ares came

very night, they wrapped around me like vines, tightening with each passing hour. I'd wake up soaked

social media like everyone else. But I was anything but normal. Not when ever

nly softness le

way of looking at me like I wasn't broken, like

spered one night, trailing

he veil of midnight. The hum of her breath against my ski

's bothering

y head. "

i

this mess. Not when I was sti

I saw something

ective I didn't trust-standing with Zaria. Their conversation was low, faces

maginin

ven anger. Instead, she said, "He was just asking questions

gave it

ay anything that would hurt yo

eing para

. I felt it

e. The people I trusted were

-

returned to my moth

nd stepped into the dust-covered sanctuary of her creativity. Paintings lined the wal

ngers over

oorboards, I found a

as h

ge held

eats he made. Her fear was smeared between

me. Said no one would believe me.

evi

e wa

remaining pages unti

.. and Luna. Younger

ath hi

hell was

-

d home to find Luna sea

e greeted

e photo deep in my jacket pock

ur stepfather invi

urse

riends, I excused myself and stormed into th

new my

t he said

rs, but not fr

-

s bed without a word. She kissed

e ceiling, wondering ho

stomach. And I should've felt comfort. But all I fe

fallin

ho would catch me w

-

, a file arrived

te. Just my name scribbl

s statement from a maid who claimed she heard screaming t

s redacted, but the tim

n't just

tion. Covered u

wanted me to

-

one b

. Urgent. Meet me

n't r

ile. Hid it under a loo

anted, but I wasn't walki

-

the station. Cold wind whipped

on time. He looked... d

you want?

help

now betrayal cam

as everything to me. We were par

ground shif

ng that could ruin him. She hid it. I'

ld I beli

f you don'

't tru

need

r

-

ght, a car followed me.

nto an all

ar pa

then-he was

ather wa

ither

-

y reflection in the mirror. The girl looking back at me was a

pressed down on my chest.

out the photo. About Zaria, and the c

hone buzz

e, it wa

nym

. He was arguing with a man I'd never seen. Their vo

ky

n

d up th

g too close,"

nodded. "I'l

od ran

planning

o-but someone out there was watchin

, I had to

-

asked Zaria to mee

to know if I was being paranoid

hair in a messy

like hell,

. I fee

l across the table.

a. Why didn't

now he was that Luna. No

rsation outsid

anything, Skye. I swear. He a

to beli

nted to b

wasn't che

-

t eyes on me again. But

, stepped into the

dark coat, cigaret

d when h

xpect you

are

arette. Crushed it

s the same thing

"Your mom's case. Names.

he va

ounded as

f a company. Shell co

e I hadn't

al fa

the world tilti

thought I k

y bloo

-

locked the do

ed my tears, and gra

't sto

t

war, they picke