nt hum of a TV. No footsteps echoing from the up

of me felt suspended in time since the night I found Dad-his body soaked in his own blood,

while the world moved on. Three weeks of avoiding Luna's eyes and letting Zaria's

my fingers over the cle

ind you. I swear it on the

the door

alled softly.

l, overly attentive even. But something about h

ss of water and a worn pap

hungry,"

op shutting every

ce around her neck-a tiny pendant in the shape of a moo

ant," I sa

y. "Oh, this? My mom gave i

ver worn i

"Didn't thin

crept

tated. "Can I as

yth

k someone ki

ht. "What makes

n his arms. The missing file I kept in the study. And... the way

tiffened. "I

re

"I don't know what you're getting at,

I found in Dad's safe. "Or maybe someone's trying

darted to

nswers," I sai

od. "Then we'll fi

t sure I be

-

The water was still, almost glass-like under the moonlight. She hand

murmured, brushing

ed cl

ed my forehead. "A

s at war with my emotions. I tilted my head to kiss her-soft,

sked, "Do you think Lu

't answer

ssessive," she said f

ing weird to

the lake. "Don't tr

ure I trus

?" she asked, ey

ted. "I

d under my shirt, and I let her-for a moment forgetting death, betray

-

. Her journal lay open beside her, pages flut

ty tugg

ould

I

pages. At first, it was filled with mun

age caugh

e must never know. He

d it

h

never k

th

issing. If she finds it,

mach c

doc

page before quietly placing

-

der man with thin glasses and a kind smile that made

lled," he said. "You ne

I said. "But now

"Your father left

vid

led out a flash drive. "It was to be ha

rembled as

g. "He had suspicions. About peopl

me an enve

hould the darknes

to my chest.

-

in my room and plugged

kered before th

weary, his eyes heavy with s

ng this, Skye, I'

ed bac

eople I once trusted. People I once loved.

ed the

od ran

just sa

ed it

know this-I never wan

my mouth. I co

-

d the e

e sheet of paper w

tepf

cer

u

dn't recognize-

he b

him. Be careful. D

fina

appened the night you

e

? L

. Za

st tig

ng was u

ght in the c