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Chapter 60: What it means to take someone
Last Updated:
2026-01-09 14:07:59
Latest chapter
Christmas in ashes CHAPTER 64: The cost of being seen
Being seen isn’t free, it just sends the bill later, usually when you’re already tired.The morning after the council meeting, Hallowpine stops acting polite, no more sideways glances or fake smiles, people look right at me now, some grateful, some pissed, most carrying something heavier, like they’ve just realized they’ve been part of something ugly and can’t hand the guilt back.Ruby flips the shop sign from CLOSED to OPEN with a big theatrical swing.“If they’re gonna stare,” she says, “let’s give them something worth watching.”Lucien gives a short laugh that doesn’t reach his eyes.“You’re actually enjoying this, aren’t you.”“Chaos is more fun with an audience,” she answers, shrugging.Milo’s perched on the counter, legs swinging slow, eyes sharp and quiet, he’s not hiding anymore, he’s watching everything like he’s taking notes for later.The silver in my chest hums soft and steady.“Post exposure stabilization in progress,” the presence says, “secondary pressure vectors probab
Christmas in ashes CHAPTER 63: The consequences of standing
The morning after you finally say the quiet part out loud, the town doesn’t bother with makeup anymore.Hallowpine wakes up prickly and red eyed, conversations stop mid sentence when I walk by, eyes linger a second too long before darting away, it doesn’t feel like rage yet, it feels like the moment people realize they’ve been living inside someone else’s machine and the gears just got loud.Ruby brews coffee so strong it could wake the dead, then drinks it like it’s punishment.“They’re rattled,” she says, almost smiling, “rattled people trip over their own feet, good.”Lucien stands at the window like he’s on sentry duty.“Elias won’t sit still now,” he mutters, “once the mask is off, he’ll get sloppy.”Milo’s curled in the corner of the couch, knees pulled up, hands tucked inside his sleeves, he hasn’t said much since last night, and with Milo quiet isn’t empty, it’s him turning the whole thing over and over in his head like a puzzle piece he’s not sure fits yet.The silver inside
Christmas in ashes CHAPTER 62: The shape of a corner
Pressure doesn’t come with sirens. It just turns the volume down on everything you used to take for granted until the silence itself starts to hurt.Three days in, Hallowpine has turned inconvenience into an art form. Nothing is ever “banned.” Nothing is ever “forbidden.” Everything is just… delayed, Under consideration, Temporarily unavailable due to unforeseen circumstances. The town still smiles at you. Still says good morning. Still asks how you’re holding up. But kindness has teeth now.Milo’s still not allowed back at school. The clinic keeps “losing” my appointment slots. At the grocery store, the shelves mysteriously empty themselves whenever I turn down an aisle. People wave. They nod. They use my name like it’s still a normal word. But every hello carries a little extra space between us.Lucien watches it all with the kind of anger that makes the air around him feel hot. “They’re bleeding you dry,” he says one afternoon, voice rough. “Slow. Polite. No finge
Christmas in ashes CHAPTER 61: What they call necessary
Morning in Hallowpine feels like the day after a really bad fight with someone you still have to live with. Nobody’s yelling anymore, but the air is thick with that careful, brittle quiet. Everyone’s walking on eggshells they laid themselves.I make coffee out of habit. It sits there getting cold while I stare at it. The silver thing inside me isn’t screaming anymore,just watching. Like that friend who stays too long after the party because they know something’s still about to go wrong.Outside, people are taking different routes to the same places. You can tell who’s avoiding whose street.Lucien’s scrolling local updates, jaw so tight I can see the muscle jump. “They’re calling last night a misunderstanding,” he mutters. “Community miscommunication. Emotional escalation.” I give a small, tired laugh that doesn’t reach my eyes. “Of course they are.”Ruby lights a cigarette by the window without opening it. The smoke curls against the glass like it’s trying to get out. “Give
Christmas in ashes Chapter 60: What it means to take someone
They don’t rush me.That’s the first thing that tells me this isn’t over—it’s only changing shape.People stand frozen in the street, breath fogging the air, eyes wide with the kind of shock that comes from seeing themselves reflected too clearly. The mirror holds. Not violently. Not punitively. Just long enough to make denial impossible.Elias recovers first. Of course he does. Men like him always do.“Everyone,” he says calmly, raising his hands, palms out. “Let’s take a step back. This isn’t what we intended.”The silver tightens, not in anger but in emphasis. Intent doesn’t erase impact. It never has.I step forward, just one step, and the crowd recoils again. Not because I’m threatening—because now they understand proximity. They understand that standing this close to someone you’re trying to remove carries weight.“You came here to take me,” I say quietly. “So don’t pretend you were here to talk.”A woman near the back whispers, “We just wanted things to go back to normal.”I lo
Christmas in ashes Chapter 59:The moment they stop asking
The night doesn’t end after the contractors leave. It just changes shape.Silence settles into Hallowpine like something waiting to be mistaken for peace. The candles burn low, their flames steady in a way that feels intentional, as if even fire has decided not to draw attention to itself. Outside, footsteps pass without voices. Doors open and close with too much care.Lucien doesn’t sit. He leans against the wall near the front window, arms crossed, watching shadows shift across the street. Ruby finally stubs out her cigarette and mutters, “That was a rehearsal.”“For what?” Noelle asks, though her voice already knows the answer.“For doing it without asking next time,” Ruby replies.Milo hasn’t moved since the knock. He sits on the floor, knees pulled to his chest, eyes fixed on the door. When he finally speaks, his voice is quiet but steady. “They were supposed to be scared,” he says. “They weren’t.”I close my eyes for a moment. He’s right. Fear would have been easier. Fear hesita
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