Evan

 

The flashlight beam bounced off the pipes, illuminating the tunnel. It stunk; the whole place did. Putrefied water and decaying vermin and things I didn’t want to think about. I kept my sleeve over my nose as I moved farther through the building.

Knowing Becca was here somewhere with him made me sick to my stomach. Underneath the old water treatment plant was a network of tunnels and rooms that had once supplied Credence and the surrounding towns with purified water. Now it was a derelict facility sitting on the outskirts of town, wasting away like so many other local businesses.

I pulled out my cell phone just in case I needed it, but there was no service down here. It had been hours since she’d left her parents’ house. She could be hurt … or worse. Fuck. How had things ended up at this point? I’d gotten the short version from Kendall, but I knew there was more to it. So much more.

Something squeaked up ahead, and I shined the flashlight just as a long tail disappeared into the shadows. I shuddered. Rats. I fucking hated rats. There was no way to tell where I was or what sections I had already searched. There hadn’t been time to plan. I just had to find her. I couldn’t think too much about anything else. About him touching her or hurting her. My fists clenched, and I ordered myself to calm down. Now was not the time lose my shit over something I still didn’t understand.

When Kendall had said his name, it sparked a memory. Like one of those really old memories you weren’t sure was real or made up. Something you might have dreamed only to file away in the recesses of your mind as real. I was only a kid, seven or eight, and Elaina was over. She and my mom were huddled in the kitchen. Elaina was crying. I watched them from the doorway, wondering why Auntie Elaina was so sad.

“It’s better this way,” Mom had said.

“Is it?” Auntie Elaina burst into tears again, and Mom wrapped her arms around her.

“Kane is sick, honey. You know he is. He’s better off with his dad. He can keep him in check and get him the help he needs.”

“He wrote her again.”

“Kendall?”

Auntie Elaina pulled back. She looked sad. “He wants to meet her.”

“Elaina, if Darryl finds out…”

“I know, I know.”

Dad had startled me, returning from work, and I’d dashed back into my room, not wanting to get caught snooping. I’d wondered why Elaina was so upset over someone called Kane. We didn’t know anyone called Kane, but when Dad had called me into the living room a little later, and they were sitting around laughing and joking, I forgot all about it. Until the name had tumbled from Kendall’s mouth.

Kane Larson.

Kendall’s brother. Real brother.

Something rang out in the distance, pulling me back to the present. An echo. A cry? I followed the noise, turning left at the next tunnel intersection, my boots heavy against the cement floor. It filled the stale air again, and before I knew it, I was jogging, chasing the sound. My flashlight swept over the tunnel until I came to a halt.

“Becca?”

The lifeless body crumpled against the wall didn’t respond. I rushed over to her, crouching down, pushing the soggy hair out of her face. “Becca, it’s me. It’s Evan.” My eyes searched for any signs of injuries. Her lips were blue and her skin clammy and cold. She groaned, murmuring something about her head.

“Come on; can you stand?” Slipping my arm around her waist, I pulled her up. Her limp body crushed against me.

“Ev-Evan? I’m so tired.” Her voice was raw, and it twisted my insides. Checking my cell phone again, I prayed that I had a signal, but there was nothing.

“Can you hold me?” I hugged her tight with one arm, trying to determine the best way to get her out of here in one piece because leaving her while I got help was not an option. Not now that I had her back.

“I-I don’t think I can walk. He did something to me.”

My spine went rigid, anger rushing through my veins. “It’s okay; everything’s going to be okay. I’ve got you.” I turned to her, steadying her with my hand. It was a good walk back to the stairs up to the facility if I could remember the way. She was right; she wouldn’t make it like this. She was barely conscious.

“Here.” I lifted her arm around my shoulder and slid my hand under her knees, hoisting her into my arms. Her body was like lead, and another bolt of anger exploded through me. What the fuck had he done to her?

Her head rolled against my chest as she murmured nonsensically. The flashlight balanced in my hand underneath her arms wasn’t steady, but it lit up the place enough for me to retrace my steps.

“Stay with me, Becca. You have to stay with me.”

We passed the intersection where I’d seen the rat, but I had to stop for a second to catch my breath. Becca’s fingers curled into my jacket, letting me know she was still with me, and it spurred me to life. We were almost there. The stairwell came into view.

“Becca, I’m going to have to put you down, okay.” She tipped her head, and I set her down gently, taking her hand and placing it on the rail, keeping my arm around her waist. “Do you think you can walk?”

Her eyes fluttered open, finding mine. “Evan?”

“I’m right here.” I pressed a lingering kiss to her forehead. “Come on. One step at a time.”

There had to fifty steps. She wasn’t going to make it. “Shit,” I grumbled just as the door swung open, and Mr. Torrence appeared, his eyes landing on Becca. “Becca.” His voice cracked with pain. “Mac, get in here.”

The man from earlier stepped into the room, concern shining his eyes.

“Thank you, son.” Mr. Torrence squeezed my shoulder, coming around to Becca’s other side. “Sweetheart, we’re going to help you up the stairs, okay?”

“She’s pretty out of it,” I said.

“She’s fine,” he insisted. “She’s going to be just fine.” I didn’t know who he was trying to convince more—himself or me.

