Page 276 of Primal

Kristy gives me a look—are you insane? Maybe I am.

Maybe watching your bestie die inches from you peels something loose in your brain.

“She fought. She screamed and he—” My voice cracks. “He looked right at me when he did it. Like he knew I’d watch and do nothing.”

I look up. “You believe me, right?”

Kristy shifts from foot to foot. “Come on. You’re scaring me.”

“It’s real, okay? You have to believe me. Vanessa didn’t, and she—”

“Wait, what? Vanessa Graves?”

“I told her and she didn’t believe me. Now she’s probably dead too.”

“Told her what?”

“He killed Jessica.”

Kristy reels back like I’ve slapped her. “Jessica Langley? That doesn’t—”

“He slit her throat. I didn’t …” I shake my head, tears springing hot again. “I couldn’t do anything.”

“Knock it off, Payton. Did you take something? Edibles or—”

“For fuck’s sake. This is real, okay? I swear.”

Kristy’s mouth opens. Closes.

“You need to slow down,” she finally whispers. “You sound crazy.”

“We never should’ve come here.”

Kristy paces up and down. “No. No. That’s not—it’s just part of the fucking game, right? Like an immersive storyline or—or actors or some shit? Right?”

“There was so much blood.”

She spins toward me. “Stop saying that.”

My shoulders hitch. The dam finally breaks when Kristy wraps her arms around me.

“It’s real. It’s fucking real.”

She pulls back, eyes glassy. “Lana’s … gone?”

I nod.

“She’s not dead.” Her voice cracks. “She can’t be.”

“She … she told me to find you.” I glance at the phone in her hand. “Call 911.”

She swipes the screen. “Signal’s still out.”

“We have to go, Kristy.”

Her hands clamp onto mine. “Okay. Okay, we’ll go.” Her voice is paper-thin. “But we stick together. No matter what.”

All I can manage is a nod.