Prepare for the Worst by Vanessa Lafleur

Author:Vanessa Lafleur [Vanessa Lafleur]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: BQB Publishing
Published: 2022-06-03T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 21

ROCHELLE

December 12, 2090

I woke up slowly, at first aware only of the warmth and comfort of being tucked into my bed. Then the events of the past few days flooded in. I had to check on Keppler, talk to Audrie before she left, and tell Kinley the truth. Shoving the covers aside, I jumped out of bed and rushed to the guest bedroom at the end of the hall.

The bed was made and Audrie’s suitcase was gone. Outside, large snowflakes poured down in front of the window. The murmur of Kinley’s voice drew me back down the hall, and the phone cord led into her room. I pushed the door forward to reveal my cousin sitting on her bed, phone to her ear, writing in a notebook as she listened.

She looked up and smiled, holding up one finger to indicate she needed another minute. “That’s perfect,” she said into the phone. “I’ll get the forms filled out as soon as I receive them and we’ll see you for orientation in January. Okay. Thank you. Bye.” She hung up the phone and slid it onto her nightstand.

“Good morning, sleepyhead. I’m sorry we didn’t get to talk more last night.” She slid to the edge of her bed so her feet rested on the floor. “My conversation with Audrie seemed to never end and then I didn’t want to wake you up.”

I nodded, feet frozen in the doorway, remembering my own conversation with our aunt. “She left already?” My voice broke and tears welled in my eyes.

“Rochelle, come here.” Kinley held her arms open and I rushed into them. “Audrie wanted to talk to you, but you were sleeping so tight, I wouldn’t let her wake you up. She planned to stay all day, but then she got a call from work.”

Unsure whether Kinley was telling the truth or just trying to make me feel better, I rubbed my eyes, trying to stop the tears.

“I don’t know what’s going on between you and Audrie, but I bet you would feel better if we talk about it.”

Nodding, I lifted my head from her shoulder. I needed Kinley to know everything and make it better. That’s what I had wanted since I found out about the pendants, but I couldn’t stand to have both Audrie and Kinley disappointed in me.

As if sensing my hesitancy, she released me from her embrace and took both of my hands. “It’s okay. You can tell me anything.”

I cleared my throat and blinked away the tears. “Keppler found the pendant during the summer in Dad’s truck. I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want you to have another thing to worry about. I didn’t tell Audrie because I didn’t know what she planned to do with it.” I met her eyes, gentle with understanding. “When I told Audrie last night, she said I was putting everyone in danger. That’s the first time she’s ever been disappointed in me.”

Kinley reached for the box of tissues on her nightstand and held them out to me.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.