fights against my grip. “Ari, stop.”

“I can’t fight anymore,” she whispers, and sags in my arms. “Just do whatever you came here to do.”

“I know.” I loosen my grip and cover the hand curled against my chest with mine. “No fighting, I promise. But I need you to come with me.”

She doesn’t reply.

I rise to my feet, tugging her up with me. She doesn’t resist. When I link my fingers with hers, she doesn’t stop me. Doesn’t fight when I walk toward the doors, taking her along with me. Doesn’t even question me when I lead her through the cemetery to the entrance of the tunnel, which will take us into the dorms without being seen.

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