“Dude, what?” Trent asks in my head.
“Shut up,” Chris snaps. “I need to hear this.”
I notice a photo on the wall behind Shawnda of a guy who looks a lot like Chris. “Is that your son?”
“Yeah, Chris Junior. Named after his father.”
“My son,” Chris whispers.
“He looks like his dad,” Adam says. “I mean, from photos we’ve seen.”
She digs around in her purse for something. “Mmm-hmm. Now what all do you want? I need to get going.”
I lean forward, anxious to get some answers finally. “We just want to know what happened to Chris.”
“Some bitch shot him. What more do you want to know?”
“He—he died?” I don’t want to believe it, because if he and Zoe are both dead, that means there’s little hope for me. But then I process the last thing she said. “A girl shot him?”
“Yeah.” She narrows her eyes at me. “Isn’t that why you’re here?”
“This is bullshit,” Chris says in my head. “I can’t be dead. No fucking way.”
“Yes,” Adam says, answering her question. “We just wondered if you knew any more details.”
“All I know is this girl killed him and a few other kids, then blew her own brains out.”
My fingers dig into the thin fabric of the couch. I knew it. We’re all dead. Murdered. Shot by some girl. Maybe it has nothing to do with Aether Corporation after all. I can think of a couple of girls who might want me dead, but I don’t know of any connection with Zoe, Trent, or Chris. It might explain why Adam is still alive in the future though.
Adam stares at me, his forehead creased with concern. The others are silent in my head. Maybe they’re in shock. I know I should ask more questions, should try to find out as much as I can, but my tongue is frozen. Maybe a part of me doesn’t want to know more. All I can do is stare at the tan carpet and think about how I’m going to be dead soon.
I don’t get it. Why would some girl kill us and then kill herself? Maybe it’s a setup. Aether could have framed some girl to take the suspicion off themselves. But that doesn’t make any sense either.
“Do you know this girl’s name?” Adam asks Shawnda.
“Listen, that was a long time ago. Why are you digging this up now?” She strides over to the door. “I think it’s time for you to go.”
“Of course,” Adam says, jumping to his feet. “Thank you for your time.”
“Ask her about my son,” Chris says, his voice strained. “Ask her!”
“One more question,” I ask, standing up slowly. “Can we talk to your son?”
“Is that why you’re really here?” Shawnda asks, hands on her hips. “He owe you money?”
“No—” Adam starts.
“You want revenge? Just let it go. He’s already in prison.” She throws open the front door. “Now get out.”
“What?” Chris roars. “What? ”
I cover my ears to block out his voice, but of course it doesn’t work. Trent yells, “Chris, wait!”
Oh shit, not again. Adam and I rush outside, and the door slams shut behind us. Chris stomps across the grass toward the apartment. “Shawnda!” he yells. “Shawnda, where’s my son?”
“Dude, knock it off!” Trent says, grabbing his arm. Chris turns and punches Trent in the face. He falls to the ground, into the muddy weeds.
“Stop!” Zoe yells at Chris, bending down to help Trent. “Stop it!”
“Chris, get back in the car,” I say, blocking his path. Adam stands beside me, but Chris towers over both of us. I dig my feet into the earth, taking a fighting stance.
“I need to find my son.” Chris glares at us, his mouth twisted with rage. “Get. Out. Of. My. Way.”
I raise my hands to try to calm him down. “Chris—”
He slams between me and Adam, trying to get by. The force knocks us back, but we hold our ground. I can’t let Chris talk to Shawnda—not like this anyway.
I don’t want to fight him. I really don’t. Not anymore. Not when we might be dead in a few days. But he leaves me no choice.