Page 136 of Inside the Sun

When I open them again, Anzo is sitting in a chair across the room. Summer’s not here. It’s just the two of us. His black eyes are fixed on me.

I don’t say anything. No matter what I say, Anzo will only see it as another lie. So I rest on my side and just stare blankly at his face.

"I want to offer you a way out of here, Sun."

I hear the words, but I don’t believe them. It’s just another one of his games.

Anzo stands slowly and starts pacing around the cage like a lazy bear.

"When I first met Moon, we were close for a while," he says, choosing his words carefully. "And one day, he told me something strange. He said his brother was a magical being."

Anzo abruptly stops in front of the cage and looks at me.

"But to me, Moon was the magical one, with a talent that interested me so much. So I never pressed him for details about his brother. And whenever I tried, he’d just smile and say,‘It’s hard to explain. He’s not like the others.’"

I realize where this is going before Anzo even finishes the thought. I decide right then to do everything I can to convince him I don’t know anything more about Summer.

"What does that even mean, that he’s magical?" I ask in a tone so genuinely curious I’m almost proud of it. It sounds like I actually care about the answer.

Anzo stays quiet for a moment, then narrows his eyes.

"I was hoping you could tell me."

"And why would I? I don’t walk around asking people, ‘Hi, are you magical by chance?’" I reply, putting on a dumb expression.

Although, to be fair, I clearly remember doingjust thatthe day Summer helped me for the first time.

"You’re good, but I think you know."

"Know what? What does that even mean, being magical? Like, special?" I’m laying it on thick, playing the fool like a pro.

Anzo stares at me. Whether he believes me or not, I can’t tell. Finally, he says slowly,

"I’m going to let you out for a while. Think of it as your shot. In return, I want you to find out more about Summer. Find out what makes him magical. If you tell me… I’ll let you leave The Sun in one piece. And I will leave your family alone. That’s a promise."

Wow.

There it is. He said it. The words I’ve been dreaming about…

I’ll let you leave.

I swallow hard. My mind goes completely blank for a moment, and then two conflicting scenarios crash into each other:

In one, I betray Summer, he lets me go, and it’s finally over.

In the other, I betray Summer, and Anzo keeps me locked up anyway, or hanging. No help from Summer this time.

To buy myself more time, I blurt out, "What exactly am I supposed to do, Anzo? Ask him, ‘Hey man, sorry, could you maybe explain what kind of magic you have?’ That sounds super cringe," I say with a dry, broken laugh.

Anzo stops pacing. "Don’t play games with me, Sun. I’m giving you a month to get me that information. After that, you’re coming back here. For good."

"In a month, I’m supposed to be back at college, Anzo. My parents will notice I never showed up. They’ll go to the police. What do you think is going to happen then?" I lay it all out because I need to know what his actual plan is for me.

Anzo straightens up. "Take what I said seriously, pet."

"Seriously? You didn’t believe me when I told you the truth about Rocco. Will you believe whatever I make up about Summer's supposed magic?"

"I never said I didn’t believe you."

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