Page 72 of Out of My Flocking Mind

“He has a name,” I shoved out between gritted teeth.

“Does he anymore? Didn’t think vegetables needed names.”

And just like that, I regretted my choice. I hated the idea of this asshole winning anything, and the thought of sacrificing myself to him burned. However, I calmed myself with the fact that Trey was far more important than my hatred of Ryder.

“I want you to fix him.”

“And why would I do that? His punishment’s pretty fitting for going rogue.”

I took one more deep breath before forcing out words that I really didn’t want to say. I could hear everyone in my life yelling at me over it, telling me this was stupid, that I was making yet another dumb choice, that if I just talked to them first, we’d find another way.

The problem was that this was my fault. No one else seemed to care about Trey, writing him off as unimportant. They saw his injury and death as unfortunate but ultimately just part of life. They all saw me as more important, as though we could trade his life for mine.

I wasn’t okay with that, though, since I’d put him in the position that had ended up harming him. I had to take responsibility and do whatever I could to make this right, no matter what that meant as far as my safety or life. Sure, I wanted to have my normal, happy life. I wanted to keep annoying people, to live my life as I wanted, but I refused to trade Trey’s future for my own.

So I stopped hesitating, stopped procrastinating, and uttered the words that I knew from the start I’d say. “If you agree to fix Trey, I’ll trade myself for him.”

Chapter Eighteen

“This is fucking stupid,” Trey said, his voice dark, a mixture of the one from him and the one from his bear. I’d noticed so far that if they were both in there, they weren’t entirely separate—or sane.

“Hey, I’m not arguing.”

“So why are we doing this? You shouldn’t have me out of that cell.”

“For someone who came trotting like a pup out of a crate, I really think you don’t have a place to complain.”

“I don’t trot.” Trey tucked his hands into his front pocket, his gaze darting around in a way that would make anyone uncomfortable. Still, the fact he’d remained in control for this long was a good sign, right? It went to show he wasn’t quite as far gone as everyone thought.

At least, I’d think that, then one look at him twitchy, his hands drawn into fists would show that he wasn’t nearly as in control as he might at first appear. I’d grabbed him some clothes from the supply in the guest room, since walking him around naked would probably get us arrested.

“So how’d you get him to agree to help me?” Trey asked.

“I’m very persuasive.”

“Not from my experience. What, you annoy him until he agreed if it meant getting away from you?”

“Something like that.” I shuffled my feet against the ground as we walked, having left Galen’s car about a mile back. I’d learned that stealing modern cars wasn’t that helpful since many of them could be located quickly or even disabled remotely. So even though I couldn’t be tracked when driving it, the GPS could give them hints far earlier. Better to ditch the car as soon as possible. Also, given how often I’d used my sticky fingers on cars lately, I’d bet I wouldn’t get much of a head start.

I’d popped the lock using my powers—ultimate lock pick extraordinaire!—then gotten Trey to follow me by telling him I had a plan. It seemed some promise of a plan could get people to agree to almost anything, at least when faced with the opposite.

We’d driven about twenty minutes away, out toward Indio, then left the car at a large outdoor mall. The walk across the street, into the less crowded area of the city had taken another twenty minutes or so.

The sun was up high, and it made me realize how little time I really spent outside. Why did I notice it now? Because I knew what was coming, because it was sort of my last outing? People got nostalgic when remembering the things they were losing out on. I guess that couldn’t be helped, but I kept it to myself.

Trey had no idea the price I’d agreed to pay—would have never agreed if he’d known. That was fine, though. I wasn’t doing this for approval, to make him feel obligated to me. I was doing it because it was right.

Trey had a lot of years ahead of him, and he deserved the chance to actually live them.

“How far are we going?” Trey asked.

“Not that much further. See the bright light up ahead at the end of the street? That’s where we’re headed.” I elbowed him. “You can’t be tired yet. Come on, you’re young! And also a bear.”

“Yeah, well, I’m not exactly at my best right now.”

“You will be soon.”

“And what’s keeping the asshole from just killing us both?”

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