Page 62 of Holy Sinner

“Oh god, I-I….” Jasmine licks her lips and looks around the room. All eyes are on her. “I don’t know what came over me.” She backs away from me, away from the crowd that’s now staring at her.

“You okay?” I ask but we both know I don’t give a shit. “Can I help you in some way? Anyone that you need me to call for you?”

There’s tears in Jasmine’s eyes and she swallows, the sound of it is loud in the quiet room. “N-no,” she whispers and falls back another step when Holly’s new assistant approaches her with a concerned look.

“Are you okay? Is there some way I can help?” Her words are an echo of mine and Jasmine’s eyes go wide, the weight of what’s going down is hitting her hard. In the corner, people are already starting to whisper. The extras that she had eating out of the palm of her hand are the first to turn. I don’t miss the way they start to whisper. The ones that handed her those stupid puzzle rings even points at Jasmine.

Jasmine blinks to keep the tears from falling and I know that whatever Kit did to her is nothing compared to what I’ve done. She won’t be able to hold her head up when she looks at these people. The power she was trying to gather for herself is gone like dust in the wind.

“I-I have to lie down. I’m tired. That’s it, I’m just tired.” She looks for an out and the assistant gives it to her.

“Yeah, there’s a sofa you can use. Follow me.”

Jasmine nods and wraps her arms around herself. “I’m sorry. I have to go. I didn’t mean what I did.” She looks at the assistant pleadingly. “You know that, right?”

The other woman looks uncomfortable but she nods. “Of course, yes, I know it’s…it’s a lot of pressure. Come with me and we’ll get you some rest.” She slips an arm around Jasmine’s shoulder and leads her away. I don’t bother watching the direction they’re going because I don’t care all that much.

Instead, I look around the room for Holly. “Does this mean I can go?”

Chapter Thirty

KIT

Grant isn’t letting me out of his sight after the forest. I get that. Alana is fussing about her heels that she says are ruined but she settled down when I reminded her that it was an excuse to buy new shoes. She’s been browsing sales on her phone for the past hour with a smile on her face, so I know the shoes are forgotten.

“Are you hungry?” I ask and Alana immediately nods.

“Absolutely. I saw sushi on the menu at the lodge but I really want cheese fries. Can we get both?”

“Yeah, I think we can get both easily.” I look to Grant who unfolds himself from the seat he’s taken by the door. He’s been keeping an eye on the porch and us like he’s a bodyguard in an action movie. Alana hasn’t caught on but I have. There’s someone out there he wants to keep out and that has me on edge.

Who the fuck is it?

Why are they doing this?

“I’ll call the food in,” he says and stretches.

“Couldn’t we go in and just order?” I ask. I’m itching to leave the cabin. We haven’t left since the woods and that was a good four hours ago. When Rafe gets here I don’t see it getting any better but ordering lunch could be the way out of the cabin.

Grant gives me a look that says no fucking way but I’m not going to go down without a fight.

“Please, Grant. We’ve been cooped up all day. I just–I need to stretch my legs is all.”

“Then do pilates.”

Alana laughs. “That’s a good one. He got you.”

I roll my eyes and glare at her. “Not you too.”

“Look, there’s something freaky as fuck going on around here. I think it’s a good idea to stay put. What’s with you trying to jailbreak yourself?” Alana puts her phone to the side. “You’ve been acting jumpy, too. What’s going on?”

“Oh, I don’t know. I think the woman that went missing last night is enough reason for me to be jumpy, don’t you?”

She bites her bottom lip and then nods. “Yeah, that does make sense, but…”

“But what?”

“I don’t get why you don’t see that it's safer here inside.” Alana puts her hand on the edge of the sofa and leans forward. “That was seriously spooky, Kit. Someone is trying to frame you for something you didn’t do. You realize that, right?”

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