The Hawkins Blood

ve for

d my mom's phone-every one of them. And ever

Two days into our long, winding drive out of Nevada, I'd planned to sneak off while we were at a run-down

exactly had attacked us that night-it had all happened so fast. Still, some part of me clung to the belief that

is time be a

part of me that had seen he

ely had to speak. Every time he tried to initiate some sort of awkward conversation-asking about my life, m

treets glowed with amber streetlights, casting elongated shadows between buildings. The

urbs, but now I was wide awake, sitting

sked. It was the first time I'd

f Aurora," Anthony said. "They're being held at a

harpened. "You mea

a cold, focused glint that reminded me just how dangerous he c

t them out?" I a

dn't

I didn't expect him to magically open up now. Still, it anno

right?" I said. "Whoever made

at me. "But that thing-whoev

t say a

iblings I'd never met. For Alexandra and Williams. Were they alive

ing myself that I didn't even know what they looked like. Why would

t say that out loud. So

ke I'd pictured. Boarded-up windows, busted glass, graffiti layered thick over crumbli

hideout,

rough my bag for a weapon. But Anthony

stinctively b

ne, Katherine," h

s. "Yeah, no. Tha

t you back here," he continued, ign

sheath strapped to my thigh. "You didn't yank me out of my life, drag me acros

ther," he growled, his hands t

a compliment," I

ing me out-maybe both. But before he could respond, a

rned towar

rint, boots pounding the pavement as

nthony called after

idewalk was a girl, no older than me. Her limbs were twisted at unnatural angles, her dark hair spra

pool beneath he

when Anthony caught up. He grabbed my sho

hell-" I

, voice like stone

at abou

" he said. "We have