I push forward, and my breath comes in ragged gasps. Someone steps over me, almost trips just before I hit something solid.
Arms wrap around me. Strong arms. Familiar ones.
Callum.
I don’t even need to see him. I know him. His scent, his warmth, the way he exhales the second I’m in his arms, like he’s been holding his breath since the power went out.
"Baby," he whispers against my ear, gripping me so tight it almost hurts. "I’ve got you."
My fingers clutch his t-shirt, tears stinging my eyes as I bury my face against his chest. The world could end right now and I wouldn’t notice.
Because he found me.
Callum cradles me against his chest as we finally reach the outside of the building.
Winter is sitting on a bench, and Tristan’s losing it. He’s kneeling, shirtless, his gear discarded somewhere behind him, checking her over with shaking hands.
"She’s hurt," Madi tells us quietly, as Callum sets me down on my feet. I feel Callum’s hand flexing around my hip so gently like he’s checking to make sure I’m okay. "She got knocked over in the panic, but she said she didn’t get stepped on." I nod, looking Madi and then Hayden over, too. They both look fine, which is such a relief. I honestly don’t know how us three girls got separated so quickly when the lights went out. I reached out, and no one was there.
Winter is trying to stand up, and by the look on her face I think she can tell that Tristan is about to absolutely lose it. He’s been brewing for a while, probably since before I was really brought into this little family. "I’m fine," she insists.
But he’s not listening.
Tristan’s breathing is ragged, and when he speaks, it sounds like it’s tearing out of him. "I couldn’t find you. I’m going to fucking sew you to my chest. I can’t take this." Winter’s mouth parts with a silent ‘oh’, and then she’s cradling the back of his head as he leans in and presses his face to her stomach. Tristan’s arms wrap tight around her, like she’s the only thing he needs in this life. I know they’re foster siblings, and it would probably cause some rifts in their family, but at this point, they should just be together. This kind of thing, the way he is with her, is never going to go away. Winter strokes his hair, down his neck, and finally down his back, with soft movements meant to soothe.
It apparently doesn’t work because he stands up with her in his arms, never breaking contact. He’s holding her close to his chest, and I see the moment she lets go, letting him have the control he needs right now.
Madi’s standing, leaning up against Hayden’s chest, and his arms are around her just like they usually are. "Are you okay?" she calls out to Winter.
Winter only nods, but it’s Tristan who answers.
His voice sounds furious. "We figure this shit out and we figure it out soon. We kill whoever is dumb enough to fuck with us and be done with it. I don’t care if it was a prank or not even related to whatever is going on with you two." He points straight at me and Callum. "We find them and we end it or I burn this whole fucking school to the ground and go live in the fucking woods where I can get some peace."
A nervous laugh escapes me before I can stop it. I slap a hand over my mouth, but the sound is out. It’s just so rare to hear Tristan speak, let alone explode.
Winter cups the back of his neck, still in his arms, and says softly, "You know, living in the middle of the woods doesn’t sound half bad to me right now."
Tristan doesn’t even blink. "Don’t fucking tempt me. I’ll pack a bag right now and no one will ever see us again."
Madi stares at them. "He’s kidding, right?"
Winter just shrugs, offering us all a wave as Tristan walks off toward his bike without another word.
I try to convince myself it was just a glitch with the lights. A huge overreaction by everyone watching the practice. But the truth is, people are scared. They should be. Girls are dying on this campus and the school is doing everything in its power to pretend it’s not happening. The administration is burying everything they can, and the students who speak up are sent home.
Everyone knows it. No one talks about it.
And the worst part is? The parents are in on it.
The families of Castlebrook students are so tangled up in shady shit that even if their kid ended up dead, they’d keep theirmouths shut to stay in good standing with the university and the powerful men and women who use this school like it’s a private playground.
I understand it too well. My parents already proved how little I matter to them. They offered me up like a bargaining chip to fix my brother’s mess. If I ended up like one of those girls, throat slit and body discarded, I honestly believe they’d mourn me in private and keep smiling for the cameras.
Madi bumps my shoulder gently and laughs, nodding toward the parking lot. "Wanna help me design a two team jersey? I saw this one online and it gave me an idea.."
Hayden picks her up and slings her over his shoulder like it’s nothing. She squeals, kicking her legs.
“What do you need two teams on a jersey for?” Hayden bellows, and it’s clear that he’s joking when he adds, “Two boyfriends? Is that what you’re up to? What school do I need to visit?”
