Ashes of Us

a's

nked out like

g glass, sharp and sudden, slici

dn't stutte

toward the back of the

N

en

aid

thms but bound by the same music. His phone flashlight barely pierced

st

ai

lways th

e floor like a warning. A brick lay in the center of t

iece of paper

mian. I stepped forw

Lena. You c

ed. "This i

ured. "This

bones. Whoever this was, they knew where I was. They wanted me to se

y," Damian said, rea

N

inked

silenced. I want to follow the

ne broke int

ome in. They t

e you're will

"They want me a

ing me for the first time. Not

s a f

now I'm not done. That I've stepped too cl

stop d

, dark. "You

loser. "Then

ow? By lying? By protecting th

ed. "I didn't

"You protect

ed down

tly: "You

laced. But the letter remained in my hand, folde

it like

an uneasy truce. Damian made coffee. I ignored the toast h

e, something

th. I thought that wou

was

pretending I was th

t to Olivia

he summer house," I s

er her breath.

. Shaken,

know who

a message. Someon

"Do you think

found a photo. Him, Vivienne, Evelyn.

Go

ea

e you safe

rst time some

eyes. "I d

pulled the p

sat beside him, lips like razors. Vivienne, of course, look

hey plannin

tantly, was Da

y door broke

eneath the mattress

d

he weight of years had fina

thing for yo

eyebrow. "

"A truth.

me a fla

is t

I didn't want you to know... but because

trusted me to

kno

e drive into

eo op

it

footage. Grainy

e of Lancaster Glob

k coat. Slim. Shar

ien

d a parked ve

, she knelt beside the rear wheel, o

ed the

is t

ocker," D

would

watc

play

something into the tailp

that

to destabilize the exhaust and trigger a failur

ds wen

ant to

dn't

"When did you g

ht you c

didn't

think you'

opped m

. I'm sorry. For all of it. For the lies. For the silence. For belie

own something. Screamed

I di

y had turned to

ar

h drive out, pock

t to s

vie

aid. "You

d in front of Evelyn

opened

beneath the sun. Everything

. She waited by the fireplace, sippin

id coolly. "Yo

nk you for the near-dea

a viper. "It w

. "You tried to

," she replied. "You were alwa

deresti

said simply.

. You and Vivienne. Th

. Nothing that can survive t

o said anythin

ession f

be very afraid, Evelyn. Because I didn't com

ens when you burn the whole house d

gaze witho

eed