Page 54 of Dare To Fall

My eyes stray to Arabella, who hasn’t noticed our presence less than a few feet away from where she’s sitting.

“Are you asking me to make a scene?” My voice is soft. “She hasn’t done anything for me to need to target her.”

Kellan shakes his head. “Eli, the shit you did to her on Wednesday … and I’m not talking about making her eat the photograph. When you came back to our room that night, you weren’t right. You haven’t been right since then. Whatever happened afterward … You need to clear the air with her before it starts up again.”

I’m shaking my head before he’s finished. “We need to sell this, Kell. If I make her comfortable with me, she’s never going to believe I’m serious about the things I do in retaliation to her puppet master’s commands.”

“So, you’re going to let her think you’re enjoying it? Getting off on it?”

My gaze shifts from her to my friend. “She said something to you.” It isn’t a question.

“We talked yesterday. She thinks you like what you do.”

My laugh is low and bitter. “Of course, she does.”

Chapter 34

Arabella

I want to tell Eli and Kellan what’s happening, but I can’t. Whoever is behind the texts have already threatened to hurt them. I’ve even had to push Tina away after she had an allergic reaction to something she ate. She looked so scared when her face swelled up. I dread to think what would have happened if they hadn’t gotten her to medical in time. Only a small group of us know of her allergy to shellfish. There’s no way it was accidentally put in her sandwich. If I can narrow down who was there when it happened, maybe I can figure out who is stalking me.

I don’t know what to do. Why is this happening to me?

Zoey’s words resonate inside me. The deeper I delve into her diary, the more I see the similarities. I understand her fear. I know her thoughts. They mirror mine. I’m living her terror, trapped in the same nightmare.

My phone pings and the slither of peace I’ve had for the last few days dissolve in an instant. I close Zoey’s diary and slide it into my bag before I take out my phone. A text is waiting for me when I swipe the screen.

Unknown number: Go to your room.

I rise from the bench and walk in the direction of the dorms. Eli and Kellan are heading toward the cafeteria in front of me. There’s no need to message them because Kellan will know I’ve been given a task now that he’s cloned my phone. I haven’t heard from Eli since we fucked in the tomb. He’s been skipping classes, and although part of me is relieved, I’m also angry.

Did he catch a conscience? Does he feel guilty for what he’s doing?

I’ve talked to Kellan about what happened, and he assured me Eli is putting on an act. But even though he was wearing an easy-going smile, he couldn’t hide the doubt lurking in his eyes.

After he found me broken in the chapel, Eli told me to fight, to be strong. Was all that a lie? Does he just enjoy being a bully, relishing in his retaliation and causing my tears?

I go straight to my room, and when I reach it, I enter cautiously, bracing myself for something unpleasant. Nothing looks out of place, and it takes me a second to spot the key on my pillow. I pick it up and examine it—I’m sure it’s a room key.

My cell chimes again.

Unknown number: The key is for Eli’s room.

Unease creeps up my spine.

Me: What am I supposed to do with it?

Unknown number: Find his sketchbooks. Pick the most disturbing drawing and tear it out.

That doesn’t sound so bad.

Me: What if he comes back to his room?

Unknown number: He’s in the cafeteria right now. We’ll message you if he moves.

It has to be someone in there with Eli and Kellan right now. I hope Kellan is reading these messages and searching for who it could be.

Me: Ok.

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