Page 154 of The Fractured

Neither of the officers responded. They just sat there.

“Kinda rude but okay,” Seb frowned.

“I think theyareasleep.”

“On the job? Lily’s dad won’t be happy.” He started for the car with a cheeky grin thrown in my direction while I waited by the bike.

“You’re going to get us in trouble,” I hissed, unable to remain serious.

Seb reached the window of the driver’s side, slinging an arm on the roof and peering in. Right as he went to speak, his radiantsmile dropped and was replaced by what I could only describe as dread.

“Seb?” I was hesitant to move but approached him anyway. As I did, the windshield became easier to see through.

The officers’ heads were tilted at odd angles.

Seb staggered back from the window, and I stopped in my tracks, still unable to make out what was wrong.

But something was terribly wrong.

“What is—?”

“Get inside.” He covered his mouth, forcing down a gag before he walked straight at me and took my hand. Without stopping, he steered me across the street towards the apartment. “We need to get inside—They’re dead, likereallyfucking dead.”

“What?” I kept moving, ripping the swipe key to the building from my bag as we jogged to the doors. I tossed the card at Seb. “You open it, I need to take off these goddamn shoes.”

He practically dove at the card reader by the door, impatiently holding the card in front of it until the door beeped and he shoved it open. I trailed behind, half hopping as I kicked off my shoes.

Seb made for the elevator, but I grabbed his arm. “That thing is too slow. Stairs.”

We didn’t know why we were rushing. We didn’t know what we would find. I only hoped we weren’t about to have a repeat of last weekend.

I can’t lose a best friend.

Every flight of stairs felt longer than the last. My legs burned, but I pushed on. Round and round, up and up until we spilled onto the third floor and sprinted down the hallway.

Nothing looked different.

Nothing was burning or broken.

Seb had my keys and reached for the door handle, only for it to come off in his hand. As if someone had put it back to make it seem untampered with.

My heart rate increased. “Oh, god…”

He cautiously nudged the door open ajar.

“Wait here,” he said, taking a step forward.

I gripped his arm. “No. Not happening. We go together.”

“Kira—”

There was a soft click, followed by several other clicks. We paused and turned around as Susan, our nosy neighbor, pulled open her door, wearing the glare of someone who had been trying to sleep.

“I should make a complaint to the owners about how many people you’ve had coming and going from your apartment tonight,” she hissed, crossing her arms over her pink dressing gown.

I could’ve told her my moms owned our apartment, but that wasn’t important right now.

“Susan.” I stepped towards her. “What people?”