There were bigger monsters in the world.
I was one of them.
Nyx mumbled in her sleep as she shifted on my throat, and my heart pounded erratically inside my chest, pumping poisonous blood through my veins.
You murdered them all.
“Charlie!” I screamed, desperation making me sick.
He was there when you killed your first victim. He was crying in the corner as you tore your mother to shreds. How dare you soil him with your corrupt presence?
Tears froze as they streaked across my face.
Everything ached.
My black soul was on fire.
I pushed through icy branches, uncaring as they scratched against my skin and opened new wounds.
“Charlie,” I whispered dejectedly, giving up hope.He doesn’t want to see you. You abandoned him. He hates you now.
Sobbing, I bounced against a tree and fell to the forest floor.
You’re actually evil. God can’t save you now. Carl and Emmy would be disappointed.
On my hands and knees in the shallow snow, I opened my mouth to cry, and a scream came out.
“Alexis?” an unfamiliar male voice called, and heavy footsteps crunched.
I cried harder because Charlie didn’t speak.The Spartans found me before I could ever get to him.
The Spartan approached quickly, as he ran deftly through the forest—nothing but a shadow.
“Alexis!” the strange man cried out as he fell to his knees next to me.
Moonlight kissed pale skin, high-arched features, messy blond hair, and piercing yellow eyes.
“Charlie,” I whispered hoarsely.
Long fingers moved rapidly. “Sister,” Charlie signed. Then he gently wrapped his arms around my shoulders and hugged me tight.
Nyx hissed as he bumped her, but Charlie didn’t seem to notice. He was too busy holding me like he was afraid I’d disappear.
Surrounded by ice and snow, warmth exploded in my sternum—I was finallyhome.
We trembled as we held each other.
Ignoring my protests that I could walk, Charlie picked me up into his arms and carried me through the trees.
Time passed in a blur.
The world warped.
I was sitting on layers of old rugs. A patched blanket was wrapped around my shoulders and Charlie’s. He’d grown taller and wider since I’d seen him, and we barely fit within the dilapidated box.
Cardboard and tarp were draped over our heads. Icy branches clattered against the sides of the structure as the wind howled.
The flickering green light of the broken lantern illuminated the harsh planes of Charlie’s face.
