Page 103 of Sinful

The girl in the front addressed me again. “I promise we’re not serial killers. I know that totally sounds like something a serialkiller would say, but honestly, we’re not. We’re just heading to Gavin’s uncle’s farm to check out his new crop.”

“He farms at night?”

The boy in the back started laughing, and the girl beside him broke into uncontrollable giggles as well. “She really has no idea,” the boy spluttered.

The girl in the front shushed them, waving a hand. “Long story,” she said to me. “Don’t listen to these idiots. They’re stoned as fuck. But seriously, you should get in. I don’t feel good about leaving a girl alone on the road at night. Bad shit could happen.”

I clutched the good luck charm again, still hesitating. Then I nodded. “All right. Thank you.”

The charm would protect me, just as it had protected Sebastian during his recovery in the hospital. Besides, these teenagers seemed all right. A little rough around the edges, perhaps, but ultimately harmless.

I opened the door and climbed into the back, almost retching from the pungent aroma of the herbal cigarette the boy was smoking next to me. The car started again, pulling out onto the road, and the nice girl in the front turned to look at me.

“What are you doing out here, anyway?” she asked. “I thought you people weren’t allowed to leave Alderwood.”

“We are sometimes,” I said. “But I must return home now.”

The boy next to me raised a brow. “I heard you guys drink people’s blood, or some shit like that. Is it true?”

The girl on his other side giggled and elbowed him. “They aren’t vampires!”

I bit my bottom lip, hesitating. Itwastrue, but as soon as the boy said those words, I recalled the horror flashing in Sebastian’s eyes all those weeks ago after I informed him that he’d imbibed my blood in the sweet berry wine that was always handed out during ritual celebrations. He’d tried to mask hisdisgust out of politeness, but I saw it anyway, and I didn’t like the way it made me feel.

“No.” I shook my head. “We don’t do that.”

“You know, people talk mad shit about you, but I actually think it’s kinda cool how you guys live,” the boy said. “Like, off the land and shit. It’s so anti-capitalist. I mean, do you evenknowwhat capitalism is?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Mad respect.” He bumped his free hand against my shoulder. “You guys are, like, the ultimate bush commies.”

“Oh my god, Zane, shut up,” the girl in the front said. She glanced at me again. “Sorry. I swear, he’s not always like this.”

“It’s all right,” I said.

“What’s your name, anyway?”

“Rosamund. Or Rose for short.”

“Oh my god, no way!” The girl’s eyes widened. “I’m Rosie! But my real name is Rose.”

“Wow,” I replied, smiling faintly. “Rosie is a nice nickname.”

“Crazy coincidence, huh? We’re both Roses!”

Now I knew that I was right to get in this car. The Entity didn’t allow for coincidences, so this friendly girl sharing my name—well,almostsharing it, anyway—had to be yet another sign that I was on the right path. He was guiding me back to him and protecting me every step of the way.

And yet… my heart was still aching at the thought of never seeing Sebastian again.

The girl in the back started prattling on about another girl she knew, and I sat back and listened, watching the blur of trees outside as we sped down the road. A few minutes later, Rosie nudged her boyfriend, and he slowly braked. “I think it’s just over there,” she said, pointing to the other side of the road.

I peered out the window, frowning as I looked up at the sky. Then I nodded. “Yes, you’re right.”

“Holy shit,” Zane said. “That’s so fucking cool, man. Like, you can just look at the stars and know where you are.”

Rosie’s brows knitted with concern as she looked back at me. “Are you sure you’ll be okay to hike up to the village in the dark?”

“Yes. I’m used to walking around the woods,” I replied. “Thank you so much for driving me here.”

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