Page 71
Story: Grave Matter
Though for a moment, just for a second, I think I see a flash of something else.
But no, it’s just a trick of the light.
Kincaid stands to the side of me and says, “Do you see that girl?”
I see her, I think.Sydney Denik, hot mess express.
“That’s what I’m up against,” he says, his voice so low and rough that it sends fingers up my spine. “That’s who makes it so damn hard to come to work every day because I have to pretend. Pretend I don’t want her. Pretend I don’t need her. Pretend Idon’t craveher.”
Fuck, I’m turning into a puddle on my feet. The way he said hecraves meis combining into a messy brew, along with every other feeling I’ve had tonight, until I’m not sure if I want to slap him again or fuck him senseless.
“The only thing I’m allowed to do is try and save her,” he adds. “And so I watch you. I don’t need to watch you undress or fuck yourself in your sleep. I need to make sure you’re alright.”
I blink at his words and stare at his reflection in the mirror.
“I should report you,” I tell him, though it doesn’t sound like I mean it and I hate that. Hate how weak he makes me feel.
“You should,” he agrees solemnly. “It would be the right thing to do.”
“Would you be sent away?”
He shrugs.
I have a feeling he wouldn’t be. They need him here.
“And no one else watches me?”
“Not like I do,” he says, a sharpness in his gaze. “They don’t have your best interests at heart.”
That’s apparent now. I feel bamboozled by Everly after hearing what she said.
I turn to face him. “Why do you need to save me? Are you saving me from them? What is really going on here?”
“I told you. I need to save you from yourself. I know your background. I know what happened to you. I know the things you won’t let yourself see, the things you won’t let yourself face. This place…” He shakes his head. “This place will lead you into the forest one day and never let you out. I can’t let that happen to you.”
“Please tell me that’s metaphorical.”
“It’s the forest of your mind, Syd. The Lodge, it messes with those who are most vulnerable. I’ve seen it happen time and time again. I don’t want any harm coming to you, not if I can stop it.”
My chest suddenly feels cold, constricted, like my ribs are made of ice. “You’re the one who made me go off Adderall. I haven’t been able to think clearly ever since.”
“Yes, you have,” he says. “Tell me, have you noticed your symptoms? Has it felt like you’ve been missing your meds?”
I rub my lips together, trying to think. “I don’t know. It’s hard to tell. There’s just so much happening.”
“You have to keep trusting me.”
“Oh, so you can keep spying on me?”
“The cameras are recent, Sydney,” he says. “I put them up a few days ago.”
And just like that, I’m angry again.
“Do you know how it feels to have your trust violated by the one person who asked you to trust them?”
“I do. And I hate that you feel that way,” he says. “I apologize, deeply and sincerely. But I still need you to trust me.”
I stare at him. I can tell he really is sorry for making me feel this way, but I don’t think he’s actually sorry about doing it.
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40
- Page 41
- Page 42
- Page 43
- Page 44
- Page 45
- Page 46
- Page 47
- Page 48
- Page 49
- Page 50
- Page 51
- Page 52
- Page 53
- Page 54
- Page 55
- Page 56
- Page 57
- Page 58
- Page 59
- Page 60
- Page 61
- Page 62
- Page 63
- Page 64
- Page 65
- Page 66
- Page 67
- Page 68
- Page 69
- Page 70
- Page 71 (Reading here)
- Page 72
- Page 73
- Page 74
- Page 75
- Page 76
- Page 77
- Page 78
- Page 79
- Page 80
- Page 81
- Page 82
- Page 83
- Page 84
- Page 85
- Page 86
- Page 87
- Page 88
- Page 89
- Page 90
- Page 91
- Page 92
- Page 93
- Page 94
- Page 95
- Page 96
- Page 97
- Page 98
- Page 99
- Page 100
- Page 101
- Page 102
- Page 103
- Page 104
- Page 105
- Page 106
- Page 107
- Page 108
- Page 109
- Page 110
- Page 111
- Page 112
- Page 113
- Page 114
- Page 115
- Page 116
- Page 117
- Page 118
- Page 119
- Page 120
- Page 121
- Page 122
- Page 123
- Page 124
- Page 125
- Page 126
- Page 127
- Page 128
- Page 129
- Page 130
- Page 131
- Page 132
- Page 133
- Page 134
- Page 135
- Page 136
- Page 137
- Page 138
- Page 139
- Page 140
- Page 141
- Page 142
- Page 143