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“When are you going to learn, man? You can’t change her. She will always be self-destructive. That’s all she’s ever known, and now, with the loss of her sister and her injuries, that will only get worse.”

He nods, looking out the window into the dense forest surrounding us.

“Harmony has decided to move in with her.”

“Evelyn told me that she thought Harmony was in danger. Do you believe it?”

“I could see it, but I don’t think it’s a violent threat. I think there has to be something deeper there that we don’t know.”

I nod, accepting his perspective.

“I think I need to give Astra an ultimatum— it’s only fair. I quit cheating on her so she would quit the fucking drugs. Now she is going to have to pick me entirely or the drugs.”

“You really think that will work? Shes fucking stubborn.”

“If it doesn’t, then it’ll be her funeral.”

His cold response reminds me of the man I used to be. Now, I could never wish such a thing on my princess.

* **

I decided to pit stop by my house to shower. I smell of fucking bleach. We had to clean the cell and dispose of the bodies.

I pull into my garage and I check my phone before heading upstairs. I open my messages, my heart warming at a notification from Evelyn about twenty minutes ago. What the fuck has happened to me? I open her message, and my blood runs cold.

You shouldn’t have saved me the first time.

What the fuck. The world around me isn’t silent. It’s fucking screaming at me. The words suffocate me. I quickly open her security feed.

There she is. Lying too still on top of the sheets, her shirt twisted as if she barely made it there. One of her arms hangs limp off the edge of the bed, fingers loose. Her phone lies next to her with a black screen as if she were waiting for me to talk her down.

I zoom in on the feed and see a bag of pills. Not just any pills. Valium. The bag looks nearly empty.

I quickly rewind the feed and watch her. She sends a message, throwing her phone onto the bed. She stands, looking at the ceiling for a sign. She opens the bag and swallows a handful of pills. Then she sits on the bed. I fast-forward, and she eventually falls back onto the mattress.

FUCK.

I pull out of the driveway and speed to her house. I won’t let her fucking die.

* **

I sprint up her stairs and bolt inside. I don’t have fucking time. I twist her knob and it’s locked.

I step back and kick open her door, splintering the frame. I shove my way in and freeze.

No.

Images of my sister flash through my brain. Evelyn isn’t dead. I can save her. I rush to her side, feeling her skin. She is clammy, her lips have paled, and her limbs are lifeless.

I slide my two fingers to her neck, checking her pulse.

Weak.

But still there.

“Evelyn.” My voice breaks on her name. Pain erupts in my chest.

Her lashes twitch. Barely.