Page 64 of Soul of a Psycho

Ruby pushes me through the gathering and towards the commotion. My mind is hazy, and I couldn’t care less about some scuffle, but I can’t bring myself to do more than get shoved along. My history with alcohol is basically nonexistent, and I’m liking the way it curbs the knot in my stomach. Father, who? I smirk to myself as we break through the throng of people.

When I look up, I blink, not sure what I’m seeing.

“Oh, my god,” Ruby gasps beside me.

It takes me a second longer to make sense of the scene, and as it does, dread swoops in and squeezes away any peace I had found. Standing over a limp and battered body is Cade. He’s clutching a burning branch at his side, smoke curling around him as if he’s the actual grim reaper. The breeze makes it worse when it sends a caustic odor towards me. In an instant, I amdead.cold.sober.

Cade wouldn’t… Hecan’t.But the orange light of the flames shows me just how soaked the guy on the ground is, and there’s something sinister about the way Cade is staring down at him.

“Ruby.” I grasp her, panic making me lock up.

“Stop him!” She shoves me.

I stumble, stricken, into the empty space before the onlookers. Why has no one done anything yet? In despair, I gape back at what is practically the entire senior class. Some have taken off their masks to get a better look, others have a hand over their mouth, there’s even some squeezing their eyes shut. But no one isdoinganything.

“Do something!” Ruby hisses at me, pulling my gaze to hers.

In a stupor, I read the frantic fear in her eyes and, slowly; it dawns on me.

Everyone isscared.

Oh, god.

I try to breathe, looking back at Cade who is standing unnaturally still, and realize that on a good day, Cade resembles a demon not to be fucked with, but tonight, with the stupid cloak I made him wear, he looks terrifying. No one is going to try and stop him, not with all the flammables.

It has to be me.

With a gulp, I shove down my own fear and tread shakily towards what could quickly become a funeral pyre. But I have to be careful. I don’t want to startle him, not with the chasms that have opened in his eyes. He’s transfixed, half his face eclipsed by the cloak, but I can make out a glimpse, and it’s not good.

Cade isgone.

He’s physically here, as gorgeous as ever, maybe even more so with the way the amber flames cast shadows on his sharp features, but his soul isn’t. He’s lost somewhere, somewhere dark, and… What if I can’t find him?

He was at least still present when he threatened Ruby. Maybe I should have taken what she said about him being institutionalized a bit more seriously. Does he have medication he’s supposed to take? Is this normal for him? How am I supposed to talk him off this ledge?Whathave I gotten myself into with him?

I chew my lip as I inch closer, wondering if I should just pull the branch from his fist. But then I run the risk of setting a rogue ember loose. One tiny spark, and whoever is on the ground will go up in flames. No, I have to be gentle.

“Cade?” I try once I’m a foot away.

He doesn’t blink, doesn’t even flinch, and I don’t think he can hear me. Cautiously, I step closer, the odor of lighter fluid growing more potent and making my nose burn. One wrong move and that smell will quickly turn into burnt flesh.

A sweat breaks out under my costume as I try his name again, but he still doesn’t move, and the branch is quickly burning its way up to his grasp. He won’t be able to hold it much longer. If he even drops it where he’s standing, the puddle will catch and spread right to whoever is unconscious.

I’m just about to try his name again when the person on the ground groans. It’s a wet sound that makes my stomach clench, but it finally makes Cade blink.

“Good. I want you to be awake for this,” Cade speaks.

Chills run down my arms at the sound of his voice. The words are guttural, coming from deep within his chest, as if his vocal chords are shredded.

I try to gain some composure that I don’t have in the slightest.

“For what, Cade?” I snap with faux irritation, surprised by how realistic it sounds when I’m literally shaking.

He whips his head to me, black eyes piercing through me, causing me to hold my breath. I don’t even know this version of him. He feels like a stranger, and it roots me into place. If this is the side of him that keeps everyone at bay, then I finally understand. I wouldn’t want to even look wrong in his direction. But then, slowly, the faintest bit of light seeps back into his eyes, and I breathe a bit of relief. His face blooms, softens even, ashe takes me in, and this version of Cade feels much safer. Still dangerous, but the familiar kind.

Then it wilts into pain, like a puppy caught and punished for doing something wrong. His full lips turn down, eyes filling with unshed tears. It tugs on every ventricle in my heart, turning me cold and forcing me forward, ready to tell him I’m not mad at him just to stop the torture that is his pain.

“Don’t!” he suddenly shouts, putting a hand out.

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