Page 64 of The Obsession

“You sure we shouldn’t just go to the cops?”

“Yes!” I cried. “Please, Aish, no cops, okay? I’d be expelled. Please? You have to trust me. I’ll be okay.”Will I?Now that I was actually carrying out my plan, it felt even more dangerous than I’d expected. Even if I were to get away with it, it would change me for good. Turn me even more monstrous.

There were moments that I’d look in the mirror and see a complete stranger. Someone capable of carrying out true evil. Someone who was no longer a passive victim. If Brandon were still around, would he notice this stain spreading through my very being? Would it scare him, make him think twice about raising his fist at me?

Aisha shoved her hands in her pockets, her mouth pinched. “Did you check behind the posters or picture frames on the wall? There could be like a hole or something—”

“No posters or pictures up on the wall.”

“Damn.”

“Yeah.”

We were quiet as we shuffled inside the girls’ dorm and crept down the hallway to Aisha’s room. Inside, I shrugged off my stuffy jacket and slumped onto the bed. I was glad we’d agreed earlier on that I’d stay over for the night instead of going all the way back to my house.

Aisha climbed in next to me and propped her head up on one hand. “I’m sorry it didn’t work out. We’ll find another way.”

“Yeah,” I said, staring at the ceiling. I couldn’t bear to look her in the face and continue lying to her. I kept expecting Aisha to notice the corruption in my soul and figure out what my actual plan was. Surely she’d know. Surely she’d see it, this shadow lurking underneath my skin.

“Hey, you okay?” Aisha asked.

I shrugged. My stomach writhed in guilty knots. There were so many things I wished I could tell her. I was being the worst friend in the world, and here she was, trying her best to help me out. “Thanks for helping me tonight, Aish.”

“Shut up, you’d do the same for me.” She narrowed her eyes. “You would, right?”

“Duh.”

Aisha bounded off the bed. “I’m way too keyed up to go to sleep right away. I’m gonna have a smoke. Do you mind?”

I shook my head and sat up in bed, watching as Aisha rummaged through her bottom drawer and took out a small vaping tube. She grunted as she pushed up the heavy, old window, and then sat on her desk and lit up.

“Can’t believe that by this time next year, we’ll be off in college, doing whatever the fuck,” she said, blowing out a stream of white vapor. “I’ll be in New York, fingers crossed, and you’ll be in Singapore.” She glanced at me, and her face turned sad. “You’re gonna be so far away from here.”

I slumped onto the pillow and gazed at Aisha, leaning against the windowsill and watching the sky, and I tried to memorize this moment. After tonight, there was no going back. My plan had to be carried out to the very end. I blinked away my tears, biting down hard on my lip to keep myself from sobbing out loud. I had to go through with it. And this quiet moment with my best friend could be the last peaceful one I had. Who knew how long this would last?

Chapter Twenty-One

Logan

I shivered myself awake. My bones had turned to chunks of ice. Everything inside me was frozen. Slowly, my surroundings came into focus. I was in the glade. How the hell—

Lolo.

I startled. “So—Sophie?” My words came out in broken bits, my teeth were chattering so hard. I looked around for her, but she was nowhere to be found. A whimper escaped me. How did I end up here?

Her voice came again, a whisper at the edge of my hearing.Lolo, I’ve missed you. I’m so glad you’re here.

I nodded, but for the first time, being in the glade didn’t bring me the sense of peace I used to associate with it. Uneasiness lurked in my gut, and my head was a mess, thoughts flying everywhere, half-baked, shattering before I could catch hold of them. “How did I end up here?” I whispered. I got to my feet and jogged in place, trying to generate some body heat. Fear lurked nearby, waiting to pounce and overcome everything. I could no longer pretend that I was in control of anything. Maybe I should make an appointment to see Ms. Taylor. Maybe I should take some time off school. Maybe—

Oh, Lolo. You sweet, confused little thing. Did you sleepwalk?

I shook my head. “I—I don’t do that. And where are you? You’re dead. You’re not here. I’m just imagining things. Maybe this is a dream.” I was babbling and I couldn’t stop it.

That’s not very nice.Her voice was all wrong, warped and devoid of emotion. Something inside me twisted to get away from her. But where would I go? Her voice came from everywhere and nowhere, all at once.

“Why’re you here?” I squeaked. And yeah, it really did come out as a squeak. Shit, I was so scared. “You’re not—you’re—”You’re dead.But I couldn’t say it. Even now, here in our glade, I just couldn’t.

I’m dead? Yeah, I am. But that’s not a big deal, is it? You know what is?

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