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Dream’s voice drifted from Rita’s bedroom, followed by Rita’s laughter. I stopped packing and looked toward the hallway.

They had no clue I was leaving.

Dream was going to wake up tomorrow and wonder why I had disappeared without hugging her goodbye. Rita might ask for Everly before breakfast, then forget the answer and ask again. I had become part of their routine, but they had become part of my heart.

Now, I had to leave them in this house with Storie.

That little bitch had already threatened Dream. She knew exactly how to manipulate Rita, and Justice would defend her against anything I said. I needed to find something he couldn’t dismiss. Even if he never forgave me, I had to make him believe the truth before Storie hurt either one of them.

I grabbed enough clothes to get me through the next few days, along with my toiletries, laptop and charger. Everything else would have to stay. I zipped the suitcase and pulled it into the hallway.

When I reached Rita’s door, I could hear Dream explaining something to her. Rita praised her as if she had just solved world hunger instead of a first-grade homework problem.

I reached for the doorknob.

“Don’t.”

Justice’s voice came from the bottom of the stairs.

I looked down at him. “Can I at least tell them goodbye?”

“No.”

“They don’t even know I’m leaving.”

“They don’t need to be involved in this.”

“Dream is going to think I abandoned her. Rita depends on me.”

“And I just found out that I don’t know who the fuck you are. You’re not going back in that room.”

I pulled my hand away from the knob. He looked at me as if I had broken into his house instead of living there. I wanted to tell him that I loved him, but the words would sound like another desperate lie.

I dragged my suitcase down the stairs. The wheels banged against each step, loud enough for Dream to hear, but Rita’s bedroom door remained closed.

When I reached the foyer, Justice stepped aside to give me a clear path to the front door.

“I know you’re mad right now, but there is so much more to my story than what you think you know. If you give me a chance, I can explain everything.”

“I gave you plenty of chances to tell me who you were.”

“I was afraid.”

“You should’ve thought about that before you moved into my house.”

“Please, Justice. Search Storie’s room. Ask her about the letter. You don’t have to forgive me, but you need to protect Rita and Dream.”

“My family was fine before you got here.”

“No, they weren’t. You just didn’t know what was happening.”

“Get out, Melody.”

I dragged my suitcase outside. Justice closed the door before I reached my car.

After throwing my things into the trunk, I looked up at the second-floor windows. Storie was somewhere inside, wearing that sweet little girl mask while Justice protected her from me. Dream trusted her because she was her big sister. Rita trusted whatever face she recognized in the moment.

I was leaving them with the person I had been trying to save them from.