You're Invited(98)

I could do that, sure, but I felt like I was about to throw up.

“What if Spencer—what if he puts two and two together, Kaavs? What if he figures it out?”

“He won’t. Don’t worry.”

“You don’t know him like I do, Kaavi. He can be dangerous.” An idea suddenly popped into my head. I pulled out the knife I had put away in my bag. It looked juvenile and ridiculous in this five-star hotel room, but it would serve its purpose, if needed.

“Keep this.”

Her eyes went from the knife to my face a few times. I could almost see her try to work it out—why I would have a knife from home with me today.

But if she thought it was strange, or downright psychotic, she didn’t say anything. She just took the knife from me and set it in her desk drawer. Perhaps she just wanted the blade away from me as soon as possible.

But then I saw her eyes glint.

And I knew I wasn’t going to like whatever she was about to say next.

“Ams, I need one more favor from you, okay? Not now. After Spencer leaves. I need you to do something so that everyone believes, without a doubt, that Spencer was a terrible, abusive asshole. So that everyone knows that I had no choice but to get away.”

I instinctively looked at the time. 11:11 p.m.

“Of course. Anything.” And I meant it.

There wasn’t a hint of humor on her face when she asked. She was hard, cold, and unbreakable—just like the engagement ring that sparkled on her finger.

“After Spencer leaves, we’re going to have to wreck this room so it looks like I’ve been attacked. And I’ll need you to punch me in the face.”



* * *



—

I TOOK ANOTHER deep breath, willing myself into the present.

The crowd had died down around me. They were all probably at the ballroom now. I leaned against the wall.

Think, Amaya. Think.

There has to be a way out of this.

But my mind kept finding its way back to her. To the way she looked in that video.

What was she getting at? Why didn’t she just name Spencer if she was trying to shift the focus onto him? Why didn’t she show her face with the bruise I’d left on her cheekbone? Did she even intend for someone to watch the video, or had she left her phone behind by accident? Was she unable to take her phone with her because she was attacked, or hurt for real?

I tried to remember everything she said, and a part of it flashed back into my mind.

I’m having my dream wedding. I’m tying the knot at this beautiful hotel where my parents got married. Where I spent so much of my childhood playing down by the beach.

An idea flashed in my mind. It was barely an idea actually, more of an inkling. The guard had said she’d never left the hotel. Dead or alive, she’s got to still be here.





33


AMAYA


The Day of the Wedding


GETTING DOWN TO the beach wasn’t so difficult now that most of the security had moved over to guard the entrance of the ballroom. I had to be careful, of course, and I did duck behind a large pillar once, but on the whole, I managed to get to the shore without too much incident.

I pulled out my phone, but the battery had died. I had no way of checking the time. I kept my eyes half-closed anyway. I didn’t want to see any unlucky signs.

I crept down the path that led past the beach huts where the bachelorette party had taken place. Then farther down, beyond the kitchens. There was no one around. Ghosts like me were free to roam around this abandoned beach unhindered.

I could see it, farther down. The small line of changing rooms that no one used anymore after the new ones were built during hotel renovations. They were mostly defunct, and I had no idea why they weren’t torn down. I didn’t know if Kaavi was in there or not. But if she hadn’t left the premises and every inch of the main building had been checked, this was probably the only option left.

And I was right. There were two trails of footsteps imprinted onto the sand. Someone had come down here not too long ago.

I would have liked to have some cover. To have something that hid me from where I needed to get to. But there was just me and the open stretch of beach. I paused and took a deep breath. I had only counted to three when I heard a shout.

There was little choice left. I put my head down and ran over, my heels kicking the sand out behind me while the wind and the waves graciously muffled any sound I was making.

Slowing down as I reached the line of changing rooms, I surveyed my options. All the cubicle doors were closed. I reached out and tried the handle of the one closest to me. It was locked, and the knob was slimy—some sort of moss having grown on it during years of neglect. But I could hear voices now. Crying, maybe, or some sort of a whimper.

Making sure I was quiet, I slunk down past the doors. There was still moss on each of the handles, except for when I got to the very last one. The voices were louder now. Someone was inside.

I didn’t have a weapon with me. I would have done just about anything to still have my knife, but there was no choice now. I had to see what was going on.

I twisted the knob and the door swung open.

“Well, it’s about fucking time.” Kaavi’s voice was like a slap across my face.

“Kaavi! You’re all right? You haven’t been hurt? Everyone’s been so worried—”