All Chapters of STRANGER ATTRACTION : Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

I hastened my steps, putting as much distance as I could between Veylor and me. Trusting myself after what I had just said felt dangerous. My thoughts tugged at me, urging me to turn back, to look over my shoulder, to see if he was still standing there, shattered by my words. I resisted and kept moving.Soon, walking no longer felt enough. I broke into a run, and that only made everything unravel faster.Heat surged through me, deep and overwhelming, as though my body were burning from the inside. Breathing grew difficult. My legs weakened beneath me. I knew I could not keep going. All I wanted was to stop, to scream, to cry until there was nothing left inside me.I slowed, scanning my surroundings. When I saw no one nearby, I hurried to the corner of an abandoned shack and pressed myself against it. Both hands flew to my mouth as a scream tore through me, swallowed by my palms. Then the tears came, heavy and uncontrollable.My back slid down the wall until I was seated on the ground.

The days after the doctor left with Papa’s samples felt endless. Time slowed in a way I had never known, stretching each hour longer than the last. Sometimes I forgot what day it was. Other times I wished forgetting could make the week pass faster.It didn’t.Every morning I woke hoping today would be the day. Every night I went to bed disappointed. The waiting followed me everywhere—quiet at first, then deafening whenever my thoughts strayed too far.I tried not to think about the results. Tried not to imagine things I couldn’t fix. But my mind refused to listen.What if the illness was worse than we thought?What if there was no cure?What if I lost him too?I forced myself to stay strong for Papa, smiling whenever I spoke. My voice remained steady, assuring him everything would be fine even when my heart wasn’t sure.Still, deep inside, something whispered that the answer we were waiting for would change everything.This morning marked exactly one week.I woke with a tightness in m

Papa remained in front of me, yet my mind had drifted far from the room. My thoughts pressed against the closed door, straining to catch whatever the doctor was saying to my brothers. I could not focus. Questions crowded in, loud and restless. Why only Corven and Tallis? Why the secrecy?Papa had fallen asleep, his fingers still wrapped around mine. His breathing was shallow but steady. That fragile sound was the only thing grounding me. I glanced at Kayla. She stood by the window with the others, murmuring soft words that did little to calm the girls. Their backs faced the door, shoulders hunched, faces wet with quiet tears. No one was watching me.The moment felt narrow, fleeting. Carefully, I slipped my hand from Papa’s grasp. He did not stir. I moved slowly, my steps light, crossing the room and leaving the door slightly open behind me. Waiting any longer felt impossible. Whatever was being said was taking too long, and patience had already run out.The hallway was empty. No voice

“Woooow!” Kayla’s eyes widened as she sprang to her feet. “I know you’ve done crazy things, but this one is really sick.”She rushed Horris and wrapped her arms around him. He kissed her without hesitation.My mouth fell open.“What?” I pushed myself up, staring between them, lost and stunned. “Wait. Are you two… a thing now?” I gestured at both of them.“We’ve always been,” Horris said calmly.Kayla rested her head on his chest while he held her close.“Really?” A scoff escaped me as I rolled my eyes. “I’m not surprised. You two have always been into each other, even back then.” A small smile crept in. “I’m happy for you both. Group hug?”I rushed in and joined them, laughter bubbling out as they laughed too.Then reality crashed back.I pulled away before they did and paced toward the door. My gaze stayed on the floor for a moment before lifting to Horris again.“You said you’ve been here since Papa tried to reach for the water?”A brief smile flashed across his face.My hand went t

“Follow me,” he said, climbing the stairs with ease. “By the way, I’m Ethan.”He was already on the last step when he turned, catching Kayla and me still frozen in place, watching him.“Don’t just stand there!” His voice jerked us into motion, and we hurried to catch up.At the top, he paused, waiting for us, then pushed open a door. The inside was a mix of old furniture and scattered clutter. Paintings leaned against the walls, and dust motes floated in the sunlight streaming through the large windows.“Wait here,” Ethan said, disappearing down a hallway.A few minutes later, a woman appeared, Ethan trailing behind her. She was in her late forties, her hair streaked with grey yet carefully styled, wearing a floral dress that matched her poised and sharp presence.“Come in, come in,” she said, beckoning us into the living room where we had been left waiting.“You’re late, Kayla,” she said, sitting down and then pointing at the couch. “Sit, please.”We eased ourselves onto the couch. H