Joanie 的作品

She didn't sleep.Not even for ten minutes.She sat on the edge of her bed with the pendant in her palm, turning it over and over until the metal warmed against her skin.Ethan hadn't stolen the money.The security guard had said it.And if that was true, then everything Sienna had believed for three years had been built on a lie.Her phone buzzed.She looked at the screen.No message.Just the time.3:17 a.m.Sienna stared at the numbers.That was the time written on the old photograph.The same time from the video.Her stomach tightened.Then her phone buzzed again.Unknown number.Ask him what happened at 3:17.She stared at the message.“Enough.”She threw the phone onto the bed.It buzzed again.You wanted the truth.Another message.Start with Jace.Sienna picked up the phone.Her fingers hovered over the screen.She wanted to ignore it.She couldn't.She typed:Who are you?The reply came immediately.Someone who remembers what you don't.Sienna frowned.Before she could answer

Sienna couldn't move.The figure stood at the end of the hallway, half-hidden beneath the weak yellow light.She knew that voice.She had heard it once before.Three years ago.On a night she had spent years trying to forget.“Ethan?”The man didn't answer.Her heart slammed against her ribs.She took one cautious step forward.“Ethan?”This time, the figure moved.Not toward her.Away.Sienna's eyes widened.“Wait!”She ran.The man disappeared around the corner.“Hey!”Sienna chased him down the hallway, her shoes slapping against the floor.She turned the corner.Nothing.No footsteps.No open door.No one.Her breathing became ragged.“This isn't funny.”She looked around frantically.Then she noticed a door at the end of the corridor.It was slightly open.Sienna rushed toward it.She pushed it open.Empty.Just an old storage room filled with broken chairs and dusty boxes.Her heart sank.“No…”She searched the room anyway.Nothing.Then she saw something on the floor.A silver

For several seconds, nobody moved.Jace stood under the emergency lights, the small black flash drive between his fingers.FOR SIENNA ONLY.Sienna stared at it.Her mouth had gone completely dry.“That's…” She swallowed. “That's weird.”Jace looked at her.“Very.”“Maybe it's not mine.”“Your name is on it.”“Lots of people are named Sienna.”He raised an eyebrow.“Not at Westbridge.”She opened her mouth.Closed it.Damn.Jace held the flash drive toward her.“Take it.”She didn't.“Why?”“Because apparently it's for you.”“That doesn't mean I should touch mysterious objects found after someone breaks into a building.”“Five minutes ago, you were following a mysterious person through a dark hallway.”“That was different.”“How?”“I was curious.”“And now?”“I'm developing wisdom.”Despite everything, Jace laughed.It lasted only a second.Then his expression became serious again.“Sienna.”She looked at him.“Are you scared?”She wanted to say no.Instead, she nodded.“A little.”Jac

The old equipment room smelled like dust, sweat, and something that had been left to rot.Sienna stood in the doorway and wrinkled her nose.“Why does every suspicious place smell like this?”Jace glanced at her.“Because suspicious places aren't known for good housekeeping.”“This is disgusting.”“You're the one who wanted to come.”“I wanted answers. I didn't realize answers came with mold.”Jace almost smiled.Almost.He was too tense.The equipment room had been locked when they arrived, but the broken latch hung from the door like someone had ripped it apart.Inside, old basketballs sat in wire baskets. Boxes were stacked against the walls. Dust covered almost everything.Almost.Sienna noticed the floor immediately.There were fresh footprints near the back shelves.She crouched.“Jace.”He followed her gaze.“Those weren't here before.”“You're sure?”“No.”He raised an eyebrow.She shrugged.“I've never been here before.”“Then how do you know?”“Because they're fresh.”He loo

Sienna spent most of Saturday morning staring at the photographIt was becoming a problemShe had placed it on her deskThen moved it to her bedThen put it inside a drawerThen taken it back out againNow it was sitting beside her breakfast, and she was glaring at it like it had personally offended herMaya walked into the room, took one look at her, and stopped“Are you fighting with a picture?“No.“You've been staring at that thing since I woke up.“I'm thinking.Maya dropped onto the bed“That usually doesn't end well for you.“Thank you for your support.“Anytime.Sienna picked up the photograph“Do you know anything about Jace's old team?Maya's expression changed“A little.“How much is a little?“Enough to know you shouldn't be asking me while looking like you're about to investigate a murder.Sienna frowned“I'm not investigating a murder.“Good.“I'm investigating a basketball scandal.Maya stared at her“That is somehow worse.Sienna laughed despite herselfThen her phone

By Friday morning, Sienna had developed a new survival strategy.Avoid Jace.It was simple.It was sensible.It was also completely useless.Because apparently Jace had developed his own strategy.Find Sienna.Everywhere.She saw him outside the cafeteria.Then near the library.Then outside her afternoon class.By the third time, she stopped walking.“Are you stalking me?”Jace, who was holding two coffees, looked offended.“I'm being friendly.”“You've been friendly six times today.”“Seven.”She stared at him.“Seven?”“You forgot breakfast.”“I didn't forget breakfast.”“You said you weren't hungry.”“That is not the same thing.”He handed her a coffee.She took it despite herself.“What is this?”“Vanilla.”“You remembered?”“I remember things.”She narrowed her eyes.“That sounds suspicious.”“What?”“You're becoming thoughtful.”“Should I stop?”She took a sip.“No.”He smiled.“I knew it.”“You're still annoying.”“I can live with that.”They continued walking.Sienna glanced