Chapter 8

Thursday, May25

After the worst night of broken sleep sponsored by anxiety, I arrive at school early in the hope that I can speak to Rhett without a massive audience.

I can’t even get too excited about Fuller’s reaction to finding his entire office has been relocated to the hall or the ducks in the pool.

Rhett’s dare completely ruined the joy of moving all of Fuller’s furniture and egging houses. It should’ve been fun, but I was so distracted. Atlas and Jesse waved it off, telling me and Luce that we’d find a way out and, if not, Jesse could “totally” do it because of his experience behind the wheel.

It’s too hot to walk today, so I drove in, and I’m grateful I have somewhere to sit while I wait to kick Rhett’s ass. I watch him roll up and narrow my eyes.

Ruthie is in the passenger seat of Rhett’s car, and they get out at the same time. I’m in no mood today. “Ruthie, I need to talk to Rhett. Alone,” I say, getting out of my car.

She puts her hands on her hips theatrically. “Excuse me?”

“Get lost,” I say with even more conviction.

“If you think I’m following orders from a loser—”

I grab Rhett’s arm, already frustrated with her hanging around. “Come with me.”

He laughs and lets me lead him away from Ruthie. Neither of us looks back, not even as she scoffs and mutters something offensive about me.

“Do you want me to die?” I ask, tugging on his arm and making him turn to face me.

“Hm. I think I would rather you didn’t. Why?”

I let go of him and throw my hands up. “The dare, idiot! You know how dangerous blind driving is on a normal road. And you want us to do it fast on danger alley. Are you out of your mind?”

“I’m sure your boyfriend will keep you safe.”

Anger bubbles inside me. “Rhett, what are you doing? This isn’t you! This rich asshole thing has never been you!”

He lifts a brow. “Getting to the root cause of the problem now, aren’t we?”

“Change the dare,” I demand, just stopping short of stomping my foot.

“No.”

“What are you hoping to achieve? No one will even see us! Unless there’s a really old watch you just have to have at the end of the road, I don’t understand the point.”

He chuckles. “Marley, there doesn’t have to be a reason behind everything. Sometimes you can do things just for fun. You do remember what fun is, right? Or is Atlas too boring?”

He’s right, we are getting to the root cause of years of his bullshit.

“Is it fun playing in the creek together? Movie marathons in your cinema room? Length races in your pool? Water fights in my yard? Ice-skating in winter? Camping trips with my dad? Those your definition of fun?”

My plan has worked. His smirk fades and is replaced with tension that rolls from his shoulders. He takes a step closer. I hold my ground, daring him to invade my space. We’re standing an inch apart, but I’m not going to be the one to back down, not when I’m right.

He tried to turn this around on me, but I’ve hit it straight back to him.

This grudge he has is all about me being with Atlas and us not being friends anymore. Something that he chose.

“Why are Jesse and Luce even involved in this? I’m guessing you think that if you chuck them in on the dare, it won’t be obvious that you’re jealous.”

“You’re really—”

I wave my hands. “We should get all of this out.” I’m on a roll cutting people off and getting my point across today. “Are you mad that I didn’t try to chase you when you started ghosting me? I can’t see why, because you do know me better than that.”

I’m surprised that I’ve gotten this far without him butting in or walking away. We’ve never had this conversation before. In the past, he walked away, and I let him.

He runs a hand over his perfect, preppy hair. “You’ve thought about this way too much. I don’t think about you at all.”

My eye roll is so epic, I practically see my brain. “Sure you don’t. Look, we can either talk about this, or you can back off and leave me alone. You can’t have both.”

“I can have whatever I want.”

“Oh, but that’s not true, is it?”

“Careful, Marley.”

“Hey, what the hell is going on?” Atlas yells, jogging our way. “Back off.”

Rhett’s jaw clenches. “Boyfriend to rescue you.”

“I don’t need rescuing.”

Atlas pushes between us, shoving Rhett back. “Stay the hell away from her.”

“She doesn’t need you to rescue her, dude. Isn’t that right, Marley?”

“I’m fine, Atlas. Rhett and I were just talking about old times and dead grudges.”

Rhett scoffs. “You wish. See you at the creek at midnight.”

When he’s gone, Atlas turns to me, scowling. “What was that about?”

Oh, now he wants to chat? Double standards.

I walk away from him, so freaking irritated that he interrupted. “I can handle him myself.”

“Whoa, what have I done wrong?” he asks, catching up with me.

“Why did you rush over?”

He jogs alongside me, both of us moving too fast for a normal conversation. We must look totally weird. I move through the crowd, hearing the roar of laughter.

Yesterday’s pranks.

