I kept his secret behind bars;He left me behind

he icy railing. "Lucas," sh

rker smudge against the night. The lantern they had brought barely reached that far;

red. He moved slowly along the wooden planks, each c

ans

s though listening. Sophia's heart hammered against her

e length of the bridge.The splash echoed like a gunshot.

t her to run, but her feet felt glued to the boards. She imagined headlines about bodies f

" Sophi

ering over the side. Nothing but reeds and dark water.

shivering. "Who d

touching the damp footprint near the b

ther sent someone?"

e stub as if it were evidence. "Maybe. Or ma

. The wind tugged at Sophia's coat, lifting her hair. She glanced back once. T

-

er pale sunlight. Sophia sat cross-legged on the boards, sketching the o

she said, tho

ropped beside her, opened one bag a

s still warm, smelling of yeast and smoke. "You always bring the best bread," she

grinned. "I paid fo

rel

later. I'd scrub ten floors if it

ing up for night classes. Maths and En

l," she said. "I

I can stand next to you someday without feelin

er his. "You alread

arrassed. "Your fat

her fingertip. "At home it's all rules and less

ng to the water. Lucas leaned back again

it," she said quickly.

id. "But if it makes you feel bet

e," she murmured. "Promise me y

he said sof

form appeared, carrying a violin case. He stopped a few feet away and smi

opped. "Go awa

you're out here with him." He tilted his hea

fists curlin

eople like him don't belong with people like you." He tur

ut he was already disap

der his breath.

d. "If Father finds out-"I've been sneaki

another way to

ped her hands, eyes flashing. "You don't unde

hen tell me. Let me carry

be ashame

hard. "I'm s

. "Then hold onto me," he sa

inking back te

y tied to a string. "My hiding place. If you ever ne

fingers around

e opposite bank, sq

t is

ure - the same silhouette as last night. This time it didn

h caught. "It'

me," Lucas sa

s, the figure vanished as if swallowe

e railing. "What'

don't know," he said grimly. "But