Page 123 of Sticks and Stones (Shadow Valley U)

I drag a breath out of my tight lungs and peek around the corner, making sure the police officer is out of sight.

The hallway is desolate, so I wind farther down, taking baby steps so I don’t fall over and blow my cover.

I feel a cough coming, and I know it’s going to hurt, so I wince before I let it out. The smell of smoke fills my senses, and I realize that I probably inhaled it when the blast occurred.

Jessie Davis is a fool for trusting me, and he’s an even bigger fool for underestimating my knowledge of chemicals and their reactions.

I cough again, and this time, I have to put my hand on the wall to steady myself.

Shit, I probably have injuries.

I didn’t think to assess myself before climbing out of bed in search of Stone—something he would absolutely lose his mind over.

I keep moving anyway.

My skull throbs with each slow step, and my throat is even more raw than it was when I first woke up.

“Where are you?” I ignore the tear falling over my cheek.Fuck, where is he?

I don’t know how I’ll survive if he doesn’t make it. The thought is too much to handle, and the fear is unbearable.

I place my hand on the wall again.

There’s a faint voice that catches my attention, and I turn toward it and take off at full speed with my pole in tow.

“What do you mean she woke up and now you can’t find her?”

The nurse is standing in front of Evan, who is red-faced and beady-eyed. His hair is standing up in a million different directions, and I know it’s because he has pulled on the ends of it out of frustration.

“Evander,” I croak.

He doesn’t hear me, but Archer starts running full speed.

“What the fuck are you doing?”

“Where is he?” I cry, clinging onto his shirt. My fingers bundle in the material, and I take a minute to read the scene.

They’re all here. Every one of my housemates.

And they all look like they came straight here after the game, wearing the suits they traveled in.

“Stone,” I demand, bringing everyone’s attention to me.

Evan takes me from Archer’s grasp, and the nurse is guiding us toward a chair.

“You weren’t supposed to come down to the surgery hall!” She is flustered and checking my pulse and eye dilation.

“Is he going to be okay?” My chin is quivering.

Evan stares at it but then shuts his eyes.

My head is buried in his chest a breath later, and he kisses my temple softly. “I don’t know, sis. I don’t know.”

An earth-shattering cry scrapes against my raw throat, and I shut out the pained faces of everyone staring at me.

I don’t stop myself from yelling out his name, even if it comes out as a broken whisper.

Stone may not hear me, but I know he’ll feel me.