Page 2 of Into the Light

“Leave,” he demanded, and as the events over the last few hours came rushing back, tears welled in the rims of my eyes. The comfort Rain had shown me last night gave me the impression we could get through this together, but the person in front of me was different.

“But . . . Rain . . .” I couldn’t find the words I needed to string a sentence together.

“There is no ‘but Rain,’ Ember. I need to figure out what happened with Ash.” No longer was he the guy who held me last night while I cried in his arms. He’d somehow been replaced by the bitter anger I’d been well-acquainted with since knowing him.

There were two sides to Rain. The person who brought me a phone when Ale took mine, then the Rain who ignored me as if I was repulsive. Right now, he was the latter.

“You told me what happened . . . I thought h-he—”

“I have to figure it all fucking out, Ember. Leave this fucking house now.” His tone was frigid. I’d always known Rain to be cold and impenetrable, but this was different.

I turned toward the door to walk out, and the hole in my heart grew and the thoughts in my head swirled around. What if Walsh didn’t keep his promise or my dad double-crossed me? What if I was always supposed to be a pawn, like my mother had been?

As the thoughts spiraled out of control and I moved toward the front door, my knees buckled, and I fell to the floor.

Ash was happy, aside from our having broken up . . . er, at least that was what I thought. I never once thought he battled with any inner demons. He never mentioned feeling sad or depressed, aside from growing up without his mom. This had to be more than Ash jumping off a cliff. There had to be more to the story, and I needed to figure it out.

“I’ll come with you,” I cried up at him.

“You can’t.” He reached down, and I stared at his empty hand as if he was holding the world full of lost promises between the spaces of his fingers. I shook my head before pushing myself up, refusing to let him help me.

“Please.” Rain’s face fell even further, and he ran his hands through his dark hair.

“Ember”—he closed the distance between us, his voice low—“you need to leave right fucking now because when Ash’s dad gets here, you don’t want to be here.” I understood why he was pushing me out.

I feared Ash’s dad. He wanted revenge, and this would fuel his anger even more. The air was suffocating. I needed to call Walsh or go home.

But fuck. Where was home? Without Ash, I didn’t know if I’d ever be able to feel at home again.

“Will you call me with updates?” Rain looked up at the sky as rain fell on the otherwise sleepy town.

“Go back to the city, Ember. Go to Dansport. Take Walsh.”

That wasn’t what I asked.

“Please, Rain.” I needed to know what the plan was and needed to figure out what happened to Ash.

“Go.” Rain’s hand landed on my lower back, and there was something warm, comforting about the gesture.

“I don’t want to go with my brother. If he had anything to do with this . . .” I looked around to make sure no one could hear us.

“Shit,” Rain muttered, his frustration palpable. Taking my hand in his, he led me out of the house, skillfully maneuvering us to the back. He handed me the keys to a Jeep that bore a striking resemblance to Ash’s, with subtle differences: distinctive chrome hubcaps, a unique license plate, and an almost pristine condition that stood out among the other cars in the driveway.

“Take my car. Do not go to your apartment. Go straight to Dansport, and don’t stop until you get to this address.” Rain handed me a small folded-up paper. I opened it to an address, with a scribbled door code underneath.

“What is this?” Rain gripped the back of his neck and looked around.

“An apartment Ash got for y’all. It’s all secured and in your name, so untraceable to us otherwise.” An apartment? But if he was planning on . . . I couldn’t say it. Why would he get a place for us to live?

While Rain explained, the salty tears rolled down my cheeks, over my lips, and seeped into my mouth. I swallowed . . . hard. “Ember, fucking listen to me. Do not stop for anyone.”

I nodded.

“My stuff . . . Ash’s . . .” The words weren’t coming out in any sensible way. My entire life was being left behind. My entire potential, my future, my past. It was all just . . . gone.

“I will get it delivered.” I heard an engine approaching. “Please, Ember.”

I wasn’t sure he realized he was crying, at least not until I lifted my fingers and wiped away the lone tear falling down his cheek. We were both so fucking broken by losing someone we loved so deeply.

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