“Yeah, everything’s fine.” I shudder as a bolt of lightning flashes across the sky. “Nik just broke a window, and I need to put some plastic over it.”
You can do this. You can do this. Just run out there and get the damn plastic.
I inch forward, but then jerk back as thunder booms.
“Let’s play a little game.”
Dammit! Why couldn’t my parents have an attached garage?
Milo folds his fingers around my arm and gently draws me back into the house. “I’ll get the plastic. You wait here.”
“Are you sure?” I ask, eyeballing the rain. “You’re going to get wet.”
“I’m fine.” He lightly tugs on the end of my ponytail. “It’s you I’m worried about. You used to get so scared during lightning storms. I’ve never met someone so convinced lightning was out to get them.”
I start to smile when a sleek, black car rolls up to the curb. Milo makes a U-turn, his eyes enlarge, and then he hurries over to the car. When he reaches the curb, the driver’s side door opens and a tall guy with heavily inked arms; short, cropped hair; and dressed in black jeans and heavily studded clothes gets out.
The two of them exchange words, and then Milo goes rigid as a board as he turns toward me. Our eyes lock, and I immediately know something’s wrong.
Every part of me screams to run, but I remain in the doorway as Milo and the stranger cross the lawn and approach me. When they reach the stairs, Milo stares at the street instead of me, while the stranger makes eye contact with me.
“Jessamine Baker?” he asks.
I almost shake my head, but I manage a nod.
A slow smile spreads across his face as he reaches into his pocket, digs out a card, and hands it to me. “Your presence is requested at that address tomorrow night.”
I stare down at the address on the card. “This is by the railroad tracks.” When I flip over the card, my breath lodges in my throat at the ink staining the black and red stock paper.
The Unveiling. An international underground community. Come play the game where anything goes. That is, if you dare.
The Unveiling? I heard someone say that in one of my memories of that night.
“I was told to remind you that if you don’t show up, a certain photo will be turned over to the police.” The stranger looks almost apologetic as he backs away from me. “Tell no one of this.” Then he turns and motions for Milo to follow him.
I look at Milo in confusion.
A drop of remorse flickers across his expression before he turns and follows the stranger to the car, leaving me standing there in the rain, utterly stunned.
Completely terrified.
And entirely heartbroken.
About the Author
About the Author
Jessica Sorensen is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who lives in the snowy mountains of Wyoming. When she’s not writing, she spends her time reading and hanging out with her family.
Coming Soon!
Other books by Jessica Sorensen:
The Unveiling:
Unveiled
Unveiled 2 (coming soon)
Shadow Cove Series:
What Lies in the Darkness
A Deadly Little Game (coming soon)
Standalones:
Rules of a Rebel and a Shy Girl
The Opposite of Ordinary
Confessions of a Kleptomaniac
The Illusion of Annabella
The Forgotten Girl
Broken City Series:
Nameless
Forsaken
Oblivion
Forbidden (coming soon)
Guardian Academy Series:
Entranced
Entangled
Enchanted
Guardian Academy, Dash’s Series:
The Forest of Shadow and Bones
The Forest of Shadow and Bones 2 (coming soon)
Sunnyvale Series:
The Year I Became Isabella Anders
The Year of Falling in Love
The Year of Second Chances
The Year of Kai & Isa (coming soon)
Unraveling You Series:
Raveling You
Awakening You
Inspiring You (coming soon)
The Coincidence Series:
The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden
The Redemption of Callie and Kayden
The Destiny of Violet and Luke
The Probability of Violet and Luke
The Certainty of Violet and Luke
The Resolution of Callie and Kayden
Seth & Greyson
The Secret Series:
The Prelude of Ella and Micha
The Secret of Ella and Micha
The Forever of Ella and Micha
The Temptation of Lila and Ethan
The Ever After of Ella and Micha
Lila and Ethan: Forever and Always
Ella and Micha: Infinitely and Always
The Shattered Promises Series:
Shattered Promises
Fractured Souls
Unbroken
Broken Visions
Scattered Ashes
Breaking Nova Series:
Breaking Nova
Saving Quinton
Delilah: The Making of Red
Nova and Quinton: No Regrets
Tristan: Finding Hope
Wreck Me
Ruin Me
The Fallen Star Series:
The Fallen Star
The Underworld
The Vision
The Promise
The Fallen Souls Series (spin-off from The Fallen Star):
The Lost Soul
The Evanescence
The Darkness Falls Series:
Darkness Falls
Darkness Breaks
Darkness Fades
The Death Collectors Series (NA and YA):
Ember X and Ember
Cinder X and Cinder
Spark X and Spark
Unbeautiful Series:
Unbeautiful
Untamed