Lib Novel Page 151
“Rita said everyone in this town has been lying to me.” It’s my turn to get to my feet. I stare intently at her back. “Have you been lying to me, Elsa?”
She is silent for a moment, and when she speaks, there’s a hint of sorrow in her voice. “Everything I have done, Sophia, has been to protect you. Everything.”
She walks out the door, leaving me alone in her office, riddled with questions. I know if I go after her, she’s not going to tell me anything more.
Once again, I am faced with secrets. I sink back down on the couch, my head spinning.
Elsa knows something.
All these years, I always thought that I knew this town and that I knew these people, but have I been wrong? Did I ever truly know anybody here? I want to go find Elsa and demand to know what it is she’s hiding from me, but the incident with Rita has me frightened, and what Elsa just said has me hesitating even more. If Rita hadn’t reached out to me, would she still be alive? Is her murder my fault?
I bury my head in my hands, not knowing what to think anymore. I need to get out of Oakrest. I need to get away from these people. I don’t want to live here any longer.
*** **
Not wanting to leave the bar, I decide to take an extra afternoon shift. Busying myself with work helps distract me from the terrifying thoughts eating at me. Despite everything that happened earlier, Elsa doesn’t show any change in her behavior toward me. I decide to act the same toward her, as well.
I don’t see Alex for the rest of the day. During the night shift, I see Nathan and Saul sitting at one of the tables in the back. Their eyes meet mine, and while Saul smiles at me, Nathan just nods and flushes, looking away.
They’re watching Eve, I realize. They took my information seriously. Hopefully, now they’ll leave me alone. I’ll be able to cage fight in peace.
I am about to leave for the night, but as I’m heading out, Elsa stops me.
“Wait!” She grabs her coat. “I’m coming with you.”
“Coming where?” I look at the wall clock. “It’s one in the morning. Where are you going?”
She buttons up her long, black coat that reaches her ankles. “I’m walking you home.”
Her voice is stern, brooking no arguments.
I give her a small, uncertain smile. “I’m not a child—”
“Shut up and start walking.”
“Yes, ma’am.” I open the door for her. “You’re so abusive,” I complain jokingly. Once we’re outside, I shiver in the cool night air. Zipping up my jacket, I glance at her and notice her eyes darting back and forth. “What’s wrong, Elsa?”
“You didn’t tell me about the incident last night,” she says quietly.
Last night?
My blood instantly curdles as I realize what she’s talking about.
“Wyatt’s execution,” I breathe.
“I heard the news.”
I swallow. “I don’t know what to tell you.”
“Noah is dangerous, Sophia,” Elsa stops me in the middle of the road and turns to face me. “I don’t understand why you can’t see that. Everyone else can. Why are you so blind to what he is? I’m not trying to get in the way of your happiness; I’m just trying to keep you safe—”
I cut her off. “I’m not going to be with him.”
She blinks at me. “What?”
“I—” I hesitate, taking a moment to wet my lips. “I don’t know how to explain it. At first, it was because I felt like I was going to hold him back, but lately, I just…Like I said, I don’t know how to explain it. Whenever I was around him, I only saw his good side. But now, it’s like some weird fog has cleared from my head, and he is starting to scare me.”
I see the way her expression contorts, and I quickly say, “Don’t take me the wrong way. He’s not cruel to me at all. In fact, quite the opposite. But I have seen his cruelty toward others. He killed Wyatt because Wyatt insulted me. He told me it was to set an example, but all I could think of was that Wyatt did not have to lose his life. And when Noah killed him, there was no regret on his face. He may as well have been squashing an insect under his shoe. He didn’t look like he was killing a person. I can’t get that image out of my head.”