WHAT THE FIRE TOOK.

Helena stood by her window, watching as gray clouds crawled across the sky. Her mind was no

beginning to feel lik

d it wasn't. But if she didn't face th

. Just a few carefully chosen questions. A

ould watc

sual calm self. That easy sm

me more ghosts?" he asked,

ced a smil

f the engine was the only sound between them. Elias tapped

okay?"

ep well," she

htma

er. The fire. I can never stop it.

e wheel, just for a second. H

" he said,

happened. It's like the fire knew exactly where to

m from the cor

d. "Fires are like

gently. "Especially not

loosened. "You think

meone was seen near t

slightly, curiosity

aid it sounded like a teen

le

almost hear h

house back then?" she a

times. Your dad liked me. I thought

re the night

rowed. "No. W

out the window

ence between them wasn't empty anymo

and deals and council meetings from a decade ago. Dusty papers, yellowed p

said, scanning an old council report. "He vo

id they were destroyi

But people like that don't forget

hey would've gone as far as

ink people are capable of terrible thi

?" she ask

r, confused. "W

ht in adult plans. Or th

studying her. "What are y

ze. "Nothing.

chest, a wa

a ruined foundation buried beneath overgrown grass and ash-stained stones.

e why you stayed

e else to go. My dad passed. I to

smart," she said. "

rt of me felt like I had to stay. Li

the

eone,"

d toward

d, then ans

s breat

said. "That day at the lake

wned. "

smiling softly. "You pulled

me here to test him, to question him - and yet, here

t in the shadows. And there were t

ack in her room

edges of pages filled with notes, numbers, and names. One entry sto

from M. He's not a boy anymore. He asked abou

again. Then

d be Maso

d underlined he's

d for... Elias

and opened his profile

omach

dent. Not just as a bystander. Her father

rd on the bed,

suspicion, the

ed her. She quickly hid th

holding a small

t be hungry," he

he said, ke

if I

every muscle in her