The Conclusion Read Free Page A

thoughts, Darryl appeared in the front entryway. “Hey—!” he called, his pale blue eyes sweeping over the front room before locking on me. “Thought you could get away?”
    He moved quickly across the room and took my arm. “You didn’t try to leave me behind—did you, Hope?”
    I pulled my arm free and didn’t reply. I scowled at him.
    â€œNot a bad place,” he said, running a hand over the arm of the leather couch. “I think I could get used to it here.”
    â€œNo, you won’t,” I said sharply.
    His eyes widened in surprise. His smile faded. He placed a hand on my shoulder. “Don’t worry, Hope,” he said softly. “I’m going to help you.”
    His gentle touch brought back a lot of memories. Warm memories.
    â€œHelp me?” I replied. “How?”
    â€œI’m going to take care of the three M’s for you,” he said, caressing my arm. Then he raised his handand trailed one finger tenderly down my cheek. “I’m going to hurt them for you.”
    â€œNo!” I cried. “No, Darryl!”
    He took a step back, his face twisted in surprise. “What’s your problem?” he demanded. “It’s what you want—isn’t it? It’s what you were thinking.”
    â€œHow do you know what I was thinking?” I demanded. I could feel my anger growing. My chest felt about ready to explode.
    A strange grin spread across Darryl’s face. “I know you,” he said. “I know you better than you know yourself, Hope.”
    â€œI don’t care!” I shouted. “Look what you’ve done, Darryl. You’ve ruined my life. You’ve ruined all our lives!”
    â€œYou’re wrong,” he insisted. “Melanie has. Melanie and her two friends.” He swept back his longish dark hair. “They called you crazy, Hope. They told the police you were crazy.”
    He gripped the back of the couch and squeezed the leather. Squeezed it until his hands turned red.
    â€œYou’re not going to let them get away with that—are you?” he demanded.
    I could feel his eyes burning into me. I crossed my arms in front of my chest, as if to protect myself. “I don’t want you to do anything,” I said through gritted teeth. “I just want you to leave.”
    His eyes narrowed in disbelief. “Huh?”
    â€œYou heard me!” I cried. My anger exploded. I couldn’t control it any longer. “Go away, Darryl!” I screamed. “I mean it. Get away from me. Get out of this house! I can’t take it anymore! You’re too much trouble! Too much!”
    Circles of dark red spread over his cheeks. He shoved his fists into the pockets of his leather bomber jacket. His mouth curled into a sneer.
    â€œYou’re not serious,” he uttered in a low voice. “You don’t mean it, Hope. You know you need me. You know you want me to hurt those three girls for you.”
    â€œGet out!” I screamed. “Get out—now! And don’t come back!”
    I raised my fists and shoved him. “Get out! Get out! Get out! I don’t want to see you again!”
    I’d never talked to him that way before. His mouth gaped open in shock.
    And then the shock faded, and his expression turned to anger. His blue eyes froze. The lines on either side of his mouth twitched.
    He uttered a curse. And moved quickly, menacingly toward me.
    â€œNo—don’t!” I cried. “Please, Darryl— don’t!”

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5
    I staggered back.
    I’d never seen anything as cold as the hatred on his face. Those blue eyes like ice. The jaw clamped shut so tight, mouth twitching . . . twitching.
    â€œDon’t touch me!” I shrieked.
    To my shock, he moved past me. His shoulder bumped mine. I felt the rough leather of his bomber jacket. He kept going, as if walking right through me.
    Feeling dazed, I turned.