WHISPERS BENEATH THE PINES

og was thicker than usual. It rolled through the trees and clung to rooftops like pale, silent fi

s shadowed, the skin under them tinted with the colors of too many secrets. She p

sed fa

in. Just.

hing

to herself, "G

die back down and shove

a stack of patient files while sipping black coffee. Her gray hair was in

te for school," she sa

pple from the cou

flicked up.

t this mark means. What I

ilence w

ed. "The ones in the library. I

hands didn't move. N

d to protect you,"

ying

r tone hardened. "Do you think I haven't lost people to that f

fli

o carry the mark? You thi

said quietly, "y

stened. But she

she pushed one of th

old. Ye

h cert

: Iris

r: Un

ar the bottom: Marked at bi

heavier than

y father?"

"Someone the fore

she walked out

-

From here, the whole town looked like a miniature model, also the shingled roof

e pulled tight around her as

ong here," s

nd her. "You do. Just no

mp. She had f

t pockets, silver eyes steady. There was mud on his shi

me now?" she asked

the forest st

be stirring

w that you

"My aunt knew. About everything. M

oes. The marked are prot

ce for something, maybe guilt, maybe

ey ever tell m

forest knows too. It becomes harder to hide. It

Her voice cracked. "Just accept

lower, almost like thu

to die, Aven. You w

ind w

pau

ietly, "

-

rest together. Not talking

orched bone. The leaves never rustled unless they were speaking. And the deeper they walk

they reached

oke through the ground like the bones of a giant. And at its

r. "This is where the

the pool. Her

he continued. "And the for

was

or. Her name

ool. The surface was glass

ch it," Ri

la

ip grazed t

no ripple.

l "B

ard, smashing through the ground beside her. She stumbled back,

grabbing her wrist an

t?" she asked,

replied. "It kno

oil. Not loud but deep. Like som

we do?" s

er eyes lock

tr

-

they met in th

ollowed and carved with old runes. It was silent her

" he said. "No Shade. No

ozy," Ave

simple, rough even but when she grippe

live,"

es that remember.

"So, I have to stab mon

e forest to fight with

ng was

n't go ea

shadows. She blocked twice. Got hit five times.

lding back

ing not

die lo

d charged agai

ha

ing and sent her sp

staring at the

e you're enjoying

t time, he s

use I

f dirt at him. He didn't dodge i

g so mysterious," she

everything at o

y m

ar-whisper. "The forest r

st

hat wa

ou

breath

rees around them seemed

at. Couldn't decide if it was a m

eeks and the sound of her heartbeat in

she wanted to

-

blade resting beneath her pillow, her bon

d into the d

ms, the forest

e