Page 5 of Enter if you Dare: Part Two

I don’t know if the security system is actually down, but it doesn’t matter. Clay has created a narrative where there is no evidence except eyewitness testimony.

The officer doesn’t look happy, but she is also not shocked. “I’ll speak to the victim now.”

Cipher nods, and she turns to face him.

“Is that what happened? Rowan pulled a gun on your girlfriend, and you jumped in front of her?”

Cipher simply nods once more. The officer looks like she wants to ask further questions, but I think she already knows we will all say the same thing.

“We’ll need to file a report and also locate Rowan. Do you know where he might go?” she asks, turning to me.

“No,” I reply truthfully. “I only ever see him when he needs money.”

The officer makes more notes. “We’ll put out an APB. If he shows up here again, contact us immediately.”

She takes our information, gets a statement from me, and reassures us that they will find him. Good, I hope they do because I have to let him go at this point. I could have dealt with it if it only affected me, but now he has brought my friends into it, and I hate him for that. God, I hope Cave comes back before they find him; I don’t want him any more involved than he is in this mess.

After about half an hour, the police finally finish, and Khodi escorts them out.

Clay watches until they clear the cornfield, then he crouches beside Cipher. “You good?”

Cipher nods.

“And Cave?” Clay asks, his eyes moving between Noa and me.

“Don’t know,” Noa says. “He grabbed Rowan and left, heading toward the parking area.”

“He left with that moron, Jester,” Vesper says, joining us. “I saw them get into his truck.”

The Jester—Noa has told me about him. He said he is one of the newer members here, but that he is unhinged. He’s not someone you want to be on the bad side of, but I guess the same can be said about anyone here on the island.

“Okay,” Clay says. “We’ll handle this. I will send out a message that the surveillance is down, that Rowan panicked and left. That’s the story, and we’ll stick to it. The less the police sniff around here, the better.”

“You did good,” Clay says to me. “At playing the traumatized girlfriend.”

Except I’m not playing; I am traumatized. Cipher got shot, and I thought he was going to die at the hands of my brother. Add in Cave now being god knows where, and no one knows if or when he is coming back.

Cipher pushes himself up to stand, and I move to help him, but he waves me off.

“I’m fine,” he says, trying to be strong. But he isn’t; he’s pale and moves like he is in a lot of pain.

“We should get you inside,” Noa says. “You should lie down.”

Cipher nods, accepting Noa’s words. “If anyone sees Cave,” he adds, “please let us know straight away. We have no idea what frame of mind he’s in, and the fewer casualties the better.”

Clay nods and radios Khodi, arranging for someone to man the gate 24/7 until Cave returns. It’s the only way on and off the island, so when he comes back, we will be the first to know.

We move toward the residential area that leads to Cipher’s shed, Noa and Clay helping Cipher to walk.

“Where do you think Cave will go?” I muse aloud.

“I have a theory,” Clay answers me. “If he has taken Rowan, he may go after Steedy. He is the real threat, and your brother would be good bait.”

My stomach drops. Steedy is dangerous, and though I know Cave is as well, he is one man whereas Steedy has an entire crew.

We eventually get Cipher to his shed, then Noa gets his bed set up and Cipher settled. Once he is done and bustles out of the room, I drop onto the edge, my tears finally falling. I’ve tried to hold them back, but with Cipher’s blood now dry on my hands, the memory of thinking he was dying, plus not knowing if Cave is okay, it’s all too much.

Cipher groans as he sits up beside me and wipes a tear from my face.