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CHAPTER SEVENTY

THE FOUR

The bonfire is an orange ball in the darkness. They haven’t been together since that night they ran for their lives on this very beach.

They say little. They’re no longer the capstone group. No longer The Five.

They link hands as before, but there’s no terror now. Tonight they bow their heads, say a silent prayer—a tribute. To a young woman they let down. To a young man who made a mistake, then saved their lives. To their respective gods.

Then, they disappear into the night to begin their lives.