A tear races down my cheek, startling me back to the present. I swipe it away quickly, checking through my lashes if anyone saw. But everyone is focused on Melissa or Kai, completely ignoring me.
Even Thatcher—his back to me as he crouches beside Kai to speak to him.
“What the fuck do you want?” I whisper furiously.
“Come to me,and Kai will be fine.”
I squeeze my eyes shut, desperately trying to think. But the only thing going through my head is, oh God, oh God, oh God, oh God?—
“Come. To. Me.”
I open my eyes.
Kai is being hauled to his feet. His face is scraped from the concrete. There’s blood on his lip. And he’s staring at me with an expression that’s breaking me into pieces.
Betrayed. Again.
Abandoned. Again.
I start walking. Away from him, toward the woods. Toward Bastian. Students part for me. Probably think I’m in shock. Probably don’t care.
Abigail passes me with Melissa in tow, triumph in her eyes. Like she won a prize, but fucked if I know what game we were even playing.
I keep walking.
Past the tree line. Into the shadows.
To where Bastian is waiting.
I expect his smile to be more of a smirk than anything else. But he looks strangely…content. Guess that’s what happens when everything always works out for you.
Wonder what that’s like?
“There’s my good girl.”
He offers his hand.
I don’t take it.
I look back one last time.
Kai is still staring at me with that look I’ll see every time I close my eyes for the rest of my life.
Like I’m exactly who he feared I was.
The girl who leaves.
“You’ve already chosen,” Bastian says. “It’s too late now.”
“You’re wrong,” I murmur.
Something’s wrong. It feels like I’m watching this all happening through someone else’s eyes.
A bemused light gleams in Bastian’s dark eyes. He’s still holding out his hand, so fucking sure of himself. “How so?”
“I’m exactly like Alice.”
Something’s broken inside me.
