Sin and Salvation by Richie Tankersley Cusick

Author:Richie Tankersley Cusick [Cusick, Richie Tankersley]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group
Published: 2006-03-02T00:00:00+00:00

22

The girls sat without speaking.

Sat and held on to each other, as though, between the two of them, they might somehow conjure up superhuman strength and supernatural powers.

And answers, Lucy thought bitterly. Answers to impossible things.

For it had been only last night when she’d seen someone with Byron’s face peering at her from the hospital window. Just like before at the bookshop … someone with Byron’s face …

Someone … or something …

The gruesome details of Dakota’s attack played over and over in her mind. Without warning, she flashed back to the mysterious journal and a series of cryptic lines she’d once been able to translate: during daylight … handsome young man … transform … wolf or large black dog …

“When it happened, it was like a dream.” Dakota’s strained voice finally broke the silence. “I was aware of certain things. I mean, I could see and hear certain things, but at the same time, I was sort of …”

“Terrified?” Lucy made a weak attempt at humor, but Dakota sounded only more grave.

“No. No, that’s the thing—I wasn’t terrified. And not just because I didn’t have time to be. It was more like feeling … a kind of awe.” She paused, as if thinking. “I know that sounds crazy—but even when I was being attacked, there was something so powerful about him. So beautiful about him …”

Lucy’s heart clenched in her chest. Yes, Dakota. Yes, I know those feelings well.

“Sorry.” Dakota rolled her eyes. “They’ve got me on lots of drugs. This could be just the drugs talking. My drugs having a philosophical conversation with you.”

“I … I don’t think it’s your drugs.”

“No?” Giving a deep sigh, Dakota leveled a stare at her. “Then it must be Jared.”

Lucy felt blindsided. She stared back at Dakota, not even able to answer.

“The one who attacked me, I mean,” Dakota went on. “It must be Jared. Even though,” she added gently, “you don’t want to believe it.”

The hospital room … Dakota’s face … everything swam in a sea of tears. “I helped him,” Lucy choked. “I believed him. Do you know how completely stupid I feel?”

“Don’t. He’s clever, and he used your own kindness against you. How could you have known?”

“I should have known. I should have known better.”

The time we spent together … things we talked about … the way it felt when he touched me …

Lucy forced the memories away. It was her own fault she’d gotten involved—way too involved. She’d welcomed Jared into her world with wide-open arms, and that was exactly what he’d counted on.

“I’ve lured you, and you’ve followed. I’ve lied and pretended, even as you’ve taken me in and befriended me …

“So who is he really, I wonder?” Dakota wasn’t looking at Lucy anymore; she was staring up at the ceiling.

“You mean, besides the one who’s been stalking me?”

“If he’s not Byron’s brother, then maybe he’s the one who killed Katherine.”

Lucy’s jaw dropped. “What did you say?”

“It was just a thought. Whoever he is, I still think he’s sending you a message.

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.