Page 25 of Sinister Legacy
Marcus snorts, leaning back in his seat when the waiter fills his plate with potatoes. “I’m not.”
We all look at him.
“What?” Chris sounds incredulous.
“I’m not scared of some pathetic copycat killer who doesn’t know how to be original but needs to draw on someone else’s material to feel relevant. It’s bullshit.”
“Bullshit or not, he’s killing people,” Hazel bites out beside me. “Jessica is dead, Marcus.”
They stare at each other for a long moment. No one speaks, and the hum of conversation from the nearby tables feels loud to my ears. I try to tune it out without much luck. It’s pitch black outside the windows now. The club is situated in the countryside, away from the town, so there are no streetlights for miles.
Only the dark forest with its fanged trees and creepy animal calls.
I lean back as a waiter pours sauce over my minted potatoes and beef. It pours over the rounded edges and pools on the plate.
“It’s my fault,” I speak up.
It doesn’t sit well with me that they’re all in this situation because of me.
“All of this is my fault.”
“No,” Liam says, straightening in his seat. “Don’t say that, babe. None of this is your fault.”
“Of course, it is. If it weren’t for my father, Jessica would be…” I drift off, my throat clogged with emotion.
Hazel remains silent, staring at an empty spot on the table. Though I can feel her thoughts. I can feelalltheir thoughts. Somewhere deep inside, Liam knows I’m right, and he has put his friends in danger by being with me. What started out as a novelty has turned deadly.
Marcus, smooth as always, says, “Who do we think is next?”
Sliding his arm around me, Liam glares at him.
“Someone insignificant.” Miles reaches for his sparkling water. “Someone at this table who knows our main star.” He looks at me, taking a sip and putting the glass back down. “But isn’t a close friend.”
“Someone like me,” Hazel whispers, still staring at that empty spot as if it wields all the answers.
“You’re not insignificant, Hazel,” Amanda reassures her, but Hazel pulls her hand from beneath hers.
Hazel’s voice is surprisingly strong. “I have never spent time with Keira. Never really talked to her. I sided with Jessica when she tried to freeze Keira out.”
Marcus, with his mouth stuffed with beef, speaks around a mouthful. “That means nothing. I’m not close to Keira, either. We’ve exchanged what?” Placing his fork down, he looks past Liam at me. “Five words?”
My shoulders rise and fall carelessly while I slide a piece of potato through the sauce on my plate with the fork.
“It could be literally any one of us,” Sienna butts in, pointing to herself and Miles. “We don’t know Keira, either.”
“The only one who’s safe,” Marcus says, taking a sip of his sparkling water, “is Cassie.”
“Liam too, don’t forget,” Chris points out, his arm wrapped around Sienna.
Marcus shakes his head. “The boyfriend always dies in horror stories.”
“The hell?” Liam chuckles uneasily beside me. “That’s not true.”
Marcus flashes him a smile, but it’s Miles who speaks up. “He’s right. You’re a dead man walking.”
Liam looks between them all, his arm slack around my shoulders. Then he removes it and sits forward, pointing to his chest. “I don’t know what kind of shit movies you watch, but if anyone comes for me, I’ll make them regret it.”
“You mean they’ll gut you.” Marcus stabs a piece of potato.
