I lick my lips, my heart thudding against his arm. “What else?”
“The branches fell, and the fire took the trees.” He lowers his head, resting his forehead on my shoulder. “I watched you go to help the girl, but Kayla pulled you back and you both ran. Did you know that you are the only one who looked back? Kayla didn’t.”
Tears prickle behind my eyelids.
“What happened to the girl?”
“She was burned, but she eventually got up. But that’s when I heard Jake shout my name and I left. I wish I had gone over to her. I’ll always regret not helping her. What?” Olly asks as my body turns to stone.
“Lillian was hurt.”
I have the same regret as Olly. The guilt of not helping her is something I live with every day.
“Lillian? LC? What was her surname?”
“Campbell. I tried to look her up on social media, but she’s not there. Why didn’t you tell me this when I confessed about the fire?”
“That was only yesterday, Esme, and we got into an argument. Remember, you thought I was the one messing with the camp.” I start to pull away, but he stops me. “No, we’re not fighting again,” he says.
“I’m tired,” I tell him. Suddenly I feel like I could curl up on the floor and sleep for a month. My head is going to explode.
“Me too, but we still have a lot to discuss. Lillian. That’s who you think did this?”
“You knew this whole time.”
“Yes. I was waiting for you to tell me the whole truth.”
“I was waiting for you to tell me any truth.”
Olly lowers his head closer to mine. “Lillian was burned. That’s motive enough.”
“I hate this.”
His expression softens. “I know you do. What happened was an accident. You’re not a bad person. In fact, you’re one of the best.”
“What do we do now, Olly?”
“I’m going to kiss you and then we’re going to figure this thing out together.”
I can’t think of a better plan right now.
He closes the small distance between us and I sink into him.
Suddenly the light turns off with a snap, like the power has been cut.
I gasp, and Olly stands taller.
Lillian is still here.
42
“I swear if you suggest we go outside, I will throw you in the lake,” I whisper while my heart tries to break out of my rib cage.
I can’t see well in the dark, but Olly’s arms are still very secure around me.
“I wasn’t going to suggest we go out there.”
“No way.”
“She’s just a girl, Esme.”
I elbow him hard in the chest and he hisses through his teeth. “See, women can hurt too,” I say.
“Unnecessary,” he growls. “We can’t stay in here, but who knows what she’s got planned out there?”
“She’s dangerous; we both know that. Let’s call Andy for help,” I say, checking my watch. We don’t have long before sunrise.
“There are four cabins full of sleeping children between this cabin and Andy’s.”
He unwraps his arms from around me and I faintly make out him rubbing his chest. That will teach him for insinuating that women are weak.
I don’t want to praise Lillian and Rebekah for what they’ve done here, but all hail girl power. I wish they would just use it for something good.
Rebekah might not be involved! I remind myself.
“What if we go out there and she has a gun?” I ask.
“How would that be revenge?”
“Isn’t that, like, the definition of revenge?”
“No, and you don’t believe it is either. You’re letting fear talk now. She doesn’t want to kill anyone; she wants to screw us up and turn us against each other. We’re already divided: half want to go to the cops and the other half are scared to.”
But Lillian must have an end game. In four weeks, we leave.
“What are we supposed to do with that, Olly? We need to do something. She could be out there now sacrificing more animals or writing threats all over the cabins!”
“I’m going outside.”
“Bad. Idea.”
He takes my hand. “Come on, let’s look through the window and see if we can spot her.”
The cabin is drenched in darkness. I can barely see an inch in front of me.
Olly and I shuffle forward. I reach my free hand out to feel. When it touches the wall, we move sideways. The window is only just visible, a thin strip of dull light around the dark fabric blind.
I hook the blind with one finger, wincing as I shift it out of the way. Olly’s temple touches mine as we lean closer and look out.
My heart seizes and I jump back, letting the blind fall shut as a scream rips from my throat.
Olly makes a sharp bah sound and grabs hold of me, pulling me closer.
Lillian and whoever her accomplice is are outside, dressed head to toe in black, hoods up, facing us.
“Oh my God, they’re out there!” I mutter.
“Okay. It’s okay. Hey, look at me, Esme.”
I can just about make out his face and meet his eyes.
“Don’t panic.”
“They’re out there and they know we’re in here! I am panicking! What are they doing? Waiting for us? To do what?”
I don’t ever want to see Lillian again.
“Hey, shh. Nothing bad is going to happen to us. They’re two girls our age. It’s going to be fine.”
“Y-you think we should go out there and talk to them.”
“Yes.”
Taking a breath, I place my clammy palms on his chest and focus on not freaking collapsing.
“All right,” I say, and then regret it instantly. “Finding out what she wants is the only way to stop this.”
“We go out together, but stay behind me. Please.”
Holding my hand, he leads me to the door.
My pulse skitters as he pulls the door open.
Should we grab a weapon? There are plenty of bats in here. Though I’m hoping there won’t be any need for that.