The Pledge by Cale Dietrich

Author:Cale Dietrich
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

* * *

Dad is in the kitchen, making himself a bowl of muesli. Just plain muesli, without any weird herbs or supplements. It’s how I know something is up, because he’s still acting so infuriatingly normal.

We should be safe inside, because I’ve triple-checked every entryway and security panel. All the batteries and locks work properly. There’s no way that Eli is getting into this house.

After Eli hung up, I spent the entire night thinking, trying to figure out what the best possible move is—listening to him feels like a mistake, but the thing is, I know his threat isn’t a bluff. If I don’t listen to him, he will kill again. I know he’ll keep his word, which means I have to go back.

But first, I need to tell Dad. I’ve been trying to muster up the courage to say the words to Dad for the past hour since I got up, but keep bailing. He’s going to try to stop me, because even with Eli’s threat, I’m still safest here. I’m running out of time, and I think Eli will keep his word. If going back can slow Eli down by even a few hours, then it will be completely worth it. Even if it means I get attacked by the Freak.

All right, here goes nothing.

“I want to go back to campus,” I blurt.

Dad lowers his spoon and stares at me. From his reaction, it’s as if I’ve just told him something totally bizarre. “You’re joking, right?”

His eyebrows twitch, and I can see the cogs working in his mind. Then, light bulb.

“Did Eli call you?” he asks.

“No.”

“Don’t lie, Sam.”

“I’m not.”

“Yes, you are! I’ve raised you for eighteen years, I know when you’re lying. What did he say?”

“Nothing. I can’t stay here anymore, Dad.”

There’s a chance Dad is right. He’s only looking out for me, and if it was Gus who had come to me asking if it was okay for him to throw himself in danger, then I would put my foot down. Hard. And maybe it is the best move to stay here and wait this out. The cops will be able to find Eli, and once that happens, I can go back.

The faces of the people I met fill my mind. Oren. Josh. Booker. Drew. Everyone I even came into slight contact with is in danger. If I stay here, the Freak will attack one of them. That means I need to act my ass off now, because there is only one angle I can use that Dad would accept enough to let me go back to campus.

“Why?” he asks.

“Because I want a life! And I want you to have one, too. And Gus. If I stay here, I’m making everything worse.”

“You’re not making anything worse. Please, think this through.”

“I have, and I’ve—I’ve made my decision. I’m going.”

“It’s not safe.”

“Nowhere is safe,” I say, raising my voice. “Not for me. Do you want him coming here? He could attack you, or Gus, and I can’t stop him.”

“I’m not letting you put yourself in danger for us; that’s not your decision.

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