Chapter 8

“Hello?”

Even Charlotte was still where she’d lighted, beside the torch-style wall light glowing against paper that felt like fabric.

The lights flickered. All of them, and I jumped.

“Not funny, Jeff.” I knew it wasn’t him. “Stupid storm.” It had quieted for a bit but seemed to be coming around again.

“There you are.”

This time, I jumped higher than Simone Biles. “Jesus, Rip. You scared the crap out of me.”

“What, you thought I was a ghost or something?”

“Maybe.” I stuck the diary down the back of my shorts. “Actually, I thought you were sleeping.”

“I got worried about you.” Rip looked down at his shoes.

“You don’t have to do that. Really.” I looked at his shoes, too. They were ugly—slip-on black walking shoes with white socks and cargo shorts. I couldn’t take him anywhere.

“Patrick said you might be in here.”

“Ah.”

“You should sleep,” Rip said. “We’re going to be awake over twenty-four hours straight.”

“Unless I’m killed.”