Page 38 of Anathema Codex

Grabbing the ring and the knife, I head to the edge of the water to rinse them both off. Once I'm sure the blood is gone, I slip them into my backpack and head back in the direction of their SUV at a jog.

Sure, I almost never get in the same car twice, but that's mostly because people get very boring after a while. People tend to show their true colors faster than anyone would care to admit aloud and it's almost always disappointing. Aftyn and Willa, though? They're just starting to get really interesting.

And I should probably return her ring at some point as a thank you for the ride. It would be the nice thing to do... if I can make it back before they leave me behind anyway.

When Willa's shiny SUV appears around a curve in the road, I almost choke on a laugh, but I swallow it down and focus on breathing evenly. They're not back and, judging by the scene they left behind, I'm pretty sure they're washing off in the lake.

Hell, it's worth getting back in the car just to see how they explain away any blood stains on their clothes.

I climb back into my spot in the backseat, getting comfortable against the door so I can focus on slowing my heart rate and my breathing so I can pretend to be asleep. But it's hard because I actually feel... excited? I think that's what this is.

There's just so many options for how this could turn out. So many potential outcomes, both thrilling and disastrous.

But one thing's for sure. I'm definitely not bored.

Best. Hitchhike. Ever.

TWENTY-FIVE

Silence is Golden

THE AGITATOR

I smile when the lights in the theater finally dim. After all the previews I was forced to sit through, the opening credits begin to set the tone of the movie, and I finally lean back in my seat to get comfortable. The crescendo that blares over the large Dolby digital speakers housed in the four corners, as well as those strategically placed in the center walls of the somewhat packed theater, sends a rush through me.

I haven’t really been out to enjoy life in what seems like forever, so tonight is a treat.

I have a bucket of popcorn in my hand, a drink in my cupholder, and a small mountain of napkins balanced on my thigh.

I’m happy.

It’s such a strange feeling, but I am.

Until the back of my seat gets kicked and the bucket jostles hard enough in my hands to spill some of my popcorn.

Ignore the children,I tell myself.

I take a deep breath and decide it was an accident. I won’t let something so miniscule ruin my night out, especially not when I worked so hard for the money that I decided to treat myself with.

Clearing my throat, I reach into my popcorn and pull out another handful, nibbling at each piece as the scene before me unfolds.

The typical stormy night, a girl running from someone that’s chasing her, and a flash of lightning to tell us where the bad guy is.

If only life were that simple.

A wry smile creases my lips as I reach for my drink to wash down the taste of butter in my mouth.

Then it happens.

Something that I know is going to get me into a lot of trouble with almost everyone in the theater if I can’t control it and fast.

Buzz, buzz, buzz…

“Who the fuck has their phone on?” the person in the row behind barks at the top of his lungs.

I push down the bottom part of the seat next to me and set my bucket of popcorn in it, hoping that it won’t close against it and ruin my night by destroying my treat. Once I’m sure it’s okay, I do my best to slide my hand inconspicuously into my jacket pocket. I begin to brush my fingers against any and all buttons hoping that it will get it to stop.

And for a moment, it does.

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