Chapter 53

I woke up with Stella’s voice screaming in my head, “…kill her!”

My eyes snapped open. For a second, I didn't know where I was. The room was dark. The blankets smelled like Jessie’s house, old wood on the floor. Beside me, Poppy and Jessie were still caught in the peaceful rhythm of sleep, their breathing slow and steady.

It was just a nightmare. That’s what I tried to tell myself. But my heart didn't believe it.

I could still see Nathan. He was standing in the middle of a dead forest, trapped by black roots. Stella’s arms were wrapped around his neck. Her golden bracelets were glowing too bright in the dark, and I saw something moving under the metal... something shadowy and gross, like tiny snakes crawling under her skin.

Then, she leaned in. She kissed him right in front of me.

She turned her head to look at me, and her smile was way too wide. “Kill her!”

I sat up, gasping for air. My skin was damp with cold sweat.