Page 27 of Cruel Crypts

I groaned, rubbing my hand over my face. This weekend had gone from one fuck-up to an even worse one, and I couldn’t help thinking that fucking her had been a big, big mistake.

But it was too late to go back.

17

ELENA

“Look at the duck, JoJo. Shall we give it some bread?” My mum affected the high baby voice she used to talk to small children, and I smiled. I’d come with them to the park today. Anthony and Maria had some brunch to go to, so my mum was taking care of Josephine until they returned.

Josephine’s face broke into a wide smile as the ducks came closer, her little feet kicking in excitement as she strained against the pushchair straps, trying to get closer. Her dark brown curls bounced around her head as she stretched out her hands. My mum threw a piece of bread towards the duck, and Josephine squealed in delight as the duck scooped up the bread, clapping her hands.

Being here brought back memories of a life that seemed so long ago now…

“Careful near the lake, Elena!” My uncle pointed to the water as if I hadn’t seen it. “Don’t fall in.”

“I won’t.” I picked my way along the lake edge with all the confidence of a fifteen-year-old who thought they were invincible.

He shook his head with a smile as he pulled my aunt, my mum’s sister, closer. She smiled up at him, but his gaze had turned towards my mum, who was standing a little distance away from us.

“Letitia? Want to feed the ducks?”

A small smile appeared on my mum’s face. “I think I’m a little old for that, Jason.”

“Never too old,” he insisted. “Let’s all feed them.”

Together, the four of us moved to where the ducks were congregating, and my aunt dug into the picnic hamper for the remains of the sandwiches we’d had for our lunch. It was so nice of my aunt and uncle to take the time to give us this day out together. More and more, we relied on them, and I honestly didn’t know what we’d do without them.

When we began to throw the bread, my uncle met my mum’s eyes over the top of my aunt’s head, and he winked at her. Her cheeks pinkened, and she smiled.

I smiled too, happy.

When was the last time I really felt happy? A long time ago now, before everything had happened. Those idyllic summer days with my uncle and aunt almost felt like a dream.

“How are things going?” We began to walk away from the ducks, taking the path around the small lake.

My mum frowned. “Nothing. I’m beginning to suspect that if there is anything, it’s well hidden. We might need more money to dig further.”

I thought of the hundred and fifty pounds I had stashed in my room. I’d been saving it for afterwards, but… “I have the money I got from selling the bag if you want it.”

“You’re a good girl.” She took one hand off the pushchair to pat my arm. “Maybe we can kill two birds with one stone. Why don’t you see if there are any part-time jobs going at the country club? That’ll give us extra money, and it’ll be another chance to keep an ear to the ground.”

I thought about it for a moment. I didn’t love the idea of working there, but at the same time, it did make sense. And I was pretty sure I could fake it enough to fit in. “Okay. After the park, I’ll go down there and see if there are any jobs available.” I’d have to cycle there. I wish I’d learned how to drive, but the year I’d turned seventeen had been a complete shitshow, and there was no time or money to learn. Now I was eighteen, and it didn’t look any likelier that I’d be learning. We had far more important things to worry about.

My mum nodded, satisfied, and that was that.

We wandered around the park for a little while longer, and then my mum and Josephine left to go and meet Anthony and Maria while I started the walk back to the house.

I was jerked out of my thoughts when the low rumble of an engine sounded close to me. A black SUV pulled to a stop at the side of the road, and the next thing I knew, the passenger window was sliding down and Knox was leaning across from the driver’s side, one hand on the steering wheel.

“Get in.”

“Huh?” I stared at him.

“I won’t ask again.”

Well, if he wanted to waste his time driving me around, I wasn’t going to complain. My feet still ached from Friday’s party, even though I was now wearing trainers with a cushioned sole. I climbed inside the car, snapping my seat belt into place.

“Where are we going?”

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