I don’t care. I just want to get through today and get the dare over with safely.

I make my way to the creek, earlier than instructed because Rhett is sometimes first and I need a second try at stopping this. Appealing to his kinder side didn’t work this morning, but maybe that was because I went in hard and called him out.

Another approach might work. It’s something I have to try because I can’t stop the gnawing feeling in my stomach. A sense of dread I get when I’m watching a horror movie and someone’s about to get it.

All day the churning anxiety in my gut has been getting worse, to the point where I could barely eat at lunch and dinner.

I walk past Arthur’s property, and rather than going around, I cut through. I’m technically on his land but only just. It’ll save me five minutes and Arthur has never cared about us walking here. There’s even a trodden-down path, the grass trampled so often that it gave up growing.

It’s eleven-forty-five and dark but still ungodly hot.

I look up at the trees in front of me and shudder at how the world disappears beyond them, the dense woods like a black hole.

“Marley?”

Startled, I jump back and spin around.

George raises his hand and jogs over.

“Where were you?” I ask, scanning the area. There’s a shed close to him, but it’s barely standing, the rotten panels being held together by a few rusty nails. He could’ve been in there, but why? It’d take a miracle to repair that.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you. I was just seeing if I can fix a few things while I’m here.” He takes a quick look back at the house and sighs like he has the weight of the world on his shoulders. I want to ask what’s going on. How he really is after losing his mom. But I don’t. “Not sure I can do much to turn this place around. I wish he’d just move closer to me.”

“Have you said that to him?” I nudge him. “I mean not just suggest he moves but actually ask him to.”

George shrugs. “Sure. He hasn’t been feeling well, so I don’t want to stress him out with a move just yet. Says he’s not in pain, but he doesn’t always move comfortably. He’s also gotten a bit confused recently. Nothing major but he’s talking about the past a lot, almost exclusively. I think the Wilders have offered to buy the property again. Can’t see him ever selling to them.”

“I didn’t know they’d offered again,” I say, wondering if the watch theft has anything to do with that. But why? It’s not like it was treasured by Arthur or anything.

“I’m not certain, but he doesn’t usually talk about them. Last time was a couple of years ago when they hand delivered an offer, as far as I know.”

George shakes his head, running his hand over his shoulder and along his arm, massaging as he goes. I feel for him. He has a lot to take on and he’s only nineteen.

“Right,” I say, my mind still trying to fit the puzzle together, but I feel like I have dozens of missing pieces. I get the impression that George doesn’t want to let anyone in.

The watch can’t be relevant to the property. It has to be personal. Maybe Rhett is just trying to make Arthur feel unsafe.

“Where are you going anyway? It’s late.”

“Just meeting Atlas at the creek.”

“It’s almost midnight.”

I shrug. “My parents wouldn’t let him stay over this late.”

He nods stiffly. “So you’re sneaking out.”

“Yeah.” The lies roll off my tongue as if I’ve practiced them. I don’t really know why I’m not telling George the truth. It’s not like he wouldn’t have played pranks in high school. But there’s something about the one I’m trying to get out of that makes me want tohide.

He nods again. “I remember doing that in high school.”

“I can’t wait for college. No more sneaking around.”

“You want me to walk you there? Just until you see Atlas?”

“Thanks, but I’m okay.”

“Not your first time sneaking out, I get it. We should do something soon, though. I’ve missed hanging out with the one normal person in this town.”

“That’s almost a compliment, but it’s a low bar,” I joke, making him laugh.

My eyes drift to a window, where I find Arthur watching us.

“I think he might want you,” I say, nodding to the house.

George glances over his shoulder. “Right.”

“Is he okay? It’s pretty late.”

He sighs again and turns back to me. “I don’t know. I hope so.”

“Can you get him to see a doctor?”

“I’ve tried. He says he can deal with it. Whatever that means.”

Arthur has never been a weak old man. I get the impression that he stopped caring about the farm because most of the town sided with the Wilders, not because he couldn’t handle it.

“Do you and Arthur need some help? My parents both work at the hospital.”

He looks over his shoulder and back again. “Thanks, Marley, I’ll ask if he’ll let them help, but I have a feeling it’s going to be a no. Everything is a no.”

“Are you okay? You should come out sometime,” I say, adding the invitation so that he can easily ignore my question if he doesn’t want to open up. Forcing a laugh, I continue, “I know this town is lame, but staying on the farm twenty-four seven isn’t good.”

Why am I being so awkward?

George laughs. “I’m good, no need to worry that I’ll turn into my grandad.”

“I’m not, I just…”

Have no idea how to help you, if you even want it.

“I’m messing with you. Thanks for the offer, we’ll definitely catch up soon. You should probably go meet Atlas, though.”

