Invisible

Invisible Chapter 38

Chapter 38

Join the Club

(Olivia)

Sitting on Mason’s bed, alone, I stare out the window at the Caretaker cop parked outside our house. The Dewalts give it a strange look as they carry their luggage back into their house. One corner of my mouth turns up faintly at the sight of them. It’s the best I can manage, even though I am extremely relieved that they were in Florida visiting friends while the Sentinels invaded their house and are not actually dead, rotting in the basement.

My phone buzzes, but I ignore it. No doubt it’s Haden again. It didn’t take long for him to hear the story Evie spread about what happened to me. Not the truth, of course, but part of our plan to make sure the Sentinels know Mason is gone. Evie told a few of her most gossip hungry friends about a creepy guy with a scar who has been stalking me. We blamed him for the knife attack and made sure everyone knew what he looked like. The school is even going to post pictures of the sketch the police did all around the school.

It’s a good plan, but I refuse to give Robin’s parents any credit. They took Mason away from me, and I will never forgive them for that.

A knock sounds at my door, and I look up expecting Evie, but finding Robin instead. A heavy breath flows out of me. I think this is the first time I have ever been relieved to see Robin. Not that I will admit it, but I turn around eagerly to face her.

“He’s safe?” I ask desperately.

She nods as she sits down on the bed with me. Part of me wants to push her off, but the other part clings to the pity I felt when I realized how badly her parents treat her. I know she’s made mistakes, but she doesn’t deserve to be hated by her own family.

“How much can you tell me?” I ask.

“Not much.” Her eyes stare at the blanket beneath her legs. She bites at her bottom lip as she squeezes her hands together. “All I know is that a Caretaker family met us out in the middle of nowhere late last night and hustled him into their car. They told my parents they’d pass my mom and dad’s contact info onto the next family so whoever has him in February will be able to get in touch with us and set up the meeting.”

I nod, treasuring even this tiny amount of information. At this point, I think I hate the Caretakers just as much as I hate the Sentinels, but I know they’ll protect Mason. From what Robin managed to tell me before they left last night, her parents aren’t even the worst of the Caretakers when it comes to their fanaticism with fulfilling their purpose. They’ll keep him safe.

“Did Mason say anything before…before they took him?” I ask quietly.

Robin’s mouth turns down at the corners. “He said he’d find a way to let you know he’s safe.”

“How?” I ask.

She shakes her head. “I don’t know, but I’ve learned not to doubt him.”

I don’t doubt Mason either, but I don’t know how long it will take him to find a way to contact me. I don’t know how long I can bear waiting. The air in Mason’s bedroom seems thick. It’s almost claustrophobic, but I can’t bring myself to get up and leave it. An irrational part of me fears it will all disappear if I step out of his room, that every reminder I have of him will be stolen away like he was.

“I hate your parents.”

The words slip out of my mouth before I can stop them. I wasn’t planning to say them, but once they are out, I don’t regret them even a little.

Robin snorts. “Join the club.”

“It’s not just about Mason,” I say. “Whatever you’ve done, it isn’t right that they treated you the way they did.”