Page 113 of Serpent In White

“It’s not perfect, but it’s a great place,” he states with conviction.

The thing is, I can’t tell if he’s brainwashed—cult mentality, cognitive dissonance and all that—or if he really just loves his family and his life. It might be a little of both, but I can’t judge since the outside world is total bullshit, hence why I came up here toescape.

“You should come back with me,” Abdiel says. My eyes widen. “I’m serious. You could come meet everyone. Meet Darian and Drake. Maybe they’d let you stay.”

His offer chokes me up for a moment. I can’t believe this guy I just met is offering to bring me into his secret community. He doesn’t know me. I’m kind of a trainwreck.

Also, I can’t believe I’m sort of considering it, becauseIdon’t knowhim. He could be a freak show. After all, he’s head over heels in love with his cult leader.

“Who’s Drake?” I ask, then I recall. “The brother?”

Abdiel nods. “He’s Darian’s foster brother. They escaped to these woods when they were teenagers and started everything.”

“Escaped what?”

“I’m not exactly sure.” His eyes glimmer with contemplative sadness. “Bad things.”

“So Darian is in charge… What does Drake do?”

Something shifts in Abdiel’s expression again. It’s like an introspective wonder as he gazes into the fire. There’s something else going on here, but I said I wouldn’t pry into his relationship again, so I choose to leave it alone.

“Drake is called The Alchemist. He has a lab, and he creates things for our community, along with running the business side of things.”

“Business?” I’m beyond interested in this. I’ve never been so riveted in my life.

How is it possible I stumbled upon the most captivating mountain in all of Washington on my first shot, and met the most interesting guy in the Pacific Northwest?

“There’s a lot to unpack here.” His lips curve as he stands up slowly with the dishes. “But I can’t keep spilling all our secrets. If you want to learn more, you’ll have to come back with me.”

“Rude.” I smirk, and he laughs. It’s a great sound.

You know what else is great? The sight of him walking away.

Seriously, the guy is insanely attractive, and he clearly has an impressive body hidden beneath his clothes. It’s a shame he’s into dudes, older ones too, from the sound of it.

Not that I shame people for an interest in older guys. I mean, I’m nineteen too, and I’d never consider dating anyone from school or anything. The last guy I hooked up with was thirty, and I thought that was a good age difference.

Though if others were chill like Abdiel, then I might consider wading into the guys-my-age pool.

I shake my head. None of this matters. Abdiel’s unavailable, I’m never dating again, and I shouldn’t even be thinking about willingly entering a cult tomorrow.

I’ll just get some sleep tonight and take off in the morning. We’ll go our separate ways and chalk this up to a pleasant distraction from my bleak existence, and an entertaining way to spend a Saturday night.

Abdiel comes back from cleaning the dishes and packs everything up. “I’m pretty exhausted. I’ve been on my feet all day, so I’m gonna crash. If you’re staying up, can you put out the fire?”

I’m suddenly feeling sort of awkward. It’s like having a sleepover with someone I just met.

He chuckles. I must be making a desperate face because he asks, “You want me to put the fire out?”

I nod weakly. “Please.”

The smug grin doesn’t leave his lips while he does it, and I try not to just stand around, shifting back and forth like an idiot.

I don’t even have a sleeping bag. I have a blanket, no pillow, and a couple changes of clothes. I didn’t really expect to be hanging around up here for long.

“I think you should sleep inside the tent with me,” he says, and then catches himself. “I mean, notwithme. Just in the tent. In case it rains, or animals come snooping around.”

“Animals?” I squeak, to which he laughs.