Under the Stars

I can’t tell by her tone if Molly really cares, but I try to answer honestly.

“Diamonds seemed too perfect, too…” I still can’t seem to find the right words for why the brilliant, traditional stones don’t fit what Mark and I share.

He continues to disagree, insisting he will buy me a diamond once all of this is behind us.

Molly doesn’t pursue it. Instead she looks back, tilting her head to the side. “Where is… it? The precious cargo.”

My eyes go to Mark, who is silent in the front seat. His eyes never leave the road, but the muscle in his jaw moves. I can tell he’s thinking, planning.

“Somewhere safe.”

A little nod, and Molly returns to looking at the scenery. We pass under a bridge where a large sand sculpture of a troll reaches toward the road. It’s cartoonish, but it puts lead in my stomach. It reminds me of the evil closing in around us, reaching for us at every turn.

“It must be nice always knowing exactly what to do,” she says. “Always making the right decision.”

I don’t understand the edge in her voice.

I study her stony expression before trying to answer. “I wouldn’t say always.”

“But you give orders like you’re never wrong.”

I’m so confused. My face wrinkles with my frown. “Give orders? Never wrong? What are you—”

“We’re here,” she says, leaning forward as the car slows to a stop and opening the door before I’ve finished speaking.

Mark takes our suitcases out of the trunk, and we hustle up the steps to Joshua’s apartment. It’s a big, warehouse loft only partially converted to a living space. A wall of windows gives us a nice view of the city. A double bed is situated beneath it, and a desk with a large Mac is against the other wall.

A small sofa and vintage chairs are arranged in the center, and a small kitchenette is in the corner. A door I assume leads to a bathroom is beside it, and in the corner, partially hidden behind a screen sits an air mattress with blankets spread over it. I can’t help wondering how Josh can afford a place like this in the city.

“Is that for us?” I ask, nodding toward the air mattress.

“It’s the best we could do on short notice.”

“It’s great. Thanks. Is Joshua here?”

“He’s out,” Molly says, going to the small living area and dropping her phone on the table.

“Hopefully we won’t be here long.” Mark leaves our carry-on bags against the wall behind the door. “Did you understand my message? I didn’t want to say too much in case anyone was keeping tabs on us, but I worried it was confusing. I wasn’t sure you’d understand—”

“I found something.” Molly walks ahead of us, going straight to the desk holding the oversized monitor. “Something very… educational.”

She moves the mouse, and the dark screen flickers to life. In the center is a black rectangle with an arrow centered at the bottom. It’s a video, and she doesn’t hesitate to hit play.

The feed is like something from a gas station camera or a drive-through monitor. It’s black and white and tinged with a faint, greenish hue. Two figures are moving quickly around a small room, and it takes me a minute to recognize… I’m one of them.

“Pack, fast!” The one in the closet is pulling down clothes, speaking swiftly.

It’s Roland.

My heart beats harder as the realization washes over me. I don’t have time to stop this before the figure of me on the screen makes a startled cry, and snatches a large block of wood off the small bed.

The breath leaves my body so fast.

I can’t stop it.

I can’t stop what’s coming…

I watch as the image of me slams the club against the body on the floor over and over.