Page 82 of Snake

“Fuck you,” I mutter, leaning my head against the cool window and watching the dark shapes of the trees flash past.

I need sleep. A chance to clear my head. But no matter how well—or poorly-I sleep tonight, one thing’s for sure.

Tomorrow, I’m leaving this train wreck of a town behind. Fuck it, I’m not even going to bother fetching my clothes from Vicky’s house. I have my phone on me, and for once it’s charged and has full signal. I’m calling Romi, and if I don’t get hold of her or she refuses, then I’m taking a cab.

It should feel like a failure, going home. Giving up. But all I feel is relief. And a twinge of regret.

No one can possibly fault me, not after everything I’ve gone through. I’m not giving up, I’m being realistic. Nothing will change. Cinderhart is a place trapped in time, like the amber-fossilized mosquito in Jurassic Park.

I don’t belong here.

I don’t fit here.

And no one will ever let me forget it.

The road becomes uneven, jolting me around in my seat. It becomes too tiring trying to focus out the window, and there’s silence inside the cab. Everyone lost in their own grim thoughts, I guess.

A particularly hard jolt pops open eyes I don’t remember closing. Then an arm slides around my shoulders and drags me to the side, against Mason’s warm body. I look up into his shadowed amber eyes. I don’t know what I hoped to find, but all I see is a familiar leer.

I’m a silly girl for ever thinking these men could change.

My eyes drift closed as I surrender to Mason’s embrace.There’s no point in fighting anymore, anyway. Maybe there never was to begin with.

I guess spending my last night in Cinderhart with these three men isn’t the worst thing that could happen. In fact, it would be a fitting goodbye. Leaving the same way I came in.

Harassed.

Abused.

Bullied.

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