Page 61 of Their Arrangement

---

Waiting for something that would never come.

She was the one who got away.

Not because we lost her.

But because she left.

Left us with Camille’s things boxed in the closet.

Left us with blood on our hands and no answers.

Left us to rot in the ruin she never looked back at.

And now?

Now she was crawling through our hallways like the grief belonged to her.

But worse?

She wasn’t pretending anymore.

She meant it.

Every time she looked at Camille’s plaque. Every time she touched her name. Every time she tried to smile in that goddamn skirt that didn’t fit.

She was trying.

And that made it worse.

Because I didn’t want her to try.

I wanted her to bleed.

I finished the drink.

Set it down.

Looked at theblood on my knuckles.

She doesn’t get to wear my sister’s memory like a second skin.

She doesn’t get to grieve here without a cost.

And I’ll be the one to remind her what it costs to be a ghost in this house.

8

CLOE

I almost didn’t openthe door.

There was a knock—three crisp taps.

No voice.

No follow-up.

Just a command wrapped in quiet.

---