“Okay. Bye, George.”

He nods and then turns away, walking back toward the house. Somehow leaving him feels wrong. A nervous feeling in my gut tells me George isn’t doing so well. I mean, his mom died recently, and his grandad is…his grandad. I make a mental note to check in more regularly.

I take one last look at Arthur through the window, just standing there, and then I continue to the creek.

Rhett is sitting on his rock when I arrive. He looks up as I approach, and for a heartbeat, he smiles. He recovers quickly and scowls.

“The answer is no.”

Sighing, I step closer, knowing it’s pointless to try changing his mind and that I was stupid for thinking I could. “Do you ever wish things had turned out differently?”

“You’re doing the dare.”

I throw my hands up. “Forget the dares!”

“Everyone will be here in a minute.”

“Will you not care at all if we get hurt doing this?”

“Marley, come on. Jesse can do this. It’s not like this is his first time racing or blind driving.”

“On that road it is!”

“You’ll be fine, don’t stress.”

I open my mouth to argue my point further, but he stands, dismissing me.

“Here he is!” Rhett says, holding out his arms.

Jesse, Luce, and Atlas walk toward us. It’s then I notice other seniors approaching from different directions. I didn’t have enough time to try to reason with Rhett, but a lifetime probably wouldn’t be enough.

“Let’s roll!” Jesse calls. “My truck’s on the road. Luce and Marley, we can drop you before the fork and circle back after if you want.”

Luce holds his hand, looking up at him like she’s praying his confidence is justified. Jesse’s a good driver—he’s been go-karting since he was four and dreams of NASCAR but thinks it’s already too late without a team or sponsorship.

He’s good enough but he hasn’t had the opportunities or parental support.

You don’t usually have three passengers at night in NASCAR.

No one pays much attention to us as we walk off because Rhett starts to address his people again. I don’t hear what he says, but I know I don’t care.

“This is a terrible idea,” I say, buckling myself into the back of Jesse’s truck.

“It’ll be fine,” Atlas says, taking the passenger seat.

Luce is beside me, her eyes big and burning a hole in the back of Jesse’s head. “Marley’s right. You can’t do it without your lights on, it’s too dark.”

“I know these roads, Luce. I could do this with my eyes closed too,” Jesse replies, starting the engine.

Atlas looks over his shoulder. “He’s got this.”

“Do not close your eyes,” I tell him. “Rhett said you have to do that stretch with the lights out, so keep them on until we hit the fork.”

The fork is the junction that splits into three directions, one heading around the mountain, one toward town, and the other toward the freeway.

We’re going straight on, around the mountain, where you really don’t want to take any risks. And we’re doing that without lights.

Stupid.

“I think I’m going to throw up,” Luce mutters as we pick up speed long before we need to.

“Seriously, you and Marley can get out if you want,” Jesse says.

“I’m not leaving you to die alone,” Luce says, and I don’t know if she’s joking or not.

Jesse laughs and presses harder on the gas. “No one’s dying.”

“How’s mission ‘stop Rhett’ going?” Luce asks, gripping the side of the seat near her knees. “Because I would very much like you to find some dirt on him before we reach the fork.”

“I wonder if he’d stop if Marley asked him really nicely,” Jesse teases, laughing at his own crap joke.

Atlas punches his arm.

If it would work, I would totally flirt with Rhett to stop the dare levels increasing. I’d just need to bathe in bleach after.

“There’s the fork,” Atlas says, leaning between the driver and passenger seats.

Jesse doesn’t stop at the sign. Instead he turns his lights off, and we’re plunged into darkness. I gasp as my eyes adjust. All I can see is a faint glow from the dash reflecting onto Atlas and Jesse. Beyond that is nothing. Jesse tightens his hands around the steering wheel and puts his foot down.

“Jesse, slow down,” Luce says, her voice trembling.

He makes the bend, going too fast. Somewhere on the other side of the road is a drop. It’s not a huge one, maybe the height of a one-story building, but it’s still considerable when you’re in a car that could flip.

“Okay, dude, you’re going a bit too fast,” Atlas says, putting his hands on the dash. “Seriously, I can’t see three feet in front of me. They can’t even see us now. Slow the hell down.”

The side of the mountain flashes past in a dark blur, barely visible beside me.

“It’s fine. I told you I know what I’m doing! Besides, don’t you want to get this over with?” Jesse bites back.

I close my eyes and take a shallow breath, trying to calm the nausea before I vomit all over the interior. “Jesse, please! Rhett never said anything about driving this fast. They won’t know.”

