Page 126 of Semblance

The tablet fell from Shadow’s hands and smashed onto the ground. He turned to me and was about to say something. Whatever it was, I didn’t want to hear it.

Sometimes you could read a person’s face and just know that the news wasn’t going to be good.

“Aria, I don’t-” he began, but I shook my head and cut him off.

“Whatever you want to say, don’t say it,” I said. “If it will break my heart, please just don’t say it.”

Shadow paused for a moment, and then nodded. That nod felt like a bullet tearing through me. I wanted him to tell me that he would never break my heart, that the love we shared was real and had nothing to do with Calisto’s sick, twisted games.

But he didn’t. He nodded.

“I’m lost Shadow,” Lincoln said. “For the first time in a long time, I have no idea what to do.”

Shadow turned to him. “I’ll tell you what we’re going to do Lincoln. We’re going to rebuild the Midnight Society,” he said with a fiery resolution. “And then I’m going to find my sister and kill her.”

Lincoln closed his eyes for a brief moment, and when they opened again, he wore the same determination on his face as Shadow had.

I had nothing to offer, feeling like I had no place here with them--no place in Shadow’s heart anymore. I turned and began to walk away but it was Lincoln--not Shadow that called my name.

“It’s safer staying here with us,” he said.

I looked at Shadow, but he didn’t look at me. His thoughts were elsewhere.

Memories of the past three weeks flashed like snapshots. Twenty-one short days and the life I knew had been obliterated. I hated Calisto more than the cancer that stole my father away from me.

Shadow wanted to find his sister and kill her, but he’d have to get in line.

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End

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