“I get it.” She nodded in understanding, taking another step away. “You guys were down there doing acid or something, and you’ve come to crash the party, like Sam said you would. You’re seeing things, right? Alternate universes.” She nodded again, wondering if Devon would turn on a dime and start talking about killing her, just like the first guy had. Maybe they were on bath salts. “Cool. No, I didn’t drink the secret elixir or vampire blood. I came out here to get away from everyone, and now I’m going to go check on my roommate. You can probably come in. I don’t think the door-knocker watcher will be there.”
“She smells, boss,” the first guy said.
“I think that’s her natural smell,” Devon responded. “The one Andy talked about.”
Charity didn’t wait for them to finish their discussion about her stench. She lurched into a hobble-sprint—better late than never—pumping her arms and taking big strides, trying to cover as much ground as possible. Her ankles wobbled.
“I got her,” the first guy yelled out.
“No, wait—”
Feet slapped the ground behind Charity. A hand wrapped around her upper arm and whipped her around.
“Let her go!”
But the guy didn’t listen. His other hand was already closing around her throat.
She jabbed his eyes with her fingers and slammed her fist into his throat. Although he’d already lost his grip, she swung her whole arm up to knock him away faster, shoving him toward an advancing Devon with all her might.
The two guys grappled with each other to find their feet, but Charity was already sprint-hobbling again, heart in her throat and nearly at the door.
“No, wait,” Devon said again.
This time she didn’t hear the footsteps. She was already at the door, shoving it open, when a larger hand, stronger, closed around her wrist. He yanked her back, but she turned and kicked, using the doorframe to steady herself. Faster than lightning, he dodged and reached for her with his second hand.
She ripped free, slapping at his hands, and ran through the door. Her heel slipped and she was falling, the yell for help caught in her throat. She expected his body to slam into her. His hands to wrap around her and drag her back. But nothing happened.
He stood in the threshold. His gaze darted around like a pinball—past her, down to the ground in front of him, up to the doorframe—before finally settling on her. He shook his head slowly, his intelligent gaze sparkling with warning.
“Come out,” he whispered, as though the house were a sleeping dragon and he didn’t want to wake it. “It is incredibly dangerous for you in there. They’ll kill you. Come out. Come back to me. I can protect you.”
She scrambled to her feet, pain shooting through her toes and heels. The clack of the heels was loud in the quiet house.
“You’re crazy,” she said, her heart still beating frantically. “Do you hear yourself? You need to go sleep it off.”
He gripped the frame. “You don’t understand. You’re in their territory now. Please come back out. I will protect you.”
She edged away, not wanting to turn her back on his furtive stare and drugged-out mind. He was in a fairytale right now, and she didn’t want to wake the beasties and turn his trip into the nightmare his friend was living.
“Please,” he said again, but she was already turning the corner. Although she had no idea why he wouldn’t come inside, she was thankful for it.
She pushed through the cavernous house, her heart ringing in her ears even more loudly for the silence. The kitchen waited, dimly lit and deserted, the crystal goblets sitting empty on the countertops.
Where was everyone?
She glanced at the clock over the microwave. It was much later than she had suspected, but still, it was only one o’clock. And most, if not all, of the cars were still there…
Charity peeped through the sliding glass door into the empty backyard. Two piles of clothes lay forgotten on the dewy grass near the pool. The blue water shimmered from its subterranean light. The peace and tranquility of deep night had descended, laying a thick blanket over the party scene.
But still…where was everyone?
She glanced back the way she’d come, making sure Devon hadn’t followed. It was empty. Quiet.
“This has got to be the strangest party I’ve ever heard about. Ever,” she murmured, finally slipping out of the shoes. “This can’t be a normal college deal.”
Confused, she grabbed a glass from a cupboard and filled it with water. Leaning back against the sink, she went over her options. She could walk thirty miles home with bare feet, she could call a cab with no money to pay for it, or she could wait around until someone agreed to give her a ride home.
“Hmm, I guess I’ll take door number three, Jimmy,” she said quietly, immediately regretting that she’d spoken out loud. Her voice was way too small for the huge, empty space.