Mila

Saturday, July 27th, 11:18pm.

My hands shake as I grip the steering wheel and navigate the narrow, winding road in front of me. I swipe at the tears that are threatening to spill over as I struggle to keep my breathing even.

The truth, Amy knows the truth.

Something inside of me exploded when I got the text from her, like a beam of light finally showing me the way.

"Meet me at the party cabin, we're getting answers tonight."

A heaven-sent.

I swerve around a broken branch as my headlights cut through the darkness to illuminate it. The car's tires spring out of the rut in the road as I am jostled in my seat and I grip the steering wheel more tightly. I ease the car back into the rut once I've passed it as I slow down, the road becoming steeper as my grandmother's car easily climbs it.

She's going to be pissed.

A puddle flashes in the darkness as I splash through it, droplets of muddy water spraying up onto the windows.

Nana hadn't noticed it missing the time before, but I can't deny that she won't notice this time around.

I'll have to take it by the car wash when I get back into town.

The winding road gives way to a brief straightaway, a gravel drive greeting me as I pull into it and park. Josh's car is the only one here to my surprise, his old Honda at last being driven in who knows how long since he's been gone.

I wonder if he's here too, if he drove Amy over.

I walk for the front of the party cabin, which is lit up from within by a couple lights. I can't see inside, as thin curtains have been pulled shut over the windows as I head for the door. I hesitate as I stop in front of it, my hand curled into a fist.

I knock before I can over-think.

I've scarcely taken a step back when the door swings open, light spilling out onto the concrete porch as I squint. Josh stands in the doorway, one hand still gripping the door as he looks me up and down.

"Hello, Mila," he says in a low voice.

I'm startled when he steps forward and grabs me, his grip uncomfortable on my arms as he pulls me inside. I want to struggle and run away from him but my mind has drawn a blank, every ounce of fight draining out of me as he tugs me into the cabin and shuts and locks the door.

I pause at what I see.

On a couch in the living room is Danica, her eyes closed and her body still as she lies across the couch utterly motionless. If it weren't for the fact that her side was moving ever so slightly, I'd think that she was dead.

"What happened?" I blurt.

"She slipped and hit her head," Josh interrupts. "It knocked her out."

Olivia looks up at me, her face white and her eyes red as she sits on the couch with a towel pressed against Dani's forehead. Beyond them is Paxon and Elijah, the both of them sat on barstools no more than five feet apart. Their faces are equal mixes of shock and fear as they stare blankly at me and I can't help but feel that Josh might be lying.

"Have a seat at the bar," Josh suggests in a low voice.

"Where's Amy?" I manage to croak.

"She'll be here soon," he assures me, his voice like liquid honey, "take a seat."

I take a staggering step for the kitchen bar, which is connected to the living room. My legs feel like they're encased in cinderblocks as I wobble over to the bar before I settle onto a stool.

"So now that you're all here, how about some of you start talking?" Josh suggests lightly.

I can't help but shiver at the tone of his voice, as fear thrills through the deepest parts of my stomach. He's too casual about it. He takes a seat in a chair across from Danica, a smile flitting across his lips.

"No one is leaving until I know the truth," he emphasizes.

I swallow even though I know I'm not a likely suspect of his. But even as I think this, his eyes graze mine like a knife-blade. I want to hide but I force myself to maintain eye contact.

I'm not guilty, you've got the wrong girl.

I loved Derrick.

"I loved him," I find myself saying before I can stop.

A muscle feathers in his cheek as he sits up straighter.

"I know you did," he assures me.

Relief bubbles up in my chest for a moment before it's soured as he frowns.

"It still doesn't mean that you're automatically innocent," he adds.

Olivia sits up suddenly as she looks down at Danica and holds the towel away from her face. A ragged gasp tears from Danica and from my place at the bar I can see her eyes flutter as they open.