Eighteen

Maren stormed across the hospital parking lot, fists clenched, jaw clenched, eyes screwed up against the stinging, silvery rain that had begun to fall as soon as she got off the bus. The usual meeting spot was empty, and a steady stream of visitors filtered in and out of the swishing front doors.

“Where are you,” she muttered, stalking back and forth across the curb.

“Hello, precious,” came a voice from behind her.

Maren jumped, stifling a yelp, and spun around.

Obscura looked like she’d wandered straight out of the 1930s, in a pearl-colored skirt, matching jacket, and a pillbox hat with a mesh veil that came down over her eyes. Above the veil perched a black moth with the white outline of a skull on its back. Maren stuck her fists in her pockets and tried to look strong as she followed the woman around the side of the building.

Obscura licked her plum-colored lips. “Have you brought my treasures?”

Maren couldn’t quite read her eyes under the veil, but there was something feline in her expression. Like a cat who’d caught a mouse and was batting it around, tiring it out before killing it. Or so Obscura thought.

“What is wrong with you?” said Maren.

The smile on Obscura’s painted lips didn’t budge. “Excuse me?”

“You blackmailed my sister. And she’s in this hospital because of you. She almost died.”

Obscura scoffed. “I’d say she’s in this hospital because of her bad driving.”

Maren threw herself at the woman, who sidestepped her neatly and flung her onto the curb.

“Don’t try that again.” Obscura’s quiet voice sent chills down Maren’s spine.

“It’s over,” said Maren, gasping to find the breath that’d been knocked out of her. “I’m done giving you dreams.”

Obscura leaned in close, and the cloying scent of her jasmine perfume made Maren want to sneeze. “Of course it’s not over. I’ve barely gotten started.”

“Well, you’ll have to figure out another way.” Maren ignored her nervous feet, which desperately wanted to jump up and run away.

“Have you forgotten our deal?” Obscura held up her phone. “I’ve got the emails queued up and ready to send. The videos are uploaded, and I just need to push a button.”

“Go ahead and do it,” said Maren. “I don’t care anymore.” No punishment from Lishta or the doctors or the whole town of Rockpool Bay could be worse than continuing this repulsive scheme that had destroyed Hallie’s life. It was only a matter of time before something similar happened to another victim.

Obscura was on her in a flash, her fingernails digging into Maren’s forearm, her hot, angry mouth inches from her ear. “You little fool. Do you really think you can just walk away from this?”

Maren sucked in a breath, not sure if she should scream or fight back. Or both.