PROLOGUE
THE EXPERIMENT
Malakai
Seventeen Years Ago
“If I were in this movie, I’d definitely trip while running away from the killer.”
“You’d trip and then look back like, ‘Why is this happening to me?’ Classic Malakai move,” Julian adds, laughing. It makes me smile. His laugh is something I’ve heard a thousand times, but lately, it hits differently. I don’t know why. “If I were in this movie, I’d be hiding under the bed instead of running toward the sound. Survival 101.”
“But we wouldn’t have a movie if everyone was smart. Where’s the drama in that?”
“Touché.” Julian passes the popcorn to me. “If the killer from this movie doesn’t get them, I’m pretty sure the awful dialogue will.”
“Come on, Julian. It’s a classic.”
“You Americans and your proclivity for god-awful slasher movies. I’d take a chainsaw-wielding killer over this plot any day.”
I’m grinning as I take another handful of popcorn. “You’re such a menace.”
The movie plays in the background for another few minutes, the only sounds our chewing and the overdramatic screams of the clowns on-screen.
“Hey, I got an email about housing next year,” Julian says casually. “If you want to be roomies next year, we should fill it out so we don’t lose out on a room.”
The popcorn turns to lead in my mouth as I attempt to swallow. The sound of pouring rain outside sounds louder all of a sudden. “Yeah. Okay.”
I hate how my chest tightens. Moving into seminary housing isn’t the end of the world, but leaving this dorm—leaving him—feels heavier than it should.
Julian must notice the shift in my tone, because he turns to face me. “Hey, no pressure. I know things are a bit up in the air for you because of the seminary application?—”
“I got accepted into the program,” I blurt, sitting up straighter. “I got the email this morning, and I was going to tell you?—”
“I fucking knew you would,” he says, his gaze lingering a little too long. His grin falters for just a second. It’s quick—so quick I could’ve imagined it. But I didn’t. “I’m so proud of you, Kai. When does it start?”
I hand the popcorn back to him, taking a deep breath. “January.”
His brows pull together. “Oh, so we’d?—”
“You’d have to get another roommate for next semester,” I tell him at the same time, ignoring how my chest aches.
“But you got into the program!” Julian says brightly, though his smile doesn’t reach his eyes. “I suppose I can find another roommate who doesn’t snore.”
I punch his shoulder. “Screw you. I don’t snore.”
He chuckles. “Whatever you say.”
“I’ll still be at Crestwood University, but we have to live with the other seminary students,” I explain, reaching over to get some more popcorn. I can’t remember if I’d explained that part of the program, but apparently not considering his pinched expression.
“I see,” Julian concedes. “Makes sense.”
We both watch the horror movie in silence for a few more minutes, finishing the popcorn.
“Seriously? This heroine… Ugh. Instead of calling for help, she’s going to investigate the noise?” I ask, trying to diffuse the situation a bit. I didn’t expect Julian to react poorly to me moving out of our shared dorm room, but as I study his serious expression and tense jawline, I realize I might’ve underestimated the impact my leaving would have on him.
“Horror movies and common sense don’t mix,” he says drolly.
“Do all these characters have a death wish? They’re literally running into danger,” I grumble, reaching the bottom of the popcorn bag as one of the heroines begins to explore the dark woods alone. Julian shifts slightly, and his knee brushes against mine.
