The Fabric of our Souls

It’s strange how quickly your reality changes.

Only a month ago I wanted to die. Now, I’m running for my life.

Lanston’s stitches are less visible than they were earlier this week. He wears a black beanie now that the weather is getting colder. November has been cruel already.

I sit next to him and we whisper about our arrangements to leave Harlow. I feel the edge of a blade in my chest. I may not love this place, but I will miss spending time here. Surely I knew my time here was limited, but now I find myself cherishing every memory, every last moment of existing within the stones of the mansion.

Lanston leans against me and I shut my eyes with his warmth.

“You never told me you had a car here as well as your motorcycle.” I chuckle as we look down at my tablet. We have the apartment we’ll be moving into pulled up.

“I don’t like driving the Mercedes. Makes me feel too posh.”

I laugh and shake my head. “Yelina will kill you if she finds out you had one and refused to drive her to the festival.”

Poor Yelina. She’s so upset over the cornfield incident. That’s what the police are referring to it as—the cornfield incident. Yelina hasn’t spoken to us since, and I heard she’s transferring to another institute at the end of the week. I don’t blame her.

Lanston shrugs. “We’ll be long gone by the time she knows.”

My eyes lower to my hands and I stare at the onyx ring Liam gave me.

I understand things now that I wish I had to begin with. Liam’s brother has haunted him for half his life. He’s been running from him, literally and figuratively. His illness makes more sense to me now… A tragic accident like that and his environment after? I can’t even imagine.

“Where’d you go?”

“Huh?” My head tilts up toward Lanston.

“You went somewhere just now. What’re you thinking about?”

My head feels so heavy, my chest more so. “The crazy guy who’s tormenting us.” My fingers brush against the ring. I look up at the door to Jericho’s office. Liam’s in there right now discussing his departure from Harlow.

One week.

We’re leaving. Lanston and I are moving to Boston, while Liam will remain at Harlow to keep Crosby here until either he’s caught… or Liam takes care of him.

It’s not murder, I tell myself. Liam didn’t explicitly say he was going to kill him… but I think it’s implied.

I tell myself this over and over. Crosby will hurt us, has hurt us. He’s trying to kill us… Liam is only protecting us from him.

“I’ll protect you, Wynn.” Lanston rubs my arm soothingly. “Always.”

My eyes shift to the fireplace and I slump into the couch. “Well, who will protect you then?”

He barks out a laugh and I glance at him with a raised brow.

“Isn’t it obvious? Liam, of course.”