Page 6 of Bones

No longer in Massachusetts.

I closed my eyes and mentally reached for my siblings. No matter how far spread we were across the continents, I always felt them. That presence had been a reassurance in the face of evil. Yet suddenly I could not find our links. Not even a thin thread of them.

All that was left was three jagged connections that had been violently severed.

They’re gone?

I refused to entertain the thought.

Rather than channeling my focus outward in search of them, I directed it upward to the powers-that-be.

Silence.

I will hunt for my siblings. I do not care how long it takes or how far I need to go. No corner of this Earth will go unexplored.

I will find them.

There is no other option.

Aurora

MODERN DAY, SIX YEARS AGO

“We still goingto the mall after youth group?” Annabelle whispered to the group.

I might have been standing with them, but I wasn’t included in the trip or their discussion.

I knew better than to assume I was.

Bethany nodded excitedly. “I have the car and told my mom we’re spending this beautiful Saturday afternoon volunteering at the shelter like good girls.”

A dirtiness at just hearing that lie spread across my skin, but I pushed it away.

“I heard Hunter talking at school yesterday that he’d be there with his friends.” Claire tugged at the buttoned cardigan she wore. “Before we look for them, I’m gonna buy a crop top.”

It wasn’t my business what she bought or wore, but her father was a different matter.

The pastor preached on a pulpit of fire and brimstone about everything, but especially the immodesty of women. Revealingclothes were the modern version of the apple that Eve used to tempt man.

To damn humanity.

If he were to find out his own daughter was exposing her skin—skin that, according to his sermons, belonged to her future husband—she would face his wrath. It would be worse if others from the congregation witnessed her disrespect.

And they would.

Images flashed through my head.

Claire choking on a soft pretzel until she lost consciousness.

Old Ms. Crane as her emergency room nurse.

The retelling of Claire’s worldly clothing spreading through the pews like wildfire.

Pastor Gideon’sviolentwrath.

I tried to hold the words in. I swallowed past the thickness of them lodged in my throat like I was the one choking.

This is just my imagination.

---