Page 96 of Jerk

“You made it.”

My head moves back to the door, and I’m face-to-face with her again.

She smirks, the candle in her hand casting an evil glow on her face. Krystal and I look tired, but Eden looks like she hasn’t slept in decades. Her pink hair is out in full display, a stare as cold as ice to match. She doesn’t wear her cloak, her cropped tankshowcasing the tattoos covering her arms. Detailed skull on her hand. Crow on her forearm.

She turns her head to Krystal. “Krys.”

“Eden,” Krystal responds with a flat tone, but there’s something else in her voice. There’s an energy between them, the way they gaze into each other’s eyes.

Clearing my throat, I push Krystal inside so we’re out of sight of the guards in the far tower. “Where the hell are we?”

Krystal closes the door behind her as Eden spreads her arms wide, her candle lighting up the room around us. “Welcome to the supply cabin. Anything confiscated comes here, too.” As if to illustrate her point, she taps out a cigarette, pointing one at me. “Want one?”

Krystal takes one too, and Eden uses the candle to light us up. “How long do we have here?” she asks.

Eden takes a step forward, the end of my cigarette almost against her nose. “I don’t know about her vibe,” she says, ignoring Krystal’s question. The way those eyes travel from my head to my toes gives me a chill, my arms come across me. “How do you know her again?”

I can answer myself. “I’m?—”

“She’s fucking my brother,” Krystal cuts me off. A knot in my stomach.

“So?” Eden scoffs.

“He’ll show up for her. So she’s our getaway car.”

“He’d show up for you, too,” I argue, remembering the way he tore me down to put her on top.

But Krystal shakes her head. “Part of me believes he’s relieved I’m here. He was jumping through hoops trying to keep my name out of it.”

“Wait, is that why you framed me?” I ask.

Krystal nods, her confidence faltering as a sheepish look takes over. “He wasn’t very nice about it when he found out andsaid he couldn’t let you rot in a cell like that. I’ve never seen him so angry at me.” My guts twist, the room getting warmer by the second.

“Is this the brother who has weird sex parties?” Eden asks, finally moving her gaze to Krystal’s.

“Why?” Krystal asks. “Things aren’t interesting enough for you here?”

Eden smirks. “Not until you came along.”

“Well, now I’m leaving.We’releaving. So, what’s the plan?”

Eden turns her attention to me again, giving me one last look over before she pops her own contraband cigarette in her mouth. She takes another quick step towards me. I flinch. She laughs. And with one eye open, I see her light her cigarette off mine. “I’ll be your distraction.”

Now, Krystal takes a step forward. “You’re not coming?”

“Can’t. Not now.”

“Why?”

“You ask a lot of questions, Porcelain.”

“Porcelain?” I repeat.

“Her skin. It’s like fucking glass, isn’t it?” Eden laughs. “I’d call her Crystal, but her family beat me to it.”

“Well, that’s actually really sweet.” I look at Krystal with a heartfelt smile.

She ignores it. “Why?” Krystal repeats. “We don’t have to leave you. You can’t stay here. They’ll?—”