Page 3 of The Broken Note

I smell the end of everything I hold dear.

“Mom.” I croak. And then I react.

Desperately.

Without thought.

I wrap my arms around her and try to jerk her back, away from the doorway, away from Viola.

It’s too late.

Vi’s sharp gasp and the clatter of her cell phone on the ground are what I hear first. Slowly, almost painfully, my eyes move to my little sister’s face. Pale skin. Dark hair. Pretty. Like mom.

Except her makeup isn’t a tool to hide how tough life has been. My sister’s makeup enhances her round cheeks and pretty lips. Her sweet, innocent eyes.

Eyes that are darkening with horror and pain as she stares at our mother.

“What… who is this? Why does she look like mom?”

“Vi—”

“It’s me, baby.” Mom coos. “I’m back.”

“Back?But…” Vi’s face turns as white as a sheet. “You were dead. You…” Her gaze shifts to me. “Did you know?”

My mouth opens, but no sound comes out.

Viola’s eyes narrow.

Something shatters in my heart when I see her look of betrayal.

I take a step forward, but she whips around and takes off at a breakneck speed, sprinting down the hallway and dragging my heart with her.

* * *

Jinx: Dirty Secrets Don’t Stay Buried

Redwood Prep has been known to cough up earth-shattering scandals, but I might have just stumbled on the biggest of them all.

You know what they say. Don’t dig up the body in the backyard, or its ghost just might pay you a visit.

Until the next post, keep your enemies close and your secrets even closer.

- Jinx

CHAPTERTWO

CADENCE

I call Dutch.

Not because I want to.

In fact, he’s the absolute last person I wish to talk to right now.

Especially after… that night.

But I don’t have a choice.

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