Page 45 of Enter if you Dare: Part One

Cave slows as we reach the edge, and Rowan keeps mouthing off—something about Valli being an idiot and calling the cops. How being around us has messed her up, and that she doesn’t even recognize that she has been manipulated. I ball my fists, as I rarely get angry. I hate confrontation, but sometimes my emotions boil over, and this may just end up being one of those times.

As we take one step into the cornfield, Cave stops and turns to face Rowan, who clearly has no idea how much danger he is facing.

“What comes in silent, and leaves with echoes?” Cave’s voice intones.

I answer when Rowan simply stares at him. “Death. Death comes in silent and leaves with echoes.”

Cave pulls out his corn sword, the one I made him, and I’m awfully proud of its workmanship. It’s brutal yet beautiful and sharpened on both sides.

Rowan’s face drains of color.

“I suggest you run,” I say, and Rowan scrambles. Then I pull out my phone, because we may need Noa to clean up.

“What the fuck . . .” Rowan stutters as he runs.

I walk slowly behind because I know where Cave is leading him.

“We have a situation,” I whisper. “Rowan showed up at the gate.”

“Cipher,” he says, and I can hear the sheets rustling. “Rowan is here? On the island?”

“He’s here, and it is happening. Cave already has him in the cornfield. He’s hunting him while wielding his sword.”

“Jesus Christ, get him out of there. He’s Valli’s brother. What do you mean Cave has taken Rowan to the cornfield?!”

I end the call because there’s nothing else to say, and I can now hear Rowan clearly.

“Okay, I don’t want any trouble. I just want my sister, just let me see her. And I’ll . . .”

I stroll into the clearing in the middle of the cornfield to see Rowan backing away from Cave with his hands up.

“You’ll what?” I hear myself say. Shit, I thought I was just going to watch. “Huh? You’ll convince her to leave? You’ll take her back to Steedy, so he can finish what Tommy started with her?”

Rowan’s eyes snap to mine. “Who the hell do you think you are?”

“Someone who has been there for Valli. Someone who knows everything about you.”

I step forward and Rowan steps back. He is panicking now, glancing around while trying to figure out how he can get out of here.

“Listen,” Rowan says. “Whatever she’s told you about me is a lie. She’s my sister and I love her, I would never⁠—”

“You would never what?” I interrupt him. “Let her pay back a debt you owe? Something I think you have done too many times. You always let her deal with the consequences of your debts. Why, just today you called and tried to guilt her into coming home to save your ass.”

“I’m getting out of here. You freaks are fucking crazy.”

Cave has moved, but Rowan doesn’t notice, so when he turns to run, Cave is now behind him with a huge smile on his face.

“Fuck! What do you want from me? Just let me leave!” Rowan yells.

I laugh. “We want to know why you’re really here. What deal did Steedy make with you?”

“I can’t fucking tell you, he’ll kill me.”

That makes me laugh again. “So you would rather he kill your sister? You don’t fucking deserve to have a sister like her. She shouldn’t have to pick up the pieces because you’re a scumbag. And FYI, Steedy is the least of your worries right now.”

Cave moves, and that’s when the air shifts. The thing with Cave is his violence is not about theatrics; he doesn’t give you time to prepare. I can see it coming, the way his body morphs into his Scarecrow persona. It is terrifying the way Cave exits his body momentarily.

I don’t see the blow, just Rowan hitting the ground, blood pouring from his mouth. Then, as Rowan looks up, I see his smirk.