Page 185 of Shadow

“I think this whole thing is completely fucked up, but it wouldn’t be our life if it wasn’t.”

I nodded. “True. I can’t wait for it to be over.”

“You’re done here in a few months. Same with the guys. What are you planning to do?”

I sat forward and rested my elbows on my knees. “I don’t know. We never really thought about life after Chapel Crest. I guess I assumed I’d be working in the Underground with Church. That we all would be. Now? I don’t know. It’s the last place I want to be. Not that I wanted to be there to begin with, but now it’s not really an option.”

“Ever worry about being stuck in one of these places forever?” He gestured around us.

“Not really, I guess. I assumed Church would just bail my ass out. I was sent here because of my anger and the fact Everett pretty much owns the place. And you know Sin and Ashes’s stories.”

He nodded. “Life is happening fast, though, Malachi. I’m free here in a few months, too. I would have also been going to the Underground. Most of us here end up there one way or another. That’s just life. We weren’t saved here. We were fed poison and brainwashed to be food for bigger monsters. Collateral damage, even.”

I stared at the floor. He wasn’t wrong. That’s all our lives had been. None of us had family anymore. Church had me, and I had him, and we all had one another, but parents? Family outside one another? Nothing worth talking about.

“I think Church will take over the Underground once Everett is dead,” I said. “It seems to be where his head is.”

“Will you follow?” Shadow asked.

I was quiet for a moment before nodding. “Yeah. I go where he goes. He’s my brother. One of my best friends. We have Sirena. I’ll never leave. You?”

“Until the death.” Shadow gave me a sad smile. “Isn’t that the mantra here? We’re in until we die?”

“That and we keep fucking breathing and trust one another to keep our sanity,” I murmured.

“I’d say we’re doing good.” He got up and stretched his shoulders. “Want to punch each other for a bit?”

I grinned and got to my feet. “You fucking know I do.”

* * *

A knockon our front door later that night had me answering it to find Mirage on the step wearing his rabbit mask and holding his carrot.

“Hey, haven’t seen you in a hot minute,” I said, stepping aside for him.

“I’ve been working,” he said, coming into the room. “I have something we should discuss.”

“Church!” I shouted. “Church! Mirage is here!”

Sirena came barreling out of the hall and threw herself at Mirage. He caught her in his arms and held her tightly against him.

“Hey, Rinny. I’ve missed you.”

She hugged him tighter as Church came down the stairs with Ashes in tow. Sin popped out from his bedroom, and Shadow sat up on the couch where he’d been lounging, reading a book on physics or some shit. Dude was smart, but I figured it had more to do with his insane memory than anything else.

He’d given me the finger when I’d told him that.

“What’s going on?” Church demanded.

Mirage released Sirena and took her hand, leading her to sit. She took a spot next to him, and we all sat in various places in the living room.

“I have a name. I found out who arranged for Cady to go missing,” Mirage said.

Sirena’s eyes widened.

“Who?” Church snarled. He’d been extra snappy lately. I’d even seen he’d purchased baby clothes. I assumed knowing he was going to be an uncle had lit a fire under his ass. Sirena clearly thought it was sweet because she’d fucked the shit out of him when she saw everything for Cady and the baby.

Mirage exhaled and took Sirena’s hand in his and held it.

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