Cinder X (Death Collectors, #2) by Jessica Sorensen Page B

surrender, and make peace
     
    Then perhaps it will taste the powerful freedom
     
    Of the wind.
     
    The darkness.
     
    Surrender and give in.
     
    I keep my thoughts to myself, pretending that Cameron isn’t inside my head, that this isn’t happening, but he chortles, reminding me that he’s there.
     
    “So how’s school, Emmy?” Raven asks as she merges the car onto the highway. She’s using my nickname to get to me. She knows that’s what my dad used to call me and that it hurts whenever I hear it.
     
    “Schools great,” I lie with a tight smile, wondering if she knows what’s been going on there. “I haven’t seen you around much, though.”
     
    “That’s because I spend most of my time in the art room.” She beams from ear to ear.
     
    “That’s good.” I keep my tone light. “I’m sure you’ve been very happy then.”
     
    “Oh superbly happily,” she says. “In fact, I’ve been spending a lot of time with the art Professor.”
     
    “You’ve been spending time with Professor Morgan?” I question in doubt. How can that be if he’s good?
     
    Raven nods while she checks her reflection in the mirror as we drive over the bridge. “I have. In fact, we meet up every day after his last class.”
     
    See I told you , Cameron says. Don’t trust anyone.
     
    Just because he’s spending time with her, doesn’t mean he’s bad.
     
    Do you really believe that?
     
    I’m not sure. And that’s the painful truth. I thought it was a little weird to begin with that Asher’s uncle abruptly approached me and handed all that information to me on a silver platter. Not to mention that he then gave me the blank book that doesn’t make any sense.
     
    “He’s super hot, too, just like Asher,” Raven says, interrupting my thoughts.
     
    My heart tightens in my chest at the mention of Asher. God, I miss him, more than I allow myself to. I wish he was here with me, filling me with the quiet and fulfillment his touch brings whenever he feels me, kisses me—
     
    Wow, living in your head is kind of disturbing. Cameron sounds annoyed.
     
    “You know, you never did explain to me where Asher went,” Raven says, adjusting her mirror. “After that whole fiasco in the cemetery.”
     
    My mouth moves on its own. “I think he died.”
     
    “What?” Raven gapes at me, genuinely stunned.
     
    “Yeah, back in the cemetery.” I have no control anymore.
     
    She seems unconvinced, shooting me a doubtful look. “You don’t seem that upset about it.”
     
    “I guess it’s because I was really in love with Cameron.” I try to shake my head at Cameron, but fail.
     
    What? He asks innocently. Weren’t you in love with him?
     
    I’m not sure… just like I’m not sure why I’m talking to you about this.
     
    Raven gapes at me in disbelief for a moment before she returns her attention back to the road, grabbing her sunglasses from the cup holder between us and putting them on. I watch Hollows Grove blur by; Phil’s Shenanigans and Fun, the bar Asher and I had our first date in, the outdated buildings that make up Main Street, an auto shop, and the trailer park. Finally, at the end of it—near the mouth of the canyon—we pull up in front of Dina’s Bowling Alley. An open sign flashes in neon pink from the window and there are groups of people hanging around by the front door.
     
    “Wow, there are a lot of people here,” she remarks as she puts the car into park and turns off the engine. “This should be fun.”
     
    “I guess so.” Even though I don’t want to, my fingers find the buckle of the seat belt and unfasten it. Then I get out of the car and meet Raven at the front, hyperaware that there are a lot of eyes focused on me. Things only get stranger when we enter the building and it’s packed. Everyone looks really happy, too; too happy. Laughing. Chatting. Smiles. Drinks. It’s not like at the college, yet there’s still something off about it; like I’ve stepped into a 1950s