She leads us farther from the cabin, to a remote part of thehollow covered with trees and nestled between the tall, rounded hills. Eventually, she comes to a stop and points straight ahead.
“There.”
Cautiously, I step around her, scanning the area for … something. I don’t actually know what I expect to see. I see nothing, though.
Violet’s hands slam into my back, sending me toppling forward. I hit my knees, catching myself with my hands. On the ground in front of me is a large, smooth rock, roughly the size of a dinner plate, that I now realize looks like it’s been deliberately placed.
“There she is,” Violet says. “You’re right on top of her.”
“Oh my God,” I whisper as a bone-deep chill starts in my chest and spreads throughout my body. I dig my fingers into the dirt, knowing for certain now that Marigold—the only girl to ever refuse her trials—is dead.
“Does Sol know?” I ask. “That … that you … ?”
“Of course he does,” Violet answers from behind me. “But I’m not the one who did it. When Lily messed up and accidentally let Marigold out, she started running. Lily went after her, but I wasn’t sure she’d be fast enough. So I grabbed the gun. I let off a warning shot, but Lily thought I was actually aiming, so shetackled Marigold. I don’t think I’ll ever forget the crack of her head on the rock.”
It’s not cold, but I’m shivering. “Lily? Lily killed her?”
“She didn’t mean to,” Violet says. “But sometimes accidents are good things.”
“And Sol?”
“He was real grateful for it. She couldn’t live in the shed forever, and we couldn’t trust her after that. If she got to town, she’d talk about us. Probably tell lies. Get the cops out here. But he didn’t know what to do with her. Lily solved that problem whether she meant to or not. We protected him.”
She sounds so proud when she says it. Like Sol’s gratitude is more than enough to make up for the horrific accident.
“I’ll do anything to protect his garden,” Violet says. “That includes you, Iris. Unless you betray us. You turn on us—you decide not to do your trials—and I’ll make sure you never get out of this holler. There won’t be a warning shot next time, and there’s plenty of room right here next to Marigold.”
I hear the snapping of twigs behind me, and I know Violet has walked away, back toward the cabin. She leaves me alone with Marigold, her words hanging over me like a black shroud.
“Whatshould I do?” I ask the dead girl buried beneath me. But, of course, she has no answer.
I think I know, though. I think I know what I have to do. As painful as the answer is, as scared as I am, I think I have my decision.
And now I need a plan.
IRIS
Solgave me three days.
Each night, before we climb the stairs to go to the attic, Sol locks eyes with me and smiles. He waits until the others are turned away before holding up a hand and ticking down one more finger.
Three.
Two.
One.
It’s the third night now. My last chance.
I keep thinking of Marigold, quietly rotting in a shallow grave. Now that I know what happened to her, where she ended up, the girl I never knew consumes my mind. Will Rose be buried next to her if I go through with this? Will we both be buried there if I don’t? Will it be Violet who takes us out? Would Lily let her? What would happen to Poppy or Zinnia? How would they take it?
I’vespent the last couple of nights unable to sleep during the scant few hours of rest we’re allowed, lying awake, all too aware of the knife hidden beneath my mattress. I’m exhausted and terrified.
And guilty.
Guilty for both paths I could walk tonight. Guilty because no matter what I decide, I will be hurting someone I care about.
Because no matter what he’s done, I do love Sol. I can’t forget that he still saved me. Gave me a home. And I love my sisters, too. Betraying Sol will betray them.
