We make a mad dash for the exit, darting around various pieces of furniture and easels. My heart pounds loudly in my ears. When we finally burst from the room, I almost don’t hear the commotion coming at us from both the front and rear of the building. I blink, realizing help is here.
One of the firefighters puts an arm around me, and we hurry to the back exit. I glance over my shoulder, watching as my whole heart is being carried out, still unconscious.
Outside, I think every ambulance and fire truck within a twenty-mile radius has been called to the parking lot. I’m ushered over to one of the emergency vehicles and am immediately seated on a stretcher.
A man I recognize as the older EMT from the night Raven was taken to the hospital starts going through his procedures checking me over. “Where’d this blood come from?”
Startled, I look down at where he’s got my hands in his gloved ones, cautiously turning them this way and that, then lets his eyes roam my body for evidence of injury. I shake my head. “It’s not mine.” My face crumples. “It must be Kellan’s.”
“Okay. Well, your friends are getting medical attention, too.” His voice is meant to be calm and soothing, but I’m inwardly panicking. “Let me see what I can find out.” He pats my hand as another EMT comes over. I pay no attention to what she’s doing, but my eyes follow the gray-haired guy over to the other ambulance, and then he disappears from sight.
“Star!” Lux gasps my name as she jogs over to us with Raven right behind her. “Are you okay?” Worry etches both of their faces, and they scramble to get close, each grabbing at my hand. Instead of a group hug, we’ve got a group handhold going on.
“She’s gonna be okay, ladies, but please give her some space.” The EMT quickly assesses me. “I’m going to put an oxygen mask on you, and then we’ll head for the hospital to have you looked over.”
I nod. “Okay.” My throat is sore, and my chest burns a little, but I think I’m okay. “Have you seen the guys?” I look first at Raven, then at Lux. They exchange a glance. “Tell me.”
Raven swallows hard. “Maddox and Hawk are okay. They’re bitching about going to the ER.” Her lips twist a bit. If I wasn’t so worried, I’d laugh.
“They must be okay if they’re complaining, right?” Lux gives me an unsure smile before biting her lip and looking away.
“And Kellan?” My voice is rough. Raspy.
Another disturbed, fearful look passes between them.
“They already took him in the ambulance. He was still unconscious.”
Lux looks down at my free hand. “Oh God, that’s from his head, isn’t it?”
THIRTY-ONE
STAR
From what we’re hearing, the fire in the art department building is out. Everyone was safely evacuated once the pieces of wood that Milo had used to keep the doors from opening had been removed.
I’ve already seen the police officers, and I’ve given them more than I’m sure they were ready for. Milo’s description so they can track him down, where he lives, works, his dad’s name, and every single sick thing I can remember him doing, including what he’s been doing to me all these years. They’d been most interested in his botched attempt at setting the fire at our high school, as he’d followed through with exactly the same plan this time. And when I told them this was all about revenge because I’d gotten him caught the last time, they assured me that I likely won’t have to deal with him in the future. He’s eighteen now, so he’s in deep, deep shit—especially since he’s added attempted murder to his repertoire.
I also informed the officers about his stay in the psych ward, as well as the fact that I know he signed himself out because he was eighteen—but it was against his doctor’s wishes. I may have told them that he told me that, just like he tells me all the other sordid details of his dirty deeds.
It was a little white lie. I’d hacked into the computer system at the psych facility and saw that he’d left against medical advice. I was going to give the information to my mother, but I’d wanted plenty of proof to back it up before I presented my case. Unfortunately, I’d never gotten the chance to do more research.
I watch as Raven and Lux whip back the curtains separating me, Maddox, and Hawk. They’ve given us three ER beds right in a row, and we’ve all been checked over, so I’m okay with it. Kellan would have died in that building if Hawk and Maddox hadn’t come, and I would have died right there with him, on the other side of the door. There’s no manual for how to navigate a situation like this. And I don’t know how I can ever thank them enough.
Maddox is on my left, with Hawk on his other side. He winks at me, then gruffly says, “Good job showing us where to go and getting us out.”
“Thanks.” I give him a pained look that I hope reads that I wish I could have done more. I wish I’d been able to get to him faster. I wish I hadn’t brought Milo down on all our heads. The guilt is very real. It’s suffocating. My chest is tight with it. “Thank you for helping me.”
Hawk shakes his head. “Not necessary. He’s our brother. But… you. You surprised us.”
I frown, not quite following.
“You’re feisty, Star. That’s what he’s saying.” Maddox shakes his head. “And smart as fuck. Pulling the alarm before you knew there was an actual fire.”
“I appreciate that. I went with my gut.” I let out a ragged sigh. “I knew Kellan had been gone for too long. And then I thought I saw Milo leave out the back. I knew I’d never forgive myself if I didn’t act.”
Lux sits down next to me, grabbing for my hand, and gives me a soft smile. “You did great.”
“And they’re going to catch Milo. You’ll never have to worry about him again.” Raven sits gingerly at the foot of my bed. “Everything’s going to be okay.”
