Page 24 of Soul of a Psycho

But what if I could have that? What if I could give it all up for her?

No.

She’s just a mirage. A lie. An angel trying to put me back on the straight and narrow.

I should end her now before she ruins everything.

I step closer on impulse, my hand slipping into my pocket, and then freeze when the floor creaks.Fuck.My eyes whip between Sky and her roommate, and I hold my breath, waiting for one of them to wake, to spot me and start shrieking. But neither stirs, and I breathe a quiet sigh of relief. I’m getting distracted. I’m not here to be rash. I’m here on a mission.

The roommate.

I take care to step lightly and approach the girl’s bed. I hover over her, looking her up and down. I don’t know everyone at Hillcrest, as I mostly keep to myself, and it takes me a second to recognize her without the heavy eyeliner, but it eventually comes to me.

Ruby Pelling.

I grimace.

I didn’t think she was one of them, one of mytargets.Collateral damage, yes, but not my main goal. This just goes to further show how any benefit of doubt I give is a mistake. They all deserve to die. This one sooner than the others.

I grip the knife in my pocket, and nerves cause a bead of sweat to roll down my back. Contrary to the rumors, I haven’t killed anybody. Yet. I’ve been bottling up all my revenge for one occasion. It wilts me like a flower deprived of water, but I can bear the injustice for now, knowing the rain will fall like a gavel soon enough.

But I can’t bear it happening to Sky.

I won’t allow her to endure anything like what I’ve been through. I’ll take care of Ruby for her while also getting my feet wet in the process. Two birds with one stone and all that.

Blood pulses at my temples as I contemplate how to do it. Quickly, obviously. I want it to be as quiet as possible too. A slice to her jugular probably, my free hand clamped over her mouth. I should be able to slip back out into the night as if nothing’s happened. It won’t be until Sky discovers her roommate’s ice cold body, soaked in blood, that all hell will break loose, and by then I will be in Wakeman, having a shower. There’s no way this can fall back on me, and I’ll still be able to proceed with my plan. And Sky will get to be bully free for the rest of the year. It’s perfect.

I pull my knife and slowly edge the blade out.

Chapter Seventeen

Sky

He’s a nightmare coated as a dream, like chocolate dipped cyanide. And I’m just hungry enough to eat it. It’s a dream, anyway, so what’s the harm? I peer at him between half-lidded eyes as he whips his gaze between me and Ruby. Odd that she would be in my dream, but whatever. I’ll take what I can get.

My lower stomach clenches with anticipation, waiting for him to come to me. He’s got his hood up, and mygodis he sexy. Black eyes and harrowing height. I plan on pulling that hood down, running my hands through his dark hair and—

He goes to Ruby instead. What the hell?

I blink and shift my head just the slightest, watching him hover over her. The room suddenly feels too real. My toes aren’t covered by the blanket, and I can feel how cold they are. The radiator isn’t rattling either, and everything is too silent, too corporeal.

This isn’t a dream. He’s really here.

“Cade?” I whisper, my voice weak with sleep.

He whips around like lightning, shoving his hand into his pocket as his eyes go wide. I hear him gulp in the silence, and I quickly untangle myself from the blanket, my brows coming together as I sit up.

“What are you doing?” I hiss, wiping the sleep from eyes and peeking around him to Ruby. She’s still asleep, her innocent face slack and unaware.

“Hey,” he whispers, and takes the one step he needs to cross over to me. “I thought… I didn’t know which bed was yours.” He gives a husky chuckle as he looks down at me, and I can’t tell if he’s trying to smile or not. But just that small flash of teeth makes the bats in my stomach awaken.

I swat at them. What the fuck is he doing here at—I glance at the clock—two a.m.?

“You aren’t supposed to be in here. We could get expelled.”

God, what is he thinking? My father would buy a house with a basement just to keep me in it if he found out I had a guy in my dorm. Especially after everything with Chase.

“I… I wanted to watch you—I mean see you.” He growls to himself and huffs. “I wanted to see you,” he says more confidently, and straightens.

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