“No one would care. My mom wouldn’t care. She’s freaking out because Hell Night hasn’t started. She didn’t even notice that I’m not in the panic room. I could kill you right now and no one would give a shit.”

Cole sniffed, then stepped back. After a moment, he lifted his shirt and tucked the gun into his waistband.

Austin took a shallow breath, and licked his lips. His mouth was so dry. He started to lean away from the wall and Cole tugged the gun free and leaped on him, jammed the gun into his cheek.

“Did I say you could move? Did I give you permission?”

“Please don’t kill me,” Austin sobbed, his knees buckling.

“I’ll do whatever the hell I want, shit-for-brains. You bring those people to my house? You told on me?”

Austin slid down the wall. “I didn’t, I swear.”

“I know you did, you asshole. It’s obvious. Why are you lying?”

Austin was kneeling on the ground now, his face pressed against the wall with the gun still jammed into his cheek. Beyond the bedroom door, Bill and Betty were talking with Cole’s mom.

“Please don’t kill me, Cole.”

“I’ll kill you if I wanna kill you, dipshit. I’m the one in charge. You think anyone else is in charge right now? I could kill you, go out there, shoot those people you’re with. If my mom says anything, I’ll tell her to mind her own goddamn business. And if my stepdad comes out I’ll blow his head off, too. He’s been asking for it for years. I never liked that guy. Never. And now I can deal with all you assholes. Who’s gonna stop me? Huh? Who?”

“I don’t know …”

“No one. No one, that’s who. You think Chief Novak’s gonna take me down? Not a chance. They’ll have to send a SWAT team after me.”

“Cole, please don’t kill me. Please let me go.”

“Say my name one more time and I’ll pull the trigger, you little toad.”

“Sorry!” Austin said, squeezing his eyes shut. “Sorry!”

Cole cracked the gun against the side of Austin’s head. Austin cried out and Cole’s knee caught him right on the ear and that hurt even more than the gun had.

Knuckles rapped on the door. “Cole!”

His mom’s voice. High and brittle. “Cole, hurry up now!”

Cole took hold of the back of Austin’s shirt and pulled him to his feet, shoving him to the door as it opened.

“You should really go,” Cole’s mom was saying. “The festival is due to start any minute now. I really think you should go.”

“We’ll be out of your hair in but a moment!” Bill laughed.

Austin and Cole stepped out into the corridor. Everyone saw the tears, but no one cared.