Dead of Summer - Page 133

God knows they wouldn’t be any help.

Turning back to the door, I slow my steps when I see the figure blocking my way. A wry grin hooks my mouth into a half smile, and I put a hand on my hip to stare at Melody, unamused. “I need to go,” I tell her, voice quiet but no less urgent. “Let me through, Mel.”

“Sure,” she agrees, stepping to the side. But when I push through the doors, I realize instantly she’s on my heels, and she’s slipped out the door before I can actually do anything about her presence.

“Melody…” I glance at Otter Hall, then at her. “Please go back inside. You cannot come with me.”

“Are you going after Grey?” Her eyes are wide in her face, but she doesn’t look afraid. Just…anxious, maybe. Like she’s unsure how to feel. “Is that what this is about?”

Right. She’s talked to our temporary resident serial killer.

“I hate you know about him. But no. I’m—” I break off, trying to think of what to say.

Fuck it.

“I’m looking for Shawn. And…” I suck in a breath. “And Kinsley.”

“Shawn?” She tilts her head to the side. “He left hours ago. And Kinsley never showed up to Otter with her cabin.”

“Yeah, I know that.” I run my fingers through my hair, wishing I had a change of clothes. It’s not an important thought, but the feeling of my stiff, muddy clothes against my skin isn’t a pleasant one. “Look, I can’t explain. Things aren’t great, and I can’t take you with me. Something could happen.”

“So you shouldn’t go alone,” Melody agrees. “I won’t get in the way.”

“You could get hurt.” I shift uncomfortably from one foot to the other, well aware that time is not on my side. “Come on, Mel, I need to go.”

“Then go. But you’re taking me with you one way or the other,” Melody warns, arms crossed over her chest as she gives me a demanding look that’s far beyond her years. I shake off my unease and finally my resistance crumbles.

“If I tell you to run away, then you run,” I sigh at last. “Is that clear?”

Her eyes brighten, and Mel nods. “Yeah, of course Summer. I won’t get in your way or whatever you think. I just want to help.”

“Then come on.” This is such a bad idea, and I don’t wait for her as I jog across the camp toward Liza’s cabin.

The door swinging open on its hinges certainly doesn’t inspire confidence. I slow to a walk at the deck, one hand out for Melody to stop behind me. “Stay out here, okay?” I ask, barely glancing her way as I walk up the stairs.

I don’t think Shawn is here. And judging by the scene in front of me, I’m not sure Liza is either.

Inside the cabin, I immediately find a first aid kit spilled all over the floor; the contents scattered like it dropped and burst like a water balloon. I sidestep all of it, heading to the back of the cabin to look for any signs of life.

Noise from the door catches my attention, and when I look up, I see Melody hasn’t listened to me. She’s inside of the cabin, picking up the pieces of the first aid kit and stuffing them back into the broken plastic box. I waver, considering calling her out for not listening to me, before deciding it just isn’t worth it.

I go back to my search, looking for anything that might show me where my friends are, and coming up empty. Once I’m satisfied every inch of the cabin is empty, I head back to the front, where Mel is just setting the plastic box back up on the cabinet.

For my part, I shoot her a look from under raised brows, and Mel has the decency to duck her head. She knows she was supposed to listen to me.

She’d just decided she knows better.

“I’m not sure where to check…” I begin, stepping out on the deck past the cabin door. My words trail off at the sight in front of me, and I narrow my eyes at the shape of Darcy hovering at the foot of the steps, her arms wrapped around herself as if she’s keeping herself from falling apart. “What do you want?” I snap. “What could you possibly want?”

“I didn’t know,” she whispers, looking up at me with wide eyes. “Summer, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know. He just said—” she breaks off, biting her lip as she looks at Melody.

“Yeah, it’s impossible to get her to go away. Whatever she hears is on her.” I figure I’ll give Kayde’s advice a try, and treat her like she’s older than twelve instead of a normal kid like the others.

“I won’t even tell my mom,” Melody agrees sagely. How kind of her.

But Darcy hesitates still, and when I take a step down toward her, she flinches like she might run. It prompts me to step back, but my eyes narrow in confusion at her actions. If I didn’t know better, I’d think that Darcy did something to feel guilty for.

“He told me he couldn’t stop dreaming about you,” Darcy murmurs finally. “He said it used to happen, but he could ignore it. But then, with Kayde coming back, and him being clear about his feelings toward you, he said it was different.” She looks over her shoulder, as if she’s afraid Shawn is behind her. “He said he just wanted to teach you a lesson. And that the kids would be the way to do it. I don’t know, though.” Her brows knit together in doubt.