Silent Dusk [Sequel to New Horizon]

CHAPTER (13)

"Promise me you aren't going anywhere."

"Hm, I don't know," Shane grinned as he looked at the small clock on his

mobile phone. "I have work in a few hours."

"Don't be an ass," Claire smacked his arm and smiled. "Promise?"

"I promise. Is everything okay?"

Claire nodded and gently kissed her boyfriend's cheek. He looked down at her,

a confused look on his face.

"Everything's fine."

"Now it's my turn to negotiate."

Claire raised her eyebrows. "I didn't know this was a negotation."

"Well, it is now." Claire rolled her eyes and propped her head on her hand,

smiling as she waited for Shane to go on. "Promise me if something goes wrong,

you'll get the hell out of dodge."

"Shane-"

"No, promise me. The only thing that's keeping you here is me. Don't try and deny it.

If it weren't for me, you'd be at MIT, or some other smartass college."

"I don't know. TPU is pretty good to hang around. Eve has wicked sense of fashion,

MIchael's a rockstar. And Common Grounds has the best coffee in the world."

"I know what you're doing, and you're going to regret it."

"But I didn't even get to bring up Myrnin?"

"You've done it," Shane grabbed Claire, tackling her down into the bed. She squealed

and wriggled around in the sheets as she tried to avoid his tickling hands. He grasped

onto her waist and pulled her close, devouring her into a kiss. Claire smiled into his

lips and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Do you promise?"

"You're not going anywhere, so it doesn't matter."

"Claire, you know me. I'm a dick, and there's a 50/50 chance that I'm going to get

myself killed. So when I do, I want you to promise you'll get out of Morganville."

Claire stayed quiet for a few long seconds, looking into his golden pools of honey brown.

She finally nodded.

"Okay. I promise."

Claire screamed, and she refused to let anyone touch her as she knelt on the ground.

Eve was standing behind all of them, crying silently with her hands covering her mouth.

Her eyes were bloodshot red, and her mascara and eyeliner had left her cheeks looking

black with a hint of lime green.

Michael was trying to pull Claire off the ground, but he looked up when he heard Shane's scream

from inside the room. The set of double doors down the hallway bursted open, and Morley walked in.

He hesitated for a few long seconds as he processed what he was seeing in front of him, and his

eyes flicked up to look to the door Shane's body was behind.

"Michael," Morley nodded and took his place. Michael, already knowing what he meant. He left Claire