Page 49

I lean against the kitchen counter, sipping from a glass of water, my eyes fixed on the faint reflections in the window. Dayton’s upstairs, still in his room, and Sable…

Where the hell is Sable?

I set the glass down and pull out my phone. No messages. That’s weird. She’s usually glued to her phone, especially when she’s downstairs.

“Sable?” I call out.

No answer.

I check the living room.

Empty.

The dining room?

Same.

I’m halfway to the stairs when I remember the locator app we all share—paranoia after everything that’s happened. I open it and search for her dot.

It’s moving.

Fast.

Toward the chapel.

A cold knot forms in my stomach. Sable wouldn’t just leave without saying anything. Something’s off.

I head upstairs, practically kicking Dayton’s door open. He’s sitting on the edge of his bed, hunched over his phone.

“Dayton.”

“What?”

“Sable’s not in the house. Her location is showing she’s heading toward the chapel.”

Dayton’s phone drops onto the bed as he stands. “Why would she leave without us?”

I blink. “Why do you think I’m fucking asking you?”

“Did she grab the beer from the basement? Silas texted the group chat earlier reminding us.”

I reach the basement door first, grabbing the handle and giving it a hard tug. It doesn’t budge.

“It’s locked,” We don’t keep it locked. Without a second thought, I brace my shoulder against the door. My body tenses, coiled tight with adrenaline and fear. The first impact sends a dull shockwave up my arm, and the door groans but doesn’t give.

“Again,” Dayton murmurs, stepping back as if his supervision might help.

I throw my weight into it, harder this time. The wood splinters, and with a final, bone-jarring slam, the door bursts open, nearly tearing off its hinges.

“Sable?” I call again, my voice bouncing off the stone walls.

Nothing.

“She’s not here.” his hand rakes through his hair in frustration.

“No shit. Where the hell could she have gone?”

“Call Silas. See if she made it there.”

I don’t argue. Pulling out my phone, I hit Silas’ number. It rings twice before he picks up.

“What’s up?”

“Sable’s not in the house. Her location says she’s heading toward the chapel, but she shouldn’t be going alone.”

There’s a pause on the other end before Silas responds. “She texted me a few minutes ago. Said she was on her way to the party.”

Dayton goes down the basement steps to make sure Sable isn’t down there.

“Silas, that doesn’t make sense. She wouldn’t leave without saying anything, and she sure as hell wouldn’t walk to the chapel alone.”

“Her dot’s moving toward me. Maybe she just… forgot to say something?”

Dayton comes back up the stairs. “Uhh… Levi...”

“...What?”

“Remember the tunnels I told you about?”

“Silas,” I say. “Something’s wrong. Whoever is walking toward you isn’t Sable.”

“Then who the fuck is it? Where the fuck is Sable?”

Dayton’s already moving toward the front door, grabbing his jacket off the hook.

“In the fucking tunnels.”

I hang up, my mind racing as I grab my own coat.

“Let’s go.”