Page 76 of Wildling

Footsteps shuffle to the door, and Beth walks in. I keep my eyes glued to the lake and the snow, powdering the landscape. Regina tried to talk to me earlier today, and I ignored her too. I have nothing left to say to my mother…After this moment, she is dead to me.

She sits at the end of my bed and rests her hands on her lap. “It feels like you’ve been trying to run away from me since you were born, and no matter what I do, I keep losing you.”

I don’t move. I don’t blink. I glance up at her and say, “Then quit trying to control every aspect of my life.”

Beth, her hair in soft waves around her face, wearing a matching, expensive sweatsuit, shakes her head. “I’ve never been able to control you, Layla. You’ve always been a wild child, right from the beginning. That’s why your grandfather used to call you wildling.”

My eyes slice over to her at hearing Nick’s pet name come out of her mouth. I don’t like it…

“I never knew what to do with you. Like when you were two years old and managed to climb out of your highchair. Jake found you knee-deep in the lake. If he’d found you just two seconds later, you would have drowned.”

I vaguely recall that memory, or at least the memory of her telling me it happened. Like it’s her justification for why she’s so overprotective. As if our memories aren’t truly accurate reflections of the past, but reconstructions shaped by who we are today. What if they are like paintings and exist within layers of brushstrokes that hide what lies beneath?

Beth continues, “The more I try to contain you, the further you slip away from me.” She rolls her shoulders. “Gabe died last night. He lost too much blood and had a complication. I’ll keep this buried as much as I can, but your insanity card may be the only thing that will keep you out of prison. His family will be well taken care of, but you may never see the light of day again.” My skin crawls, and I can’t bring myself to look at her. I finally turn my gaze to the person I’m convinced is the real Constellation Killer, the mirror on my bedroom door.

Beth, however, is far from innocent.

“I wasn’t under psychosis. I knew exactly what I was doing. It was self-defense.”

She blinks a few times. “I have evidence that tells a different story.”

I stare at her, not knowing how to respond to that.

“You’re not going to get away with this. This is going to end badly for you. The Archer is coming for you, Beth. He’s going to end this.”

Fear flickers in her eyes as if the threat is coming directly from me.

She composes herself. “I need you to come into the living room. There are people here who would like to speak to you.” As if on cue, someone knocks on the door, and Regina walks in.

Beth and Regina exchange glances. “Are you sure this is a smart idea, Beth?”

Beth’s expression fades. “If this can help answer questions, then yes, she needs to speak to them.”

“We will be with you the entire time,” Regina assures me.

I look at them, confused. We head into the living room where two officers, a man and a woman, are standing in the doorway, wearing heavy winter coats and black boots. They’re not from around here. Jake’s close by, watching them like a hawk. It’s the first time I’ve seen Jake since I attacked Gabe. I guess two armed officers in your house will get you to pay attention.

“You must be Layla.” The female officer steps forward. “I’m Officer Jones, and this is Officer Smith. We need to ask you a few questions alone.” I dart my gaze between the two of them. Smith and Jones…this is a fucking joke.

“Dad,” I say, scrunching my nose. “What’s going on?”

“Just answer these people’s questions, Laylabug.”

Fuck.

My parents step out of the room, but Regina lingers behind, digging her heels in. Officer Jones says to her, “We need to talk to her alone.”

Regina pulls out her wallet and shows her identification. “This patient is under my supervision, and she is not to be left alone with people she doesn’t know. She is not of sound mind to answer your questions right now, despite what her guardian says.”

“I’m afraid she doesn’t have a choice,” Officer Smith says. “This is a matter of national security, ma’am. She needs to answer our questions, or we will take her in, and we will ask her there. Up to you. If she knows the whereabouts of Nick Cross, we need to know.”

Holy crap…they are military. No wonder they are giving me fake names given the special ops unit Nick worked in.

Regina and I make eye contact, and I give her a nod. “It’s okay. I’ll tell them what I know.”

“She doesn’t know anyone with that name,” Regina says flippantly.

“That’s not true,” Beth interrupts, no longer leaving after Regina’s intervention. “I met a boy named Nick Cross a long time ago. His father used to work for us. I don’t understand what he has to do with any of this.”