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I slide in last and slam the door shut, then punch the directions into the GPS.

“She’s not just running,” I say, holding on as Kendrick makes a tight turn to go back toward town. “She’s going back to where it all started.”

The car surges forward, tires shrieking against asphalt as we tear through the trees. The lights of the city glare as he cuts through Forsyth. The hookers on the Avenue, Scratch-heads pacing on the corners, desperate for their next hit. The DKS clocktower hovers over us, a reminder that they’re watching. A reminder that my son is so close, but also so far away.

I’m not ready to lose anyone else. Not yet.

Not today.

Kendrick turns onto University Drive, and I can see the glow before we get to the gates.

“Holy shit,” DK mutters. The Manor is on fire.

“Jesus Christ,” Hunter echoes. Ares pants loudly, whining at the shift of energy in the car. We’re all frozen, watching as the flames lick up the columns, smoke billowing out of shattered, hollow windows. There’s no sign of life, inside or out.

“Stop the car,” I command, this time bracing myself as Kendrick slams on the brakes. The car skids to a stop and I snap, “Call 911.”

Kendrick nods and exits the car, walking toward the perimeter as he speaks into the phone. I turn on the others. “Hunter, find her.”

Hunter bends before Ares, and reaches into his coat. He pulls out fabric–small and lace. Arianette’s panties. I’d ripped them off myself. He holds them to the dog’s nose and commands,“Such!”

The dog inhales quickly and instantly turns, starting toward the backside of the house. Hunter follows and a moment later, they’re gone.

“What do you want me to do?”

I turn and face DK, who stands before me, rigid, like a soldier. His bow is gripped tight in his hand. “Bring her back to me.Now.”

If he senses my desperation he doesn’t show it, just nods once and takes off in the opposite direction, bow still in hand. I stand in front of the burning Hexley estate, fists curled at my sides.

I don’t want to lose her.

Ican’t.

“She wrote all over the goddamn walls. Psycho shit,”DK had said. Once again proving that if you come into my home, become my family, the madness comes creeping in.

Is it them? Or me?

Cause or catalyst?

There’s no doubt in my mind that this fire was deliberate. She had a purpose and that was to never come back here again. Now there’s nothing left, but Arianette doesn’t get to decide the ending.

Ido.

42

Arianette

Red.

Everything around me is red.

Smoke twists through the beams. Flames crawl up the curtains and swallow the old wood shelves, devouring history, memory, blood.Everythingburns.

I’d spent years in this house, locked in the walls, talking to the other children. Did they really not exist? Were they all a figment? Was it real?

Is this?

The heat tells me this is happening. That I set my uncle’s home on fire.