Chapter 14
Riker POV
"What!? Are you sure!?"
"Positive!"
"Riker, you're never going to be able to make that turn! And a car's coming!"
My hands were shaking. We got closer and closer to the turn in the road and the other car. As I tried turning the car, we skidded like crazy, but we made it. And we were still going 80 thousand miles an hour, just like my heart.
"Riley! Stop screaming! We're fine!"
"We're still moving!"
"I know!"
"Aim for the field!"
I drove us into an old field, and eventually my car slowed to a stop. I shut it off, and we both got out.
"Riker, what happened to your brakes!?"
"I don't know!"
"Well what do we do now?"
"Now, I have to call a tow truck."
Later…
Riker POV
We were sitting in the waiting room at the car place. I didn't know if I was more mad about the cost of everything, or the fact that this whole thing was my idea.
"Riker."
"What?"
"My dad didn't want us sneaking out because he didn't want Dylan to kill me. And instead, you almost killed me!"
"I know. I'm so sorry. I seriously have no idea what happened to my brakes. And I'm sorry I made you sneak out. I just wanted to have some fun."
"Well are you having fun now?"
"No…"
I got called in to talk to the mechanic. My car was fixed, and didn't cost too much, but I was screaming inside from what he told me.
Riley and I got back in my car, and I drove us home.
"Riley?"
"Yeah?"
"The mechanic told me what happened today."
"Oh, really? What happened?"
"Someone cut my brakes."
"Really!?"
"Yeah."
"Oh my gosh… You don't think it's…"
"I don't know…"
Riley and I walked down to the docks, our normal spot to think things over. We sat down, and Riley leaned her head on my shoulder.
"If we had gotten hurt, and my dad found out, we would've been in such big trouble. Even if he finds out about this, he'll kill us! We weren't supposed to leave!"
"I know! And I'm sorry! But I had no idea this was going to happen!"
"I know…"
Later that night…
Riker POV
"Riker?"
"What?"
"Shane or Rick is coming back tonight, right?"
"Yeah, Rick is. Probably around 10:30."
"Ok…"
"Why? Are you scared or something? Your parents are home. They can hear if something happens."
"No… I'm not scared… Just worried…"
"Well what do you want to do?"
"Hold on. I just got a notification from Instagram. I got tagged in a picture…"
"From who? You haven't seen anyone in months! You've been with me."
"Riker!"
"What?"
"It's-it's…!"
"Who!?"
"It's…! Him!"
"Dylan?"
"Yes!"
"He tagged you in a picture?"
"And you!"
"Me? What picture?"
Riley showed me her phone. It was a picture of Dylan… Standing in my bedroom!
"Riker! Did you read his caption!?"
"No?"
"It says, I hope you guys didn't want to make any stops earlier today."
"So that means…"
"He cut your brakes. Riker, he tried to kill us both at the same time!"
"WAIT! How long ago did he post that!?"
"Like 2 minutes ago. Why?"
"Because he's standing in my bedroom, and what if he's in my house!?"
I got up and started running for the door. Riley followed me.
"Riley, you can't come."
"Why?"
"Hello, he wants to kill you!"
"Riker, what if this is his plan? Get you to run out, leave me behind, and then he kills me while you're gone!?"
I was losing time, and Riley's thoughts made sense, so I grabbed her hand, and we sprinted to my house. We ran up the stairs as fast as we could. We burst through the door and…
There was no one there.
I sighed. I didn't understand!
"Riley, sit on my bed."
I quietly checked everywhere in my room, looking for Dylan. I checked under beds, in the closet, and anywhere else someone could hide, but he just wasn't there.
I sat down next to Riley, feeling defeated.
"I just don't get it," I said.
"Riker, maybe he took that picture earlier."
"I just don't even know anymore…"
"Why don't we go check on Ross and everyone else."
"Ok."
Ross wasn't in his bedroom. In fact, no one was in their bedrooms. We went downstairs and checked the living room. They were all watching a movie. I snuck in, and pulled Ross aside for a moment.
"What do you want?"
"Dylan was in my bedroom. I need you to take me seriously when I tell you that you need to use the buddy system. I don't want you getting hurt."
"I have been using the buddy system. I've been pulling Ryland with me everywhere."
"Ok, new plan. You and Rocky are going to be buddies now."
"Why?"
"Because he's bigger, and stronger. In fact, I want all of you guys sleeping in the same room until the whole Dylan thing is resolved."
Ross looked at me like I was crazy, and after everything I've gone through, maybe I was, but I wanted everyone to be safe!
"Ross, seriously. When your movie's over, I need you to tell everyone what I said, and I need you to do it. Do you understand?"
"Yeah, I'm not 5!"
"Ok! I'm just making sure!"
Ross rolled his eyes, and then went back to watching the movie. I ran home with Riley, looking around like crazy.
When we entered her room, I was immediately terrified of what I saw. I looked over at Riley, and she looked like she was going to pass out any minute. This was really bad…!