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“And yet, you were right.”

I finally looked at my screen.

Audio message from Hudson.

My heart stopped. Hudson hadn’t contacted me since the birthday party. I had checked.

Constantly.

Even after being removed from the chat, even after promising myself I would stop, I still opened our private thread several times a day to confirm there was nothing new.

His name on the screen pulled every thought from my head.

Missy watched my face. “What happened?”

“I don’t know.”

My hands began shaking. I tapped the audio message and put the phone to my ear. For a second, there was only muffled movement and coughing.

Then Hudson spoke. He sounded wrong. Weak.

Each word dragged behind the one before it.

I leaned closer to the phone and replayed it. “This is Hudson. Something broke in the house. There’s gas or powder in the air. It’s affecting⁠—”

Hudson coughed again.

“Warn everyone. Stay away from the property. Call the council and emergency response. Do not enter without protection.”

The message crackled.

His breathing had become faint and uneven.

“Someone attacked the house. Tell Mom⁠—”

The recording ended.

For several seconds, I couldn’t move.

Missy reached across the table. “Sloane?”

I stood so fast the chair tipped backward. “I have to go.”

“What happened?”

“Something’s wrong with Hudson.”

Missy rose. She moved around the table and caught my arm. “Tell me where.”

“I can’t.”

“Sloane, that’s not at all reassuring.”

“I know. I’m sorry.”

“You arrived here crying, apologized for disappearing from my life, and now you’re running out because of a terrifying message from a man you said may never speak to you again.”

“I know.”