Chapter 441
Juliette leans back, pulling my attention to her. For a second I had forgotten that she was here with us.
“Well,” she says casually, “there’s only one way to find out p>
Both Lilly and I snap our heads toward her immediately, staring at her for a second before Lilly explodes.
“Are you insane?” Lilly snaps, looking horrified.
Juliette shrugs calmly. “You want to know what it means, don’t you? Then we go there and find out p>
“That’s crazy,” Lilly argues instantly. “What if it’s a fucking trap and we all end up dead p>
She’s right, this could be a trap, but why doesn’t it feel like one? I’ve learned to trust my gut and something inside me says that I should go.
“We should call Noah,” Lilly says firmly.
“Absolutely not!” I all but yell, making both women turn towards me.
“What is wrong with you?” Lilly asks incredulously. “Did you forget the conversation we had yesterday p>
I sigh and run a frustrated hand through my hair. “I didn’t but I genuinely think this could be another lead… And if Noah finds out, he’s going to show up there guns blazing and scare off whoever sent the text p>
“So?” Lilly asks. “That doesn’t mean you rush into danger without thinking p>
“I’m not rushing into anything,” I say in frustration, “I’m trusting my gut and I’m going there whether you like it or not p>
That shuts her up instantly. She’s mad, I know, but she also knows that nothing she can do or say will make me change my mind.
Juliette stands first. “Well then… I guess we’re leaving p>
I slowly stand too despite the anxiety building inside me. Lilly remains seated for a second longer before finally groaning dramatically and getting up as well.
“This is such a bad idea.” She mutters under her breath while glaring at us. “We’re going to end up dead p>
“Stop being dramatic, no one is going to die.” Juliette snaps at her.
Twenty minutes later, we’re outside the restaurant heading toward the parking. Before any of us can do anything, Lilly shoves past us and declares
“I’m driving p>
“With how angry you are, we’re bound to have an accident before we even get there,” I argue. “Hell, you might even stage an accident just so we don’t go there p>
Lilly points at us threateningly. “Either I drive or nobody goes anywhere p>
Juliette and I exchange a look before finally giving in. We get in and settle with me in the passenger seat and Juliette in the back
“This is kind of thrilling.” Juliette says, practically vibrating with excitement.
No one speaks. Lilly just inputs the address in g e map and begins to drive.
The two-hour drive feels endless. Tension fills the car so heavily it’s hard to breathe at times, and despite Juliette occasionally trying to lighten the mood, anxiety keeps twisting harder and harder inside me.
I barely even notice we’ve arrived until Lilly suddenly mutters, “We’re here p>
I blink and look outside. The house sitting in front of us is isolated, surrounded by darkness and emptiness on all sides. The only light comes from inside the house itself, glowing faintly through the windows in the middle of what feels like nowhere.
I start stepping forward even as unease starts creeping inside me, but Lilly grabs my arm.
“Wait p>
She walks toward the trunk of her car and pops it open, then proceeds to pull out a baseball bat, a knife and a rope. She then goes to her glove compartment and pulls out pepper spray, taser and finally a gun.
Juliette stares at the pile with a raised eyebrow. “Should I even ask why you have all this in your car p>
Lilly slowly turns toward her and gives her the most terrifying smile I’ve ever seen.
“The less you know, the better,” she says sweetly.
I physically see Juliette shiver and I almost laugh. If she thinks I’m crazy, then she has no idea about Lilly.
Lilly then starts handing things out like we’re preparing for war, which is accurate because we have no idea what’s waiting for us in the house.
“Let’s go p>
We quietly make our way toward the back of the house, moving carefully through the darkness until we finally reach the back door. The moment I hear the music drifting faintly from inside, my heart starts to pound harder.
Lilly slowly tries the handle and unbelievably it opens and I can’t help but feel that it could either be a really good sign or a very bad one.
Lilly then motions silently for us to remove our shoes and it reminds me of all the times we sneaked out for a party and we were trying not to get caught.
We quickly do as instructed before slipping quietly inside. The kitchen is dimly lit and eerily silent except for the music drifting from somewhere deeper in the house. We move slowly and carefully, trying not to make a sound while creeping farther inside.
We get to the living room and I stop moving. My heart slams hard against my ribs as my entire body freezes in place because sitting on a chair reading a book like she doesn’t have a care in the world, is Brook.