Page 52 of The Sound Of Silence

“No, Mom’s managing the shop while Willow grabs some supplies from the next town. I said goodbye for you by the way. You missed her.”

“Thanks,” I deadpan, like I don’t care, but a sharp pain coats my chest at the thought of never seeing Willow again. I just can’t dwell on it.Let’s hope the town she’s going to is not the same one we are.

We say our goodbyes to both of Pippa’s parents—turns out her dad was there too—and then we’re finally on our way, leaving my nightmare behind us.

Pippa’s only silent for a few minutes before she turns my way, a grumpy look on her face. “So, what’s so urgent that Coach needs you home?”

“Contract stuff,” I lie, but it’s a pretty decent one if I say so myself.

Pippa huffs but drops the subject and turns on the music instead, leaving me in peace.

I offered to drive hoping it would calm me down, but if Pippa spends the entire time giving me the silent treatment as she messes around with her phone, I don’t think that’s going to happen.

Taking a deep breath, I open my mouth to speak when flashing lights and rolling sirens draw my attention. My eyes lock on the heart-clenching accident blocking the bridge out of town, but before I’ve had the chance to even question what happened, Pippa’s ripping off her seat belt and sprinting from the car, confusing the hell out of me.

That is, until I remember something she said earlier and my own crippling panic sets in.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Jesse

Brokenimagesflashthroughmy mind. A footprint. A hand. Blood. So much blood. But I can’t move and I can’t scream. Though I’m not even sure I want to do either of those things. My eyes remain locked on the crash a few hundred feet in front of me, but I can’t see anything. It’s blurry, unfocused. Almost like I’m trying to see without glasses even though I have 20/20 vision.

I try hard to push through the fog, but it takes five fucking minutes for me to break out of my spiraling thoughts. And another minute to get my bearings.

As soon as I’m able to think clearly, I inwardly curse myself for wasting time and fling my door open, taking off in a run in the direction Pippa disappeared.

When I find her, she’s standing behind police tape, yelling at an officer blocking her way, her fists clenched by her side as she stands tall, ready to fight. But judging by his sympathetic expression, the officer in front of her doesn’t want to fight back.

“I understand, and I’m sorry, but like my colleagues said, I can’t let you through.”

Jesus! How many people has she spoken to in a brief space of time? Or has it been longer than I thought?

“You must knowsomething,” Pippa pleads as my eyes seek the charred mess hidden behind them, only partially blocked by the police car in the middle of the bridge. And even though I’m closer now, I still can’t make out what I’m looking at. Car, truck, minivan. It’s impossible to tell anything through the billowing smoke and black destruction.

“I don’t have any information yet. I’m sorry,” the officer repeats, and from his weary eyes and dropped shoulders, I’m guessing he’s telling the truth.

“It can’t be. Please,” Pippa mumbles under her breath before shaking.

Stepping in behind her, I hesitantly cup her shoulder to let her know that I’m there but stay silent. She barely acknowledges me as we both stare at the scene in front of us, but after a moment, her hand rises and she grabs my fingers, giving me a squeeze.

Word must have filtered back to the town because it’s not long before a crowd gathers and whispers fill the air, everyone trying to determine whether a loved one is missing. My heart stays lodged in my throat the entire time, my need to leave this town long forgotten.What if it’s her?

Pushing that thought out of my mind, I again wait frozen while more and more people ask for information, but like Pippa, get nothing but apologies.

“Have you tried calling?” I ask, my voice coming out scratchy, drawing attention to the fact that I haven’t spoken a word since our car came to a stop.

Pippa peers over her shoulder with a blank expression, her face ashen, her eyes full of unshed tears. “Who?”

Her response gives me pause. “Willow?”

Pippa’s eyes widen before her gaze flashes to the burned-out car. “You think it’s Willow too?” She sucks in a breath and her hand flies to her mouth. “Oh my God. You think it’sWillow.” She expels a high-pitched squeal before doubling over, and I barely catch her as she falls to the ground.

Shit. I just made things so much worse.

“Shh. It’s okay. We don’t know. No one knows. I just—”

“Police have confirmed the driver was male,”a voice says from behind me, and the relieved sigh I expel is so loud the person next to me shoots me a glare. But I don’t care. The weight of everything I was holding hits me at once, and I drop to the ground next to Pippa, wrapping an arm around her shoulders at the same time her quiet sobs turn silent, and she shakes uncontrollably.

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