Chapter 3

The pain in my left leg was bone-deep and spread through my whole body, but worse than the pain in my flesh was how cold people's hearts could be. That was what left me shaking and struggling to breathe.

Night fell fast. All that was left in the canyon was the sound of wind and water.

I held up my phone, trying to catch the signal that kept cutting in and out in the mountains.

After a long wait, one bar finally showed up in the top right corner of the screen. I was about to call for help when Ryan's call came through.

"Where are you?"

"We're almost to Glenwood Springs. We're planning to throw Chlo's birthday party here."

On his end, the speakers were blasting loud enough to hurt my ears, mixed with Chloe's carefree laughter.

"Ryan, my leg's broken. Come back and help me," I shouted, straining my voice.

But it was Chloe who answered:

"Sades, Ryan got me a limited-edition shell jacket. It's over eleven hundred dollars in the store, and the thing is, it's impossible to get."

"Jake and Hayden's gifts were so thoughtful too."

"You're the only one left. I want that luxury sunscreen set, the one that's six hundred fifty dollars at the counter. Buy it for me, and don't try to wiggle out of it."

Her voice was sweet and wheedling, like she hadn't heard me begging for help at all.

I didn't have time to argue with her, so I just hung up.

When I tried to dial again, the signal was gone.

My hope went dark along with the phone screen.

The wind drove the damp air straight into my bones. If I stayed here any longer, my leg would be ruined.

I tried to move my left leg a little. It felt like someone was scraping the bone back and forth with an ice blade, and the pain sent cold sweat pouring down my forehead.

Even so, all I could do was grip the railing as hard as I could and drag myself toward the parking lot, inch by inch.

I didn't know how long it had been when a couple walked by with flashlights.

They carried me on their backs to the parking lot.

Once I was back in the driver's seat, my phone got signal again, and a string of messages popped up.

Ryan had sent me a link to rejoin the group:

[Sades, what are you throwing a fit about now? Why'd you hang up on Chlo for no reason? Get back in the group and apologize properly.]

[Also, you've got two hours max to meet up with everyone. If you keep this up, the wedding's off.]

I let out a cold laugh.

Over the past five years, I couldn't count how many times this exact thing had happened.

No matter how careful and obedient I was, Chloe always found a way to stir up trouble, and whenever I didn't go along with it, Ryan used marriage to threaten me.

And every time, Jake and Hayden would hand me a "fine":

[Sades, you made everyone wait on you again. Your penalty is paying off Chloe's whole shopping cart.]

I used to not want to fall out with them, so I always gave in.

But after giving in again and again, all I got back was them pushing it further every time.

While I was close to dying and begging for help, they were laughing and partying. My life or death wasn't worth as much as someone else's birthday fun.

I didn't open any of their chats again.

I only sent one message, to my blind date, Lucas Whitmore:

[Made it to the San Juan Mountains. I've booked a B&B.]

His reply came quickly:

[At the airport now. See you tomorrow at noon.]

I closed my phone and stepped on the gas.