WHISPERS BENEATH THE PINES

seven hours since A

any second. Her fingers wouldn't stop twitching, like her nerves were trying to crawl out through her skin.

pul

ke a second heartbeat ben

adn't r

er more than she wa

-

meant the town was pret

d home-cured meat. Kids chased each other with paper kites in the church field. And

hrough it all

tared. W

her name i

oen gi

unt never

e eyes, th

o let it bother

he was st

walked into Hollo

t it. Like animals sensing a storm underground. The air aro

st had left it

-

building half-covered in ivy and badly patched roof t

rs. Ellory, gave

re ea

sleep," Av

ut her eyes softened. She g

e was twelve. No one had stopped her. No one really cared.

nted a

e Pact was and how long her bloodli

-

ther books lined the shelves, some missing covers, some bur

e ledger mar

ackled like

amped ink, was t

day, untouched, save for a silver brand low on the spine. Claimed the tr

blood r

d to the n

llowveil demanded a trade: keep her within the border or the trees would con

ry generation. Always one

town

ounci

alway

oat. She leaned back, trying to catch her breath. The

et it

r family, generation after gen

as th

inal

if she broke

wn wou

-

so much shadow. Everything felt fake. Fragile. Like the gla

ngth of Main Stree

scent of grease and pine hung in the air, past the ab

she w

bove her and let out a caw that sounded like

ir sh

ows between trees as if he'

lled,"

n't was

ctly is t

keep balance. Your ancestor offered

y h

t moon and asked it to spare the town from th

e sl

the mark, the Rift unravels. The Shaded

hat happens to the marked o

was

d closer.

are

omach

all," h

ared a

d calm.

too many times t

helping me?

d to the dirt. "Because yo

ot a real

said. "

"You're scared of what I

dn't

I'll brea

met her g

lready

-

, she drea

olith was shattered. Black smoke curled from the stones, and

from her

he wa

youn

efo

edi

yi

ing hands, and the voice behind

sheets soaked, her mark

room, she wasn't sure wh

rest's

her that want