Page 125 of Covenant

It usually takes thirty minutes to get to Wyatt’s trailer.

Tonight it takes me twelve.

I’ve never knocked on the door of the trailer before. But I do now. I hammer my fists against it, roaring Wyatt’s name until a light flickers on inside.

“What the fuck d’ya want?” Wyatt’s dad blinks blearily through the door at me, lifting his stained tank top and scratching at his emaciated belly. “Fuck you think you’re doing, banging on the door like that?”

“Where’s Wyatt?” I say, desperately trying to peek around him. “Wyatt?Wy?”

A hand shoves me back several paces. His dad gives me a semi-toothless leer. “He’s not ’ere. Went running out a half-hour ago. You’ll fuck off too if you know what’s good for you.”

The door slams in my face and I tug at my hair. “Fuck.Fuck.”

What has my dad done? And where the fuck is Wyatt?

Terror grips me so hard that I fight the urge to vomit. I don’t have time. I need to find him, and I need to find him now.

I take off running again, this time into the woods. My muscles are protesting, my lungs screaming for me to slow. But I just push harder. Faster. I have to find him.

I have to find my Wyatt.

Time passes but I have no idea how much. I keep running, searching for anything. I check everywhere we usually spend time. The lake. The meadow under the stars. Even the abandoned shelter. I search for the tiniest glimpse of where he might be.

When it comes, it’s not from the direction I’m expecting.

In the distance, I can see flashing red lights. Police lights. They’re in a parking lot up ahead, one that backs onto the main street.

My stomach drops.

No. No. No.

I bolt toward the lot, arriving just in time to see the final car pulling out.

Wyatt’s in the back, head between his hands.

I chase after the cars, waving and hollering, but they don’t stop. They don’t turn back. Neither does he. He doesn’t see me. He doesn’t even turn my way.

I run andrununtil they’re nothing more than specks in the distance. Disappearing. Just like I know he will too.

The realization of it has me falling to my knees.

It’s over.

My father will make sure of it.

* * *

“You have to let me see him.”

The overweight cop behind the desk sighs. “Kid, I ain’t gotta do shit. You’re not his family. You’re not his lawyer. Now fuck off back home before I throw you in a cell too.”

That’s not a bad idea. At least that way I’ll be with Wyatt.

The cop narrows his beady eyes. “Don’t even think about it. You’ll be housed in a cell on the opposite side of the jail as your little friend.”

My shoulders slump. “He doesn’t have any family,” I lie between my teeth. Although, is it a lie if his parents don’t give a fuck about where Wy is right now? “Only me. Please. Just tell me what he’s been charged with.”

“Nope.” The cop clicks around on the computer. “Sorry, kid. Best you get home now.”

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