Page 121 of Boys Who Hunt

She hugs me so tight, tears well up in my eyes as she begins to cry. “Can’t you stay with me all day long?”

Some tears roll down my cheeks. “I can’t, I’m sorry.”

“But why?”

“We need money to live here, and I can’t earn any if I stay home.”

She sighs, so I grab her shoulders. “But we can stay up late tonight and watch a movie together on my cell phone. You up for it?”

The sweet smile that reappears on her face makes all my troubles worth it. And I don’t even have to say a word for her to squeal. “YES!”

Within an hour of turning on the movie, she’s already fallen asleep in my arms, and I bring her to bed and tuck her in tight.

But when my phone buzzes, and I pick it up, all the hopeful joy is instantly drained from my heart.

Anonymous: Five grand. Tomorrow. 2 a.m. Same place.

My eyes widen, and I ram the buttons to PM him back.

Me: I need more time.

Anonymous: You had enough.

Me: This wasn’t our agreement.

Anonymous: Terms changed. Time’s up. Tomorrow night … or you know what will happen.

My nerves get the best of me, and I chuck the phone away in anger.

Shit. How am I going to get five grand by tomorrow?

I run my hands through my hair and scratch while pacing around the living room, wishing I could force my brain to come up with a solution. I could steal from the Skull and Serpent Society again, but they’re probably expecting me now.

Shit, shit, shit! What do I do?

Wait.

I run to my phone and pick it up from the floor to check my past messages from my friends.

Tomorrow. Yes. It should be doable. It’s crazy, but it might just work.

In the kitchen, I grab my notebook and a pen and start penning down all the money I still need in order to stay safe and alive … All the money I will have to steal.

And I know just the place.

Heath

In the middleof the night, I turn the key into the lock as silently as possible and lean my ear against the door to listen. No noise except for the soft buzzing of what sounds like a crooked fan.

I pull out the key and slowly push open the door to peer around. The lights are all out except one next to the couch in the living area. No one is here, so I enter and close the door behind me.

Sneaking in, I take care not to bump into anything so I don’t wake up the ghosts that haunt this place. The fan in the bedroom is on high speed as I slowly approach. I grip the wooden slats and peer inside. There she is, lying in bed with her eyes closed and her petite body tucked underneath a tattered blanket.

The ghost who haunts my dreams.

Ivy Clark.

A smile perks up my lips, and I fish my hairband from my pocket and tie up my hair. Then I approach Ivy in the darkness. I tilt my head to watch her chest rise and fall with every breath she takes, and it’s quite literally breathtaking.