My body shifts as we follow the road around a bend. I look up and strain my eyes to see through the windshield. I can still only make out the side of the mountain beside me and that’s it.

I think I know where we are—the road widens ahead, the mountain giving way to the edge of the forest. It’s going to be okay.

“Jesse!” Atlas bellows.

My heart free-falls at the terror in his voice before I hear the thud. The truck jolts and Jesse slams the brakes, tires screaming until we slide to a stop on the muddy road.

“Oh my god, what was that?” I cry. “What was that?”

“What did we hit?” Luce adds.

Jesse turns the lights on, and the road ahead bursts into view, dust flying around us. I hold on to the headrest in front of me, staring out the window as the dust begins to settle. We’re in the middle of the road, almost sideways.

“It must’ve been a deer,” Jesse finally says, looking back. “Is everyone okay?”

“It was bigger than a deer,” Atlas mutters, his voice like steel.

Luce and I look at each other. “What does that mean?” I ask. “What was it?”

“A bear?” Jesse asks. “They’ve been getting closer. Hit harder than a deer would.”

I reach across for the door handle, my trembling hands missing twice, and the interior lights come on.

“No, stay in the car, Marley!” Atlas snaps. “I’ll go. Wait here.”

“Whatever it was could be injured,” I say.

Jesse opens his door, swearing under his breath. “I’m checking my hood. My dad’s going to kill me if I’ve dented the truck. It’s only just come back from the shop.”

Screw this.I unbuckle and get out.

Atlas does a double take as he spots me gaining on him. “Really? Stay behind me in case it is a bear,” he says, taking my hand.

I squeeze his hand, my heart still thumping from the shock. “Do you think it’ll be alive?”

“It was hit hard but who knows what it can survive.” He looks at me. “I don’t like you being out here.”

I look back to see that Luce is also out of the car, but she’s gone to Jesse as he checks what damage has been done. He’s just had a massive bull bar put on the front of it after crashing into a post last month. I can’t see there being anything wrong with the truck.

Whatever we hit didn’t go over the top, or it would’ve hit the windshield.

Jesse looks up at the sky. It’s hard to know what he’s thinking. Hitting anything will bruise his ego because he’s supposed to be able to avoid accidents.

“Did you see where it went?” I ask, moving closer to Atlas. He doesn’t let me get beside him; his arm snakes around his back to hold me in position. “Atlas, I’m fine. You don’t need to be a hero.”

We walk slowly. Atlas uses the flashlight on his phone to light the way. I can see the tire marks in the mud on the road, but I don’t think Jesse’s left much rubber thanks to the dirt.

“Which way do you think it would go?” I ask. If it was injured it would run for safety, right?

“Well, if it didn’t go toward the trees, it’ll be down there.” He points the flashlight toward the drop-off and beyond into the forest.

“It might’ve run away to die in the woods,” I suggest.

“Maybe,” he mutters, distracted as he searches.

“How big was it?”

“I can’t be sure. It was taller than a deer, stood upright.”

Upright. I lick my dry lips as the hot evening air prickles my skin. “Atlas, bears walk on all fours.”

“They can stand on two.”

“Not for an evening stroll! What did we hit?” The panic in my voice makes Atlas’s eyes widen.

“Shhh, don’t,” he says. The stony fear in his voice tells me that he’s considered another possibility too.

“Who would be out here at midnight?” I ask.

“Marley, look for the bear!” he snaps, and squeezes my hand in lieu of an apology. I can’t blame him. I don’t want to believe that we could’ve hit a person either.

But I’m right, who would be out here? It doesn’t make sense to be in the middle of nowhere on a dark road without even a flashlight or reflective gear.

“There,” I say, spotting something lying in the ditch.

Atlas points the light and we both breathe sighs of relief.

On the ground, surrounded by scorched grass and huge bottle flies, is the carcass of a deer.

He blows out a long breath. “Thank god for that. I thought—”

“Atlas,” I say, cutting him off because something isn’t right. “It’s been dead a while. I don’t think the flies would’ve swarmed that fast.”

“I can’t see anything else,” he replies. “Damn it! All right, let’s walk on a bit, it could’ve rolled.”

I take another step and grip Atlas’s arm tighter. “I’m scared,” I whisper.

“Why?”

He knows exactly why. He’ll convince himself that everything’s fine until the very second it’s not. I wish I could do that rather than always thinking the worst.

He shines the light along the shoulder, shadows from long grass dancing in the soft breeze. The heat is stifling and my scalp stings with anticipation.

“Bear…,” he says, the end of the word dying on his lips. He lifts the flashlight and that’s when I see why he’s stopped talking. The dark legs he’s stumbled upon don’t belong to a bear…they belong to a man.