Page 46 of Controlled Chaos

Chapter 25

Night fell,and the sound of voices outside our cabin grew. Porter was in the shower and getting ready for the evening. I was sliding on clothes beneath the required uniform dress. I’d thought of wearing jeans and a T-shirt, but tonight was definitely not a night I wanted to stand out in the crowd. I wanted to get lost in the sea of faces.

I checked the messages on my phone, making sure my message to Fillpot and my brother had finally gone through. The secrets on this island wouldn’t die with me.

I stepped over to the drawer where Porter kept his gun. I ran my finger over the weapon that was meant to take my life. Taking out the bullets would be the smart thing to do, but it might leave Porter vulnerable. I wasn’t willing to take that chance. I eased the drawer back closed. An apprehensive energy slid down my spine. Unease had me walking out into the living room and running my hand over my face. I knew what was coming. The inevitability of it. I was only hours away from my death.

I slid down the wall and pulled out my phone again, this time sending a group message to my family. One that hopefully they’d eventually receive.

If one day, I can’t stop fate from claiming me, I need you all to know that I loved every last one of you with all my heart. My fingers paused, hovering in place as tears gathered in my eyes while I debated how much to tell them.

“What are you doing?” Porter asked, walking out of the room, his face cleanly shaved. His hair was wet, and his clothes were the same ones I’d seen standing over me when he shot me dead.

I hitSendas a tear slipped free. “Texting my brothers.”

He held out his hand and pulled me to my feet. He swiped the tear slipping down my cheek. “No tears. You’re getting off this island.”

He pulled the drawer open where he’d stashed the gun and picked it up, handing it to me. The weight of the gun was heavy in my grip. “I can’t kill you if I don’t have a weapon.”

“You can’t protect yourself either.” I shoved the gun back in his direction.

He shoved it back, walking away, leaving me holding the gun. “Listen, I’ve come up with a new plan.”

I raised a brow. “And what might that be?”

“Instead of going to the bonfire with me, I’ll tell them you aren’t feeling well. They’ll believe me. That way, you won’t have to worry about anyone coming to check on you, and it will give you time to get to the plane.”

“There’s only one problem with that,” I said. “Your mom will know the minute I’m out of range.”

“Not if I stay across the campus near the dining hall. She’ll just believe I’m too far away from you. She won’t question it.”

“I can’t leave without Frankie,” I said.

“While you change out of that goddamn dress and into something that won’t slow you down, I’ll go find her and tell her to meet you behind the bungalow in the tree line.”

My eyes searched his. “You sure about this?”

He crossed the distance between us and cupped my cheek. “To keep you alive, I have to let you go, but when we get out of this… don’t ask me to do it again.”

I lifted on my tiptoes and pressed my lips against his in a kiss that hinted at the future I was trying to save.

He broke away and smiled down at me. “Go change. I laid out your superspy clothes on the bed. It’s almost dark enough that you won’t be seen. I’ll go find Frankie.”

I slapped the gun back into his hand and hurried to the room. My favorite jeans and a black shirt were sitting out on the bed. I changed and was putting my hair up in a ponytail when I walked back out into the kitchen. The gun I’d given back to him was now sitting on the kitchen counter.

I was pacing by the time he slipped back into our room. A look of defeat crossed his face.

“Did you find her?” I asked.

He shook his head. “One of the counselors said that she was caught trying to break into the gun case. They said she was kicked off the island.”

“What?” I asked, unable to believe what he said. I shook my head. “She wouldn’t do that. Not knowing the extent of what is going on.”

“I agree they’re lying. That’s why you have to go now.”

He walked into the room, returning with the forbidden seeds he’d put in his shaving kit. He handed the bag to me before grabbing the gun off the counter and shoving it into my hands again. This time there was a quick kiss to my lips. He eased the door open and practically shoved me out. “Be careful.”

I nodded and glanced around the area before I took off in a run. I made it to the tree line and paused inside, giving the compound one last look. Smoke billowed over the buildings. The sound of voices drifted on the breeze. The evil within was hidden. But not for long.

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