Page 10 of Bad Ruck

"I can't see any—" I started.

Chelsea let out a squeak and let go of my hand. She hurried over to a small bathroom to the side of the dressing room.

I made a grab for her, but she moved too quickly, leaving me no choice but to trot a few steps to follow.

"Don't need a doctor," Ramsey remarked. He looked down at the floor and shook his head.

No one could refute his observation. Once a person was dead, chest sliced open down the heart, there was nothing any doctor could do. Not even a really good one.

"It’s…" Frost grimaced.

"Fuck," Chelsea whispered. She put a hand over her mouth and shook her head. Her eyes shone with tears. "It was."

Chapter Four

Chelsea

India'sblonde hair fanned out around her head. Her eyes were open, staring. Her clothes, a simple white T-shirt and a pair of track pants, were quickly soaking up the blood that pooled on the floor around her.

I was still staring in horror, and the same anger I felt at the park, when I became aware of the guys stepping around me, moving carefully.

"Whoever did this might be close," Ramsey said.

His words took a few moments to seep into my brain.

Of course, India was the one who screamed. Right before she was?—

I swallowed hard. My stomach felt like it was in a knot. I saw dead people before, and badly injured ones, but nothing like this. Not someone I considered a friend. The last time I saw her, she was so full of life and excitement, and now, all of that was gone.

"If Dallas is…" Frost shook his head.

"He's not," Storm insisted. "He'snotfucking dead."

I blinked. Tears trickled down my cheeks. Grief and fury, barely balanced by Storm's assurance. I didn't want to thinkDallas was dead either, but if India was dead and he was still missing, it was all too painfully possible.

"He'll turn up," Atlas said softly, his mouth near my ear. "Tex is tougher than that."

"So was India," I said. "And… Sadie." I looked over to Divina, my eyes wide.

"It's her day off," Divina said. "She said something about visiting family in Melbourne."

I nodded. When we stepped out of here, I'd call her and make sure she was okay. Maybe tell her to stay away for a little while. Until all of this blew over. How long would that be? That was anyone's guess. It could be days.

It might be never.

"Is there anywhere here someone could hide?" Storm asked. "Or another way out?"

"There's a door that leads out to the loading bay," Divina said. She nodded in that direction.

"Storm and I will go and look," Ramsey said. "Frost, Atlas, Jay: stay with Chelsea."

I wanted to tell them to stay with me too, but I couldn't. Whoever did this to India might still be close. This might be our only chance to catch them. When we did…

"Be careful," was all I could say.

"Always." Storm kissed my mouth and gave me a tight squeeze.

To my surprise, Ramsey did the same, planting a lingering kiss to my lips. "Won't be long." He gestured to Storm before they both stepped out of the bathroom and back to the corridor.

---