The “Why Me?” question cut off then, replaced by an all-consuming need to murder the she-wolf who’d ended our happy family.
But before I could, Sadie got in front of me and looped the duffel bag over my shoulder, stringing the strap diagonal across my chest like a huge crossbody purse.
Probably her way of weighing me down. To keep me from lunging. To keep me from ripping out Naomi’s throat for what she’d said. For what she’d done to my da.
“Dorie! Dorie!” Sadie forced my attention back to her.
Despite the duffel, she pulled me into her arms and hugged me tight.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I’m so very sorry, Dorie. Remember the poem! Say it out loud! Right now! It will save you!”
Was she kidding?
No peace would be brokered here today. The only person needing saving was Naomi, the Turncoat Queen. And there was no way I was going to recite that weird poem the bears made me memorize to my bitch of an aun?—
Sadie’s hands landed hard on my chest, cutting off my violent thoughts.
Sadie was so nice.
So warm and kind.
It wasn’t until I hit the ice-cold water that I realized…
She’d shoved me!
In an instant, Aunt Naomi became the furthest thing from my mind.
Why me?
I was drowning.
Oh God—I’m drowning.
Much faster than I should’ve been under the weight of the duffel.
I kicked and twisted, but I couldn’t get free. Couldn’t stop sinking.
Why me?
On our hike through the rolling hills of The Above to get here, Sadie had begun singing a vintage song by an Irish band. Aboutforgiveness and temples and higher laws. For some reason, it went off in my head as I went down….
Down…
Down… past the lake’s stone wall.
Except… the wall changed. It went from smooth to bumpy.
I vaguely registered carvings.
Three statues. Giant dragons with extended snouts.
I was drowning.
Dying…
With a song about fractured relationships that may or may not work out playing in my head.
But as I sank, I couldn’t help wondering…
