Page 94 of Stop and Seek
“I. Don’t. Know.” Theo shoved his glasses to the top of his head and rubbed his eyes. “I don’t know, and that’s the problem. There were two other fucking Hiders around me—two—and somehow—somehow,I’m the only one that gets caught?Two times in a row bytwo different fucking people?”
“I’m sorry, Theo.”
It wasn’t much, but it was all he had. He sucked at comforting people—heknewthat—but he’d rip his own heart out if it would make Theo feel better.
“We’ll get some cheese fries and shakes on the way to Cleveland, okay?” Rachel said gently. “You can vent, and we’ll go back to your place and binge all of theScreammovies. Sound good?”
Noah wasn’t going to fight her here. Even thoughallhe wanted to do was shove her out of the way and pull Theo into his lap. Hold on until Theo was spitting angry comments and struggling to get free.
“I don’t care,” Theo muttered, voice hollow. “I don’t really give a fuck.”
Noah’s throat burned. He reached out without thinking, letting his hand settle on Theo’s shoe.
“Do you needsomething? Anything?” he asked, softer now. Hoping.Begging.
Theo shifted, curling tighter, like he was trying to protect what was left of himself. Then he swallowed—hard—and when he spoke again, his voice cracked right down the middle.
“A second fucking chance.”
There had been no sleep.
None.
Theo couldn’t shut his eyes if he wanted to.
When Rachel left, he spent the rest of the night staring into the ceiling, replaying the second to last round over and over in his head. He knew he didn’t make any noise. He’d been so damn quiet that he could hear his heart pounding in his chest. His soul almost left his body when he heard some girl behind him on her phone, her nails tapping the screen.
And then the class two doors down closed.
It was like some sick magic trick when the first Seeker found him. He froze, waited, and bolted down the hall to collide with a second.Running intothe Seeker wasn’t strong enough—he fuckingbarreledthroughhim. They both ended up on the sticky ground. The bruises on his knees and shins were still blue.
Was it coordinated?
Planned?
Did they somehowknowthere were three people hiding within a hundred feet of one another?
Theo’s alarm on his phone went off and he dismissed it.
Willing his body to move—
Not going to happen. It felt like fucking lead.
God,he had to work.
He hadresponsibilities.
Bills.
He couldn’t keep affording to take days off when his stupid head wouldn’t screw on straight.
Why the fuck was his entire life sliding down a hole to hell?
Even if it was some kids game, it was his only escape.
Now what was he supposed to do? Live out the rest of his day inEunice?
This nightmare wasn’t worth it anymore.
