Page 120 of Running from Drac
“Space,” I echo, my voice flat. “She’s got a whole goddamn world of space right now.”
The air grows thick. My chest hurts like there’s a fist wrapped around my heart and squeezing.
Then my phone rings.
My head jerks up so fast that my neck pops. I grab it without looking, my pulse skyrocketing, ready to hear her voice.
But it’s not her.
It’s Pippa.
I almost send it to voicemail, but something inside me tells me to answer the call. “What?”
Her voice is small, almost childlike. “Don’t hang up. Please.”
I say nothing.
“I know you told me never to call you again, and I meant to listen. I swear I did. But I can’t do this anymore, Eddie. I can’t live knowing you hate me.”
I keep my tone cold. “Then maybe you should’ve thought about that before you did what you did.”
“I’m sorry,” she says quickly, her words tumbling over each other. “I’m so sorry. You don’t have to forgive me; you don’t even have to like me. Just don’t erase me from your life completely. We were friends once. You were the only person who ever made me feel like I mattered.”
“Pippa—” I start, but she cuts me off.
“I’m up on Rattlesnake Mountain.” Her voice wavers, breaking in places. “I can see the whole city from here. It’s beautiful. Peaceful. I keep thinking… maybe if I’m gone, you can finally breathe again. You’ll never have to deal with me ruining anything ever again.”
My stomach drops, a cold shiver of Death’s immortal finger crawls down my spine, almost as if he’s picking out his first victim. “Pippa, don’t do this.”
“I’m serious. I don’t have anyone else to call. You’re it. And you hate me. So, what’s the point?”
I push up from the chair, pacing, my dad watching me like he already knows something’s wrong. “Tell me exactly where you are. Don’t move.”
She gives a shaky laugh. “Don’t bother. I’m not worth saving.”
“Pippa. Stay where you are. I’m coming.”
“You’ve already gone, Eddie. You’ve been gone a long time.”
“Pip—”
The line goes dead.
I try calling her back.
Voicemail.
Again.
Voicemail.
And again.
More Voicemail.
“What’s going on?” Dad asks, already standing.
“It’s Pippa,” I choke out. “She’s on Rattlesnake Mountain talking about ending it.”
