Page 113 of Twisted Truths
Ispend the next three days packing up the rest of the house and storing it in a facility in Rafters Falls, ready to be shipped to me once we’re settled in Boston. The bloody compass sits in a plastic sandwich bag on my nightstand, and I still can’t shake the feeling I’ve seen it before.
Beside the bag sits a scribbled note to Shane explaining where we found it. I plan on dropping them in his letterbox before we leave town. It guts me that I haven’t been able to find concrete evidence of who murdered my family, but right now, Franklin’s survival is my only focus.
Every night, I spend a couple of hours in the gym, burning off the nervous energy coursing through me, before burying myself in Hadley and trying to keep the nightmares away.
By the time the afternoon of the rescue rolls around, my nerves are strung so tight I think I might snap. Gabriel clearly feels the same way—he paces the house like a caged lion, slamming doors and muttering under his breath. Hadley does her best to keep us both calm, but I can tell she’s terrified, jumping at the smallest of sounds.
We load the car with everything we’ll need—documents and burner phones courtesy of Grimshaw, cash, and whatever evidence Gabriel has on his parents. The moment the last suitcase hits the trunk, it feels real. Final. No turning back.
I lock up the house and pocket the key. The plan is to stop past Levi’s quickly to introduce him to his nephew and ask him to take care of selling the house for me.
Gabriel drives, and my knee bounces uncontrollably as I stare out the window at the small town I grew up in. Once we pass through town, he weaves through the backroads until we reach the scrubland a few kilometres from Circle territory. It’s remote enough that no one will spot the car behind the mass of shrubs, but close enough that we can move on foot.
Sunset is not far off now, and the timing couldn’t be tighter. We’re threading a needle, and if Seraphina sniffs something wrong before the ceremony starts, it’s game over.
Gabriel kills the engine. The silence that follows is oppressive.
I climb out and scan the horizon before helping Hadley from the car. My gut is screaming at me not to let her come, that it’s too dangerous, but I know it’s not an option. I have to trust she can take care of herself.
“This is it,” Hadley says, her fingers rubbing over the locket from her sister. “We get in and out. No stopping until we’re clear.”
Gabriel runs a hand through his hair. “If anything happens, getting Franklin out is our priority. Understood?”
I meet Gabriel’s eyes over her head. We’re both in agreeance—Hadley and Franklin will both make it out alive tonight. No matter what.
Hadley’s eyes widen, and she opens her mouth to argue, but I cut her off. “Understood.”
“We’re all getting out,” she protests, jogging to keepup with us as we make our way through the scrublands towards the back of the property.
The sun dips lower, casting long, golden fingers through the trees. Everything is too still, like the land is holding its breath.
We pause when we reach the river, the sun now behind the trees.
“Are you sure there won’t be any guards?” I ask, keeping my voice low.
Gabriel shakes his head. “The sentinels will all be at the ceremony.”
Still, we wait, ensuring the coast is clear before Gabriel crosses the river first, using the light of his phone to guide Hadley and me over.
As soon as we’re both safely across, I grip her hand, squeezing it. This is where we had our first kiss. I was such a dick to her, but thankfully she saw through my bullshit.
Our path takes us past the makeshift cemetery where her sister and Gabriel’s daughter are buried. We pause only briefly, giving them the chance to say their final goodbyes. I keep a look out, giving them privacy, and as a slight breeze drifts through the clearing, the sound of chanting reaches my ears.
It’s downright terrifying.
The path forks, and Gabriel moves off to the left without a word, towards the chanting, while Hadley takes my hand and leads me to the right. It’s fucking creepy, with shadows dancing around us from the dwindling light. My heart races as we move as silently as we can towards the guardians’ cabins.
As the only one of us who’s never been on Circle land, I studied the maps Gabriel drew until they were all I could see when I closed my eyes at night.
We pause at the edge of the tree line, our eyes darting between the five cabins in front of us. Ignatius and Seraphina’s isthe largest, standing dark and imposing in the clearing. To the right is Gabriel’s cabin, with Isaac’s on the other side. To the left are Aziah and Judah’s cabins.
My phone buzzes, and I pull it out.
Gabriel: In position.
Drawing in a deep breath, I type back.
Nash: Going in.
