For a split second, I let myself imagine it. Stepping into the light. Telling my brothers the truth. Watching their faces shift from confusion to betrayal to—what? Acceptance? Rage? The kind of silence that never heals?
But then what?
Everett's hand in mine at family dinners. His name next to mine on Christmas cards. Waking up beside him without the constant terror of discovery.
Alone together.
It sounds like freedom.
It sounds like home.
It sounds like the thing I've wanted for eleven years and have been too scared to reach for.
My heart slams against my ribs, screamingyes, yes, yes?—
And then I hear Roman's laughter fading through the trees, and reality crashes back in.
“Separate paths,” I say, pulling away. “You go left, I'll go right. We were never here.”
“Sierra—”
“Goodnight, Everett.”
I don't let myself look back.
Not because I don't want to.
Because if I turn around—if I see him standing there in the dark, watching me leave again—I won't be able to make my feet keep moving.
I'll go back.
I'll sayyes, let's be alone together, let's burn it all down, let's stop pretending this is something we can survive without each other.
And then everything I've spent eleven years protecting will be gone in a single, reckless moment.
So I don't look back.
I keep walking.
I slip through the trees on wobbly legs, following trails I could walk blindfolded.
Chapter Fifteen
Sierra
My phone buzzeswith a text and despite my survival instincts telling me to pretend I’m dead, I know it won’t work.
HOLLY
Where are you?? Caleb's trying to add a 'midnight heritage experience' to the schedule and someone needs to stop him before Everett commits actual murder.
ME
On my way. Got distracted.
Distracted. That's one word for it.
Another text comes in, this time from Charlie:
