Page 13 of Never Say Die
Aiden stared at the ceiling.Here we go,he thought. Slowly, he began to laugh.
CHAPTER SIX
They filled the sleeping bag with rocks and bloody clothes. Aiden fit stones into Thomas’s chest cavity, and Shay sealed the sleeping bag with duct tape. The Ocean Grove trailhead was as quiet as it had been two nights ago, city sounds masked by crashing waves and wind rustling through overgrown flora. Aiden nursed a stale cigarette he’d found in the cupholder of Shay’s extremely uncool Toyota Highlander, avoiding the hallowed ground where he’d staked the knife through blood and feathers.
This place seemed cursed, still reeling in the aftermath of a ritual gone wrong. A white, round face beamed in the center of the sky, lighting their way as Aiden took one end of the sleeping bag and Shay took the other, and they tossed the weighty sack into the sea. Aiden flicked the cigarette. Orange sparks fell and died, following Thomas Malone—poor fucking sap—into the depths.
“Think he’ll sink?” Shay asked.
Aiden nodded. “It’s deep enough.”
“I sent the text.”
“Yeah, I saw. Now we need to get rid of his phone.”
“Think they’ll buy it?”
“They won’t have a choice. Did your replacement ship?”
“Yeah, should be ready for pick-up tomorrow. You owe me for that, by the way. Phones aren’t cheap.”
Aiden nodded again. He listened to the water move, to the witching hour take hold. Clubs on Hollywood Boulevard were closing tabs, night owls were dipping into 24-Hour cafés, and dancers were sitting backstage, digging damp bills out of thigh-high boots. All the while, Aiden and Shay were on a cliffside, hoping the Pacific Ocean would swallow their shared secret.
Shay followed his gaze to the black line where sky met water. “Why’d you kiss me?”
Aiden briefly considered throwing himself off the cliff. He shifted his jaw, ignoring the tightness growing in his chest. Of all the things he wanted to undo, that kiss made the top of his list. Being kissed back, knowing Shay feltsomething, cast a spotlight on all thewhat ifsAiden had smothered. That kiss made him weak. Made him want.
“To distract you,” Aiden said. The lie tasted cheap.
“It worked,” Shay said, softly, accidentally. He cleared his throat and shoved his thumbs through his belt loops, swaying from heel to toe. “Are we done here?”
Aiden turned his back on the ocean. “Yeah, c’mon. Let’s go.”
KNIGHT’S BLOOD TEA SPILLAGE
Thomas Manko: hey guys, sorry to do this over text but my ex just called and she’s in a crisis. i’ve gotta head back home for a while. it might be indefinite. good luck with everything and sorry again. the last few months have been fun!
Georgia Williams: ARE YOU KIDDING
Georgia Williams: THOMAS
Georgia Williams: ANSWER YOUR PHONE
Dylan Fisher: what the fuck is up with dudes just dippin out right before a show
Georgia Williams: This is insane
Aiden Moore: I think I can fix this
Georgia Williams: you gonna drive to Canada and collect him before HoB tomorrow?
Dylan Fisher: his phone just rings and rings
Dylan Fisher: i knew he had bad vibes knnneewwwww iiittt
Aiden Moore: Meet me at Java in 15
Georgia Williams: I’m calling Jacob
