Page 108 of Resist

“Hurry up, pass me some more. Lucas will be here soon.”

I heard the tear of paper and the ruffle of plastic before he pulled his hand free of the bag, an intact octopus dangling from his grasp, an are-you-serious expression on his face.

“What? Have you never seen an octopus?”

He put it back down, washed his hands, and then crossed them over his chest as he leaned against the bench. “Why are you going to all this trouble?”

“Because when you like someone as much as I like Lucas, you make an effort for them.”

“I still think it’s weird.”

“I know you do.”

“He’s not much older than I am, Mum.”

“That’s why I’m hoping that after you meet him today, you’ll think differently.”

He scoffed. “I know how guys my age act and think.”

“And, yet, you’re not so bad, huh?” I nodded to the vegetables in a box on my island bench. “Now, pass me those. I’m running out of time and I still need to get ready.”

He did as he was told but huffed again. “You look fine.”

I glanced down at my white, cropped jeans and pale blue linen shirt that had dirt marks on them. “I look like a grub.”

“He should like you as a grub.”

“He does.”

We had a minor stare-off before I made my way down the hallway to the staircase, a silhouette lurking on the other side of the frosted glass of my front door.Shit! He’s early.

Realising he mustn’t have knocked yet and ready to call out for Jason to let him in while I quickly changed clothes, I remembered what I’d said about Lucas liking me as a grub and smiled, deciding to open the door anyway.

“Wow! I’m impressed. For once in your life, you’re early—” My smile froze, and my blood turned cold when I came face-to-face with the barrel of a gun aimed directly at my head. “C … Colin. Wh … what are you doing—”

“Get inside,” he barked, ushering me back.

I stumbled into the hallway, nearly tripping on the mat and falling onto the first step of my staircase.

“Where is he?” Colin’s voice was harsh like the sear of skin against a branding iron.

“Wh … who?”

“JASON.”

“I … I don’t know.”

“Don’t lie to me. I know he’s here.”

Pain flamed my face when he slammed the butt of the gun against my head. I screamed and fell to my knees, my hand clasping my right eye. “He left,” I sobbed.

Colin’s eyes flared with rage, and he stood back, his arm once again raised, the gun aimed between my eyes. “I’m not going to tell you again. Don’t. Lie.”

The floorboards creaked behind us, and Jason appeared at the end of the hallway. “I’m here.”

“NO!” I cried. “Jason, run!”

He ignored my plea and came closer, his palms open. “It’s okay, Mum.”