Page 171 of On Edge

Nell’s.

The words blur as I read them, and then I cry hard, tears falling like the heavens have opened up, and I can’t read them properly. But then I get to my name, and everything stills.

No, this isn’t…

No.

The paper shakes so much I barely take it in. I fumble in my bag, pulling out the other piece, the first half of Nell’s letter that I found at Grayfleet a week ago, from Nell to Sweeney, that I thought was from my sister to some stranger. Hands trembling, I press the two torn edges together.

They fit perfectly.

One letter. One person.

Written by me.

37

My dark Sweeney,

Some nights I lie awake thinking about what you said—that you want to pull me out of this world, take me somewhere the shadows can't reach. But I am the shadow now.

Every night I spend in those places, every secret I uncover, every truth I dig up…it all becomes part of me. The darkness isn't something I'm fighting anymore.

Very much like you, it's something I am. You taught me that.

Even before we met, I didn't know. Didn't know that the horrors I was investigating led back to the fire that killed the Swanleys. By the time Idiscovered the connection, I was already in love with you.

Nothing else in my life feels as real as our stolen moments. When you look at me, you see something worth saving. I wish I could see her too. But she's disappearing, piece by piece…

So I went to Grayfleet, even though I lied and told you Southwark, and I found the evidence: the forgeries, illegal documents, the proof we've been looking for of what was done to you.

What I'm bringing to you as soon as I can will change everything.

A word of warning: don't try to be my hero, and please, don't come looking for me. You have your sister to protect. If one of us is walking into hell, it should be me alone. This burden is mine to carry, not yours.

Nell is my name, but it's short for Amelia, because you see, my full name is…

Sage Amelia Lovett. The daughter of Richard Lovett, the man who destroyed your family. You keep saying you can save me, but some people are born damned, and I've seen what my father truly is. The fires he's lit, the lives he's taken, the blood on our family name. There's no washing clean from that kind of legacy. My parents' crimes are written in my blood, and I'm the only one who can make it right.

I'm sorry I didn't tell you until now. I was never brave enough to tell you the truth, afraid you'd hate me forever. Even now, I'm a coward, hiding behind a letter you may never read. I only hope that you'll forgive me when I turn up on your doorstep with everything to clear your name.

Love always,

Your little blade.

38

SAGE

“We’re landing,” the pilot announces.

I look down through tear-blurred vision. Laine’s house looks like a snow globe from here, all glass and metal. I want to pick it up and shake it, much like I want to shake myself awake from this nightmare.

At least this is far away from Grayfleet and Troy and the version of reality I don’t want to look at right now.

The helicopter touches down. As soon as I’m able, I almost stumble out, still holding onto both halves of the letter, my vision distorted by tears. Laine is running across the common, a host of emotions flitting over her face that tells me she wasn’t expecting me to be so distraught, but also that she’s relieved to see I’ve actually turned up.

“Sage! Shit, did something happen? Did he show himself?”