Keeper(33)

With tears pouring down her cheeks, Josephine crawled over to Henry’s body. She called his name over and over as her fingers searched in vain for the rhythmic pulse in his neck. Desperate, she laid her head on his chest, praying the familiar beating would echo in her ears.

There was nothing but silence.

Crying bitterly, Josephine wept until her eyes began to ache, but that was nothing compared with the agony of her heart. I can’t survive this. . . . I can’t survive this. . . . I won’t survive this.

She stayed there, the dead all around her, until the warmth had faded from Henry’s skin.

The overwhelming sorrow had knocked the very breath right out of her, but she managed to pull herself to her feet. She placed a shaky hand over her heart, trying to stop the hammering pain from crushing her.

“Good-bye, Henry,” she whispered through her tears. “Good-bye, my love.”

With tears pouring down her cheeks and the orange glow of the morning sun streaming through the trees, she began to run.

Her emerald amulet hummed at her throat.





CHAPTER THIRTEEN


When I opened my eyes, a familiar face was staring worriedly back at me. It took several seconds for me to realize I was back in the graveyard with Ty’s arms wrapped protectively around me.

“Lainey?” Ty whispered, his eyebrows furrowed.

“Ty,” I whispered back. Then I burst into tears.

Ty’s arms tightened around me, and I laid my head against his chest. Beneath my cheek, his heartbeat was fast, but sure. I closed my eyes and let the stable rhythm soothe me. When my tears had dried up, I pulled back, suddenly very aware of the way our bodies were pressed together. My ears burned. “I . . . uh . . .” I took a quick step back, looking down at my feet as I maneuvered out of his arms. My entire face felt like it was on fire. “I’m sorry, I—”

“Lainey?” another voice called from over Ty’s shoulder. Maggie’s pale face popped into view, and I launched myself at her.

“Oh my God, Styles. You scared the crap out of me. Are you okay?”

I pulled away and wiped my face with the back of my hand. “No, not really.”

Maggie’s arms tightened around me, and I snuck a quick glance at Ty. He had one hand resting on the back of his neck, and he looked confused.

“One minute we’re standing there talking, and the next, you disappeared.” Maggie’s eyes were wide and she was shaking. “We heard you screaming, but we couldn’t get to you. The trees . . .” She shook her head as if the words were too shocking to say.

“It’s okay, you can say it. The tree attacked me,” I said, as a hysterical giggle bubbled up in my throat. I think I’m going into shock.

“We need to get you out of here,” Ty said, reading my mind. “Think you can walk?”

I nodded and allowed Ty and Maggie to guide me back toward the parking lot.

“Why don’t you let me drive,” Ty suggested. Neither Maggie nor I argued.

Maggie’s car was parked near the street underneath the soft glow of a streetlight. When we were safely inside—I in the passenger seat and Maggie in the back—Ty turned the car on and cranked the heat on high. I didn’t even realize how cold I was until the warm air came blasting through the vents.

“Here,” Ty said softly, retrieving the leather jacket I still hadn’t returned from the backseat.

I took it, looping my arms through the sleeves and pulling it around myself.

“Nice jacket,” Ty murmured, the crooked smile on his lips.

Despite my frame of mind, I cracked a smile at the joke. But then my face crumpled, and I clamped my hand over my mouth to stop the cry that was building in my throat. I squeezed my eyes shut and let the panic pulsate through me. I waited for my heartbeat to slow before I opened my eyes again.

“Did you see her?” I managed to whisper.

“Who? Josephine?” Maggie leaned forward. “Was it her? I mean, the tree—”

“No,” I shook my head. “She was trying to warn me, and I think she saved me. The green light. It was her, wasn’t it?”

Maggie shook her head. “I don’t know.”

I looked over at Ty. “I guess I owe you an explanation.”

“You don’t owe me anything. I just want to make sure you’re okay.”

I sighed. “I wish I were.” I took a deep breath and glanced back at Maggie, who was uncharacteristically quiet. “Mags?”

“It’s up to you, Styles.” She took a deep breath and gave me a small smile. “But the dude just saw a tree come to life and attack you. He might as well have the whole story.”

I nodded, and before I had the chance to talk myself out of it, I blurted out the whole damn story: the attacks, the visions, the necklace. Everything.

Ty watched me as I spoke, his face unreadable. “And you don’t have any idea who Josephine is or why she keeps appearing?” he asked when I’d finished.

“I have no idea. I thought she was trying to hurt me, but after tonight . . .”

“We’ve been doing research,” Maggie piped up from the back. “But there’s nothing to find. We don’t have a whole lot to go on.” Her voice sounded as deflated as I felt. “And now, there’s this thing with the tree.” She bit down on her bottom lip. “Can we all agree that that did in fact happen? Because I’m starting to question my own sanity here.”