~

“This isn’t a good time, Evan.” Becca’s Mom glared at me, her eyes red and puffy. I was about to not so politely ask that she let me in to see my girl when a voice said, “Let him in, Melinda.”

“But, Geary, she’s—”

He came into view, his eyes filled with gratitude. “Evan saved our daughter’s life. He will always be welcome in our house.”

Mrs. Torrence burst into tears, letting her husband console her while I entered the house. “How is she?” I asked.

“Dehydrated. Sore. But she’s going to be fine, thanks to you.”

My body sagged with relief, and I released a shaky breath, raking a hand over my face. I hadn’t realized how much I needed to hear the words until he’d said them. Becca was safe. And she would be okay.

After getting her out of the plant, Mr. Torrence and Mac had taken Becca home. I’d wanted to go with them, but he was her family, and my car was there. It was the middle of the night, and I didn’t want to worry Mom any more than I already had when I’d text her earlier to say I wouldn’t be back until the morning. I’d sat there in the Impala, listening to the sound of my heart beating out of my chest. Replaying the moment I found her over and over. The fear I felt at the sight of her lifeless body.

“Good, that’s good.” I scrubbed a hand over my face. “Can I—”

“Go on up, son.” He stuck out his hand, a weird expression on his face. “And thank you, Evan. I will never forget what you did for her.” I shook his hand, unable to reply over the lump lodged in my throat.

I’d never been in Becca’s room before. In my head, I’d imagined that one day she would invite me over. Her parents would be out, and we’d have the place to ourselves. And, after spending the night watching a film cuddled up on her couch, she’d take me to her room and let me love her. I never imagined standing outside her door, scared of what I might find inside.

I knocked and waited.

“Come in.” Her voice was so small it shattered something in me.

“Hey,” I said, taking a step into the room.

“Evan.” My name on her lips was like a prayer and a death sentence all rolled into one. This girl owned me, completely, and I’d almost lost her.

I stepped closer, my heart beating furiously in my chest. “How are you feeling?”

She patted the space beside her, and I moved closer, sitting on the edge of the bed. “Like crap.”

I reached for her; I couldn’t help it. My fingers danced along the bruise covering half of her face. “He did this?”

Becca dropped her head, breaking our connection. It hurt. It hurt so fucking much I wanted to scream, but this was about her. Not me. The time for answers would come, but right now was about Becca. Only her.

“Becca,” I soothed. “Look at me.”

She lifted her head slowly, and the look in her eyes stole the breath from my lungs. “I’m sorry.”

“Sorry?” Was she for real? What could she possibly think she has to apologize for?

“I didn’t want to lie. I didn’t want to keep you in the dark, but everything got so out of control, and I didn’t want you to know the truth.”

I brushed her hair from her eyes, tucking it behind her ear. “You never have to be sorry with me. I get it. You did what you needed to survive. But don’t shut me out. I love you, Becca. I will fight for you and protect you and keep you safe, but you have to trust me.”

“My past … It’s complicated. I did something—”

“Shh.” I leaned closer, careful not to hurt her. “None of that matters right now. All that matters is that you’re here and you’re safe.” Our lips came together in a soft kiss, and Becca’s body relaxed, the tension seeping from her. I wanted her so much. Needed her to ease the pain I’d felt since standing on her doorstep last night and realizing she was gone.

“Don’t leave me again,” I whispered against her mouth, my lips tugging up when I felt her smile at my words.

“I love you, Evan. I love you so much it scares me.”

“Well, then.” I pressed a kiss to her nose. “We can be scared together.”

Because what I felt for Becca terrified me. It was senior year. She would be going off to college next year. I wouldn’t blame her for wanting to get as far away from Credence as possible. And then what? I hadn’t allowed myself to think about the future—not with how my life worked—but finding her in that tunnel shifted something in me. Didn’t people say you didn’t know what you had until you lost it?

Well, I’d almost lost Becca … and I didn’t ever want to feel that again.

~

“How is she?” Mr. Torrence asked as I came downstairs. He looked exhausted.

“She’s okay, I think. She fell asleep.” In my arms, but I didn’t add that bit. “Thank you for letting me see her.”

“I’d like to talk to you, Evan.” He motioned to a door along the hallway. “If you can spare me the time?”

“Sure.” I followed him into his office. It could only be that with the big desk, leather chair, and shelves filled with important looking books and files.

“Have a seat. Can I get you a drink?”

“No, sir.” I needed a shower to wash away the events of the night, and then I needed to sleep.

“Please, call me Geary. You earned it.” He smiled, taking the seat behind the desk. “I suppose you have questions?”

I did. I had a whole heap of them. But something about his demeanor told me he had something he wanted to say. “A few but I’m pretty sure you didn’t ask me in here to answer my questions.”

He let out a strained laugh, and I braced myself for whatever it was he wanted to tell me, but the phone on his desk blared, cutting through the tension in the room.

“Excuse me while I take this.” He answered the phone. “Mac, yes, yes, she’s okay. I think she’ll be fine.” Silence. “What? Are you sure? Yes, yes, okay. Thank you for calling me.”

Geary’s face had drained of color, his hand trembling as he hung up. “There’s been an incident.” Sadness lingered in his eyes, but for a second, he’d also sounded relieved.

“An incident?” My mind immediately went to Becca, but she was sound asleep upstairs. She was fine. She would be fine. But something had happened.

Something that would affect us all.