I lock the door and lean a chair under the handle as a precaution before crashing in my own bed. This time, despite the new revelations, sleep drags me into this dark abyss.I don’t know how long I sleep for but when I wake up, it’s to see dark clouds rolling outside, a harsh wind picking up and rattling our windows. Beth is sleeping next to me under the covers. I blink at her, blearily. She must have crawled into my bed when I went to sleep. I don’t mind the warmth and I stare at the ceiling. I must have dozed off because I hear a sharp rap on my window and my eyes fly open, only to see Quill’s face plastered against the window as he stares at us.I let out a startled shout and Beth is on her feet, her eyes still half asleep, a knife in her hand as she points it in the air at no one, “W-What?!”“Wha-“I stare between her and Quill, who’s grinning now like a madman. I don’t know whether to take the knife from her first or open the window for Quill.Finally, I rip the knife out o

The entrance to the tunnels is already open, the trapdoor up in the air.I jump down without hesitation. For some odd reason, my eyes are able to see through the darkness. It’s not as clear as I would like but I can make out the walls and the entrances to the side tunnels. Using the carvings on the side, I keep walking, my ears open. I don’t know if she’s going to be here under the Level One island. But since all the attacks were in these tunnels, I’m taking a guess that I’m going to find Rachel lurking about here.I make my way towards the vault, slowly and steadily, careful not to let out a sound.However, when I reach the vault, there’s no one there. Blinking, my heart sinks.Was I wrong?The vault doors are untouched and there is no sign of anyone having been here. For a moment, I hesitate, but I was clearly wrong. I turn around only to see a fist flying in my direction. I hear the sound of flesh striking flesh before the pain registers, as I go flying back.My vision

Coming back home is a strange sensation. I feel different as I stare at the trailers, at the dry, cracked grounds, feeling the sweat roll off of me in the sweltering heat. It’s all so familiar and yet I feel like I stick out like a sore thumb.I head towards the familiar looking trailer and when I try the door, it’s unlocked. Letting out a sigh, I open it and head inside. The place looks almost cleaner. Dolores has been busy, it seems. My dad’s things are nowhere in sight, though, and my heart clenches in my chest. What did she do with them?I already didn’t expect any of my reminders lingering around and I’m not surprised when I see that she’s tossed them away.I would feel sad to have my entire childhood home turned upside down but then, without my father, this isn’t really a home. I check the time and realize that Dolores is probably at Happy Hour in some nearby bar. She won’t be back for a couple of hours. I head over to where my bed used to be and remove the laundry buc

“So, what did you find out?” Quill leans forward, curiously.“Nothing,” I shake my head. “My dad wasn’t killed. It was a suicide.”I feel numb saying it because a part of me still can’t believe it, refuses to believe it.“Oh, Taylor,” Beth gives me a sympathetic look and when she hugs me, I don’t reject it. “I know it’s hard.”She’s right but there’s nothing I can do about it.“That’s tough,” Quill sinks back into his seat. “Sorry.”“It’s okay.”“So, now what?”“I don’t know,” I shrug. “Classes begin tomorrow. It’s going to be a new normal for us.”“We have our level up tests as well,” Beth points out. “Those who clear will become Level Twos.”“It’s not a hard test,” Quill points out. “Just physical tests. And the tests are in three months. So, we have time. Hard to believe we don’t have summer vacations though.”I watch them talk between themselves and when they get up to head out, I decide to go on a walk by myself. I watch them leave before heading towards the waterfall.