On the wall behind me is a massive collage. There must be about fifty photos.
“This all your family?” I ask.
She looks over from the fridge. “Oh yes. I have five children and thirteen grandchildren. My first great-grandchild is due in the fall.”
“You all look so happy,” I tell her, scouring the collage for pictures of Rebekah.
And, bingo, there she is. Smiling in a picture with people I assume are her cousins. Her face steals my breath.
“Do they all live close by?”
“Oh, we’re scattered, I’m afraid. Every one of my children chose different colleges across the country. The grandchildren have done the same, but they all come back to visit.”
“That’s good you get to see them.”
She nods. “My granddaughter Rebekah spent some time here over a few summers, but she’s older now, so she’s got better things to do.”
So that’s how Rebekah and Lillian know each other. They must have met when Rebekah came to stay with her grandma. They spent summers together plotting.
“Are your grandkids coming this summer?”
“Some of them might. Rebekah has an internship. Some accounting firm. She’s always been good with numbers.”
Internship? That’s why she told her mom she was needed in the conference room.
Wow, Rebekah’s nana doesn’t know she’s just ten minutes down the road. No wonder Rebekah was acting so shifty at the arcade and hiding in corners. She was afraid she’d be seen by locals.
There are so many more questions I want to ask, but I’m very aware that it’s going to seem weird if I keep going. I don’t want her to call Rebekah and talk about the stranger whose car broke down and who asked lots of questions about her.
I have what I need for now.
I smile at Rebekah’s grandmother. “Thank you so much for letting me into your home. I should get going now. Triple A will be here soon.”
“All right. You be careful out there at night, Chloe.”
The night isn’t my problem. Your granddaughter is.
47
Sneaking out was fine. Well, fine-ish. Except I gave absolutely no thought to the fact that I have to get back.
I’ve been gone for about an hour. Kayla is on the lookout, and I haven’t had any message or a call to say that she’s seen something. Our bedroom has a great view of the path toward town. She was in the best place to see Rebekah and Lillian.
You are fine.
It’s dark. I’m at the edge of the forest, staring at the trail as if it’s going to bite me.
I’ve always loved adventure. On every vacation with my parents I’m the one who wants to explore the area and go on day trips.
I can now confirm that adventure is highly overrated.
Give me my sofa, snacks and Netflix any day.
Is the forest thicker than it was an hour ago? The damn thing is alive and growing. Maybe the forest doesn’t forget either.
One foot. Just move one foot.
You can’t stand here all night!
I step into the mist.
I want to move that foot backward and head to the bus station. I could be at the airport in a little over an hour. Of course, with no ID, I can’t actually get on a plane.
Whatever my next move is, I have to go back to camp and get my stuff. And I can’t leave Kayla on her own. I have to stay with her. Bestie solidarity and all that. I can’t leave Olly and Jake either. We’re all here for a reason.
The hairs on the back of my neck stand as I realize something: why Lillian is doing this now. In one of my first conversations with Olly, he mentioned that he also got a CIT pamphlet. He probably got the same one I did, with the creepy threat on the back. Lillian must have sent one to all of us. Jake had to have seen what happened that night for Lillian to send him a pamphlet.
Which means Lillian knows that Olly and Jake were there the night of the accident.
I have to get back to camp to warn them.
Tapping my fingers against my legs, I take a deep breath, inhaling a lungful of courage and dewy air.
I step forward slowly and take one last look over my shoulder before I walk into the woods.
The air is heavy. I feel like I could choke on it.
I squint to see more clearly as I follow the little trail and try to keep my eyes everywhere. Literally. I swivel my head from left to right constantly, looking for Rebekah or Lillian through a thin screen of mist.
I want to curl up and make myself as small as I can, but I don’t want to look like I’m scared. If Lillian is out there, at least she can’t hear or feel the thumping of my heart.
Ahead of me, something rustles.
I dash to a tree and plant myself against it. Jagged bark digs into my back. I cower as my heart pulses. It could easily be an animal. It’s probably an animal.
Stepping around the tree, I make my way to the next one, almost tripping over my feet.
No falling!
The noise is gone. I’m sure it was a deer. The poor thing is probably in danger too.
Crunch.
I whip my head around. That was behind me.
Gasping, I turn and bolt toward camp.
I dodge trees, steeling myself for the flash of a camera…or worse. Nothing comes. I sprint, my sides burning with the exertion.
I break through the trees and sob. I’m back. I’m safe.
Stumbling, I slow and creep toward the cabin, I wipe my tears and keep to the wall, bracing myself against it. When I reach the window, something sitting on the windowsill catches my eye.
A little roll of white paper. I gulp and curl my hand around it and stuff it into my pocket.
Kayla unlocks and opens the window when she spots me. I haul myself up and Kayla grabs my arms to help me in.
“You okay?”
I nod. “Fine. Nothing happened. Rebekah’s nana was lovely but said nothing we didn’t already know. Rebekah knows the area and must have met Lillian here.”
“Sorry you had to do that.”
“It’s fine. I’m going to get some sleep.”
I get ready for bed clumsily but in record time and climb the bunk ladder with the rolled-up paper still in my palm.
With a yawn, I get under the blanket and lie down.
The thick paper is soft between my fingertips as I peel it open.
Squinting, I read the red ink on the paper.