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A young man approaches, speaking up at her elbow. The woman's hair barely shifts as she responds to whatever he said. I catch her gentle profile; her blue eyes with their green flecks. And as she comes into view, letting me look upon her face—more beautiful than I imagined—my stomach free-falls to my knees.

It's Kara.

My sister.

- Chapter 26 -

Laiken

Ican't breathe. Theroom swings up around me then back again, like I'm in the middle of a boat in a hurricane.It can't be.But it is. It'sherand there's no question about it. Kara is in the room with me, standing comfortably—like she belongs here. I abruptly feel like I don't.

My eyes won't move from her hair. It's shorter than it was when I said my goodbye. Time has turned her into a graceful woman. My brain struggles to connect the new Kara with the Kara of my past. The edges of my vision go fuzzy; I need to blink but I can't. What if she vanishes when I do?

“Here,” Dominic says, holding out a glass to me. “Nice and cold.”

Why is her hair short?

Did she cut it? Did someone else?

What happened to our promise?

“Laiken?” His voice is burdened with concern. He moves until he blocks me; I grab his arm, trying to push him out of the way. He doesn't budge. “Hey, what's wrong?”

Snapping out of my trance, I stare up at him. “It's... my sister. Kara is here.”

“What, where?”

I motion at her with my chin. “Right there. In the white dress.”

I'm too busy looking to see his reaction. Over my head, he whispers, “What's she doing here?”

His question snaps me from my funk. “I thought she'd be far away from this place. That Dad and her and the others...” I blink at him, suspicion making my neck hot. “Dominic, did you know she was coming?”

He shakes his head sharply. “I didn't, really.” He skips a beat, his voice softening. “I knew she wasn't with your father. It's only your mom and brother that got out with him. I'm sorry I didn't tell you. It seemed merciful to let you think everyone else escaped.”

I'm too surprised to be upset at him. “I need to talk to her.”