Page 143 of Graves

“You’re going to regret this!” Luke yells, getting back up with help from two women. “Don’t forget that, Graves! You’ll regret it!”

“Stay the fuck away from him!” I shout back and disappear from the platform with Koh.

I just want to get out of here, away from all the phones and especially away from Luke, so I don’t even notice how confused Koh still is. Before the last staircase leading outside, he falters, grabs my arm tightly, and starts hyperventilating. I steer him aside and search his eyes.

“It’s okay. Everything’s okay,” I say, stroking his cheek.

His skin is ice-cold and he’s still white as a sheet. It seems to be hitting him now what just happened—the terror is written all over his face. Breathless, he stumbles over his words, his gaze darting wildly as he clutches my shirt so hard it’s about to rip.

“Come on, let’s go home.” I lead him up the stairs into the open air. Koh is in no condition to walk, so I call a cab that takes us back to my apartment.

30

—

Aran

Fucking hell! What do you even do in a situation like this?

Koh was about to kill himself. I didn’t imagine that. And from the looks of it, Luke was the one who planted that insane idea in his head.

If I had been two seconds too late, Koh would have thrown himself in front of that train.

During the cab ride, I tried to convince myself I was wrong and that Koh would never do something like that. But now we’re standing in front of the building, and I’m fumbling for the keys with one hand while the other is wrapped around Koh, holding him up.

He’s spasming so erratically it feels like his muscles are giving out.

“It’s okay,” I say, guiding him inside the elevator. “We’re almost there.”

The whole time, he’s been muttering things I can’t understand. I scan his face, trying to find a way to reach him.

“You’re safe now,” I tell him, brushing my fingers over his forehead and cheek.

“Murderer… I’m a murderer.”

“No. Stop it. Don’t do this to yourself.”

I know exactly where this can lead. It can drive a person insane—literally.

“Luke’s right. I have to pay for it.”

“No. You don’t.”

“But I killed someone. Unlike you, Aran. I did it on purpose. I belong on the electric chair.”

Koh keeps spiraling deeper, slipping into hyperventilation. I pull him into my arms and try to calm him, but his muscles feel out of control.

Finally on the fifth floor, we head down the hallway into my apartment. The second the door closes behind us, I search his eyes again.

“Everything’s going to be okay. Got it?”

I’m not sure my words are reaching him. He stares at me with wide eyes, digs his fingers into his hair, and yanks at it.

“Stop,” I say, catching his hands before he can hurt himself.

“Luke’s going to call the cops and they’ll come for me. I should just—”

“Don’t say it!”