Page 36 of Stitches

Home was where the heart was, and that heart lay beating in my Rinny’s chest.

SIRENA

Isat alone, staring out at the sea of students in the courtyard. Church’s father was here. I’d heard the whispers in the hallway that Everett Church was on campus.

People feared his name.

I was one of them.

He’d called upon Stitches and Church to meet with him, and Ashes was stuck in a therapy session. Cady had been sent to the office again and had a meeting with Vice Headmaster Adkins since I assumed Sully was in with Church.

I’d gotten the message from Ashes to wait for him in the courtyard, so I was doing that. I crinkled my brows when I caught sight of the guy in the bunny mask lurking on the edge of the courtyard.

He nodded his head at me slightly.

Or at least I think he did.

I frowned and watched him walk further away from the courtyard. He paused and turned back to me before gesturing with his finger.

Definitely me he was looking at.

As much as I knew I shouldn’t go, I couldn’t seem to stop myself from getting to my feet and following him. When he reached the edge of the thick forest, he paused to make sure I was still following him. I was, but I was quite far behind.

He turned back to the forest and stepped inside, the darkness swallowing him.

When I reached the edge, I lingered, my heart banging hard in my chest.

My curiosity drove me forward after a moment of warring in my head, and I stepped into the darkness too. I wandered through the thick trees, my breath coming out in white puffs the deeper I went.

I could feel him all around me.

A snapping twig.

A cool breeze.

The thickening air as I stood rooted in place, looking around.

“You’re brave,” a deep voice whispered over my shoulder. A chill raced over my skin. I swallowed and stared straight ahead.

He slowly moved to stand in front of me, the mask carefully in place, his full lips and jaw exposed.

“I’ve missed you,” he continued.

I said nothing as I stared up at him.

He closed what little distance there was between us and reached out. I squeezed my eyelids shut when he cradled my cheek, his touch warm.

“I’ve been watching you. You’ve closed yourself off to me. Why?”

I tried to focus on my breathing. I opened my eyes to look at him.

“Why are you so afraid? It’s just us. Here. Alone.” He let out a soft, sad laugh. “I’ve saved you more than I’ve hurt you. That means something, doesn’t it?”

When I didn’t say anything, he continued.

“It’s me.” His voice was almost desperate. Pained.

I closed my eyes and breathed out.

---