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“She didn't.”

Grace's gaze darkened.

“What you don't know about this town is that you can only survive here if you follow the rules, find your place, and take on the role that's meant for you.” A silent warning flashed through her eyes. “Sooner or later, the consequences of your actions will catch up with you too.”

Then, without losing any of her seriousness, she said something that sent a chill down my spine.

“Welcome to Blairville.” Grace came out from under the table and straightened up. I did the same. “Leave while you still can.” She stepped backward. “But once you take on your role here, this town will devour you just the same.”

And then, with one last warning glance, she turned and hurried up the stairs.

I stood there for a good minute, reflecting on the last ten minutes.

If what Grace said was true, I had already chosen my fate. But it seemed that she had accepted hers as well.

I didn't understand how she could think that way. It was as if she were stuck in old structures and digging her own grave.

This town was cursed.

How could Diana have moved back here and then also dragged Bay with her, whom she had wanted to protect from anything potentially dangerous ever since I had known her? Had she been forced to come back?

The strong-smelling soup, which had started to boil on the stove, snapped me out of my spiral of thoughts. Water was dripping from every piece of furniture around me.

Shaking my head, I left the house and found Julie sitting on the stairs, staring into the void, trembling. She looked paler than usual, and the slight blush that always made her look so elfin had spread across her cheeks again.

I held out my hand to her, and she looked at it absent-mindedly.

“Please, let’s get out of here.”

Tranquil Breezy Early Morning Forest

Nature Sounds

We had just been walking. First five, then ten minutes, and now we found ourselves in a forest that, according to Grace's warnings back then, we weren't even allowed to enter because the big bad wolf might come and get us.

Buddy, who had apparently been hiding inside the house during Julie's outburst and had eventually fled out onto the pond walkway of the student accommodations, was now chasing black butterflies.

Julie stopped and I stepped in front of her, eyeing her closely.

“What did you say to them?” she asked tonelessly.

“I've made sure they won't come near you again.”

I watched her head twitch slightly, as if she wanted to turn away from me, but she held my gaze.

“You know I'm powerful enough to protect myself.”

She was right. The girls had been afraid of her, and I didn't even want to know what she was capable of with her powers.

But she couldn't lie to me. Whatever Vivienna and the others had said to her had hurt her.

“Maybe your magic is powerful.” I put my hand on her shoulder, and this time, she didn't flinch. “But don't tell me you're mentally strong enough to not let their words get to you.”

“I...” she began, but failed to find the words.

“No one is strong enough. Even the strongest people can be broken with the right words.”

She should know that she didn't have to play the strong Julie. She was allowed to show weakness.