Page 113 of The Vanishing Place
“We need to go,” she said, gripping Tia’s hand. “Now.”
But Tia didn’t move. “I’m not leaving,” she said. “Four and I are staying.”
“You can’t stay here.” She pulled at her sister. “Please, Tia, please.”
Tia still didn’t budge.
“I—” Effie panted, “I’ll go and get help. I’ll find someone who can—”
“No!” Tia shouted.
“I don’t…” An ache cracked through Effie’s body. “What do you—”
“This is our special place. Our secret.” Tia stared into her. “If you tell anyone where we are, I’ll never forgive you.”
“Tia, I can’t stay.” Tears dripped into her mouth. “I can’t live here. Not with him.”
“You’re wrong about Dad.”
Effie swallowed the bile in her throat. “You just watched him kill Asher, how can you—”
“Asher shouldn’t have come back.”
“Tia, listen to yourself.”
Tia just stood there.
“I can’t stay here,” whispered Effie. “I can’t watch while he—”
“Then go.” Tia glared at her. “But swear on Mum that you’ll never tell anyone where we are.”
“Tia—”
“Swear it,” Tia yelled.
Effie’s heart burned.
“I promise.”
2025
Effie woke beforedawn, packed a small rucksack and laced up her walking boots.
Then she scribbled on a piece of paper and left it on the kitchen table next to her pounamu necklace.
I’m sorry, Anya, there’s something I have to do. I just need some time.
But I’ll be back.
I promise.
Then she stepped out into the dark.
Going back. Back to Tia.
To find out what happened to her sister.
1988
