SofiaI stood there, staring at the closed door, feeling the weight of the next six hours settle on my shoulders. She could turn again. Both you and Maya could be in danger.I let my head tip back, stared at the water stain on the ceiling, and let out a breath so long it emptied me out.“I miss Pari
SofiaReed was still there when we got back. The moment I saw him, a relief so sharp and deep ran through me I almost had to sit down.He was in the desk chair, legs crossed, one hand scrolling through something on his phone. The other rested on Maya’s bed rail, not even gripping—just there, calm, l
The girl frowned, shifting her books. “It just seems—” She looked at the ground, embarrassed, then back up. “Never mind. I just wanted to check if you were alright.” She aimed that at Ava, who still hadn’t moved or spoken.“Ava, are you okay?” she asked, softer now. “What’s wrong? Did something happ
SofiaAva had been shaking for five minutes straight, and I was starting to panic. I’d picked the first empty bench I could find—some sad, splintered plank bolted to a patch of concrete between two buildings I couldn’t name.I got her sitting, at least, but now she just hunched forward, hood so far
AvaAbove me, a bird landed in the sycamore tree. I could hear its heartbeat, the quick flutter, the scratch of its claws on the bark. I heard it swallow.I heard the feather ruffle as it shook out a wing. Somewhere underground, water rushed through a pipe, so loud I thought the earth itself was goi
AvaThe hallway was a nightmare.The first step outside the dorm room and every fluorescent bulb overhead buzzed like an insect inside my skull. The sound was so sharp I could feel it in my teeth, each flicker and stutter of the lights slicing into my head.Sofia’s footsteps on the tile were complet