Don’t look down, I remind myself.
I place one foot on the wood plank, holding on to the rope as I propel myself up. My heart hammers, the fear of falling huge in my mind, but the temptation of winning is sweeter and more powerful.
I finally reach the top, Cass smiling with pride. He waited for me the entire time. He grabs my hand and helps me inside.
When we turn, a girl sits huddled in the hut. She’s shaking from head to toe and her hair looks like mine and Cassidy’s.
It’s bright, almost silvery but blonde too.
Why is she out here by herself?
Is she okay?
Her eyes meet his and then mine after she peers upwards.
“Cass, Col!” she practically yells, jumping up and into our arms. My gaze lands on my brother’s and he has this worrisome look. It’s not like he’s confused about this strange and random girl, but instead, sad, like he misses her too.
“Who—” I start, and Cass shakes his head.
“Col, will you go back to the house and get help? I don’t want us to get in trouble for sneaking out.”
As much as I want to argue and tell him to do it himself, something in his expression is pleading, and I move away from them both and out the treehouse. While I’m climbing down the stairs, I hear her cry.
“Why doesn’t she remember me, Cass? She’s our sister.”
A pain breaks from my chest and I fall into a heap on the floor. Sister? Did she call me sister? I try to focus on her facial features, try to zone in on any details that would remind me of who she is.
I think of her, my eyes well up, and I wonder if this is just my overactive imagination. Mom always said I was too overzealous, that I overdo everything and make every situation about me. But this… it feels too real.
“I have a sister?” I whisper aloud, and I’ve never seen a person clam up as fast as my father does in this moment.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Colt
“Justice called,” Lux says as I’m laying down. I’ve literally just went to get away from reality after they all disappeared. The need for a smoke is almost deafening. Why can’t I have my stash?
I’d wanted to meander through the halls to distract myself, but I figured since they’re avoiding me anyway, I may as well pretend that I’m fine.
“What’d he say?” I mutter, not even sure if I want to know why Justice and Pru decided to be dicks. They aren’t who I thought they were, but I still can’t help the little part of me that found peace with them in Tennessee.
“They want to talk to Mortem about coming here. They somehow know about your lineage.”
“What about Ross?” I’m more worried about what they’ve done to him than anything else. If I’m going to die, I might as well die.
“He’s with them,” he mentions, placing his hands in his pockets.
“Obviously,” I mutter indignantly. I’m so sick of them walking over eggshells, acting like I’m useless.
He stands there awkwardly and unable to handle the silence, I grab the remote, turning on the TV.
With what’s on the screen, I really wish I hadn’t.
“We’re live here today at Arcadia, receiving details on what occurred two days ago,” the anchor announces like there’s a big mystery. As soon as I see the caption, my chest aches.
Dean of the school has been murdered and the suspects have fled.
“I’m guessing this is what you avoided telling me,” I whisper, not knowing what to say. “Another dead person at our school.” Dean Rimbaur was kind, always fighting for equality. She didn’t harass girls when teachers dress-coded them. She didn’t blame girls when guys touched them and they fought back. She didn’t excuse boys for what they did because they need to own up to their consequences.
She was what every school needed, a person who fights for women.
Before he can respond, the door opens behind him and it’s Jordan. He gives him an indecipherable look and it’s bothersome to think they’re willing to hide shit when I’m right here.
How will this relationship work? Fuck the fact that we’re legally married, what about the fact that we’re all fighting the same fight but I’m somehow too weak to know everything? They really underestimate the power I have.
The need to yell, force them to tell me what they’re talking about, burns my limbs, but I force the urge down, tampering it like I do my voice when Mom argues with me about my maturity.
Their inability to see my strength and push me away when it fits them bothers me to no end. “We’ll be back,” Lux lamely excuses himself.
The dismissal sets me off. Not because it’s Lux or Jordan, or the fact that they’re undermining me. No, it’s because it’s my goddamn life and safety. They’re male heirs. As long as their sexual relationship isn’t outed, they’re safe.
I’m not.
I run to the closet, changing into a pair of jeans and a long sleeve shirt, not wanting to get cold if there’s a chance.
Peeking my head out the door, I see Jordan, Lux, Bridger, and Ten talking. They’re far enough away that they won’t spot me if I’m quiet. Tiptoeing to the opposite direction of them, I go to the other side exit.
Once I round several corners, my shoulders and body relax. My sneakers start squeaking against the floor, reminding me how my gait gets lazy when I’m agitated. If I’m not careful, I’ll scuff it. A thought forms inside me at the rebelling realization.
Instead of making more noise, garnering attention, I decide it’s the perfect time to go to that cabin Bridger practically forced me out of.
He may not have noticed how he practically shoved me away and locked it, but I did.
It’s hard for me not to notice when they’re being evasive. Sometimes, it seems like their ignorance on what insight I offer overwhelms their rational thought. They can’t think I’m stupid, right? Shoving away that worry, I stroll through the halls and swing right to where the guard I evaded earlier usually stands.
Right now, he’s not there.
My lips tilt and I scan the area, wondering if there’re any others. It’s not like this place is crawling with guards, but there are some. Once the latch snicks, awarding me with freedom, I rush toward the wooded area and then sneak to the cabin. It’s not close and when wandering out here earlier, it merely took me by surprise that Bridger was there.
Truth be told, exploring was all that I’d tried to do.
When the coast seems entirely clear, I book it to the cabin. This time, I won’t knock. Honestly, knocking before ended badly and wasn’t a good idea on my part. This time, I’d sneak, break in, see whatever Bridger hides within the walls.