Page 124 of Terror Tuesday

Tossing my bag into the car, I pause and pull the neck of my wool coat up higher. Maybe it’s more boy trouble. “Sure, what’s on your mind?”

“Can we step over here to talk for a minute? And…leave your phone.”

My frustration level rises as she points toward a grassy patch nearby that doesn’t have cameras around. What’s she so worried about?

Avoiding the mud, I step onto a drier area and cross my arms. “Okay. Want to tell me what’s going on?”

She swallows and studies my face carefully. “You know how I said I was happy about Josh? I wasn’t. Then, I was going to sleep with Carl, but he— Never mind. Anyway, I used them all to get someone else… Someonebetter. Things were going perfectly.” Her voice drops as she mumbles, staring at the ground. “I thought it would happen on Red Night.”

I don’t hide my deep sigh. “What’s this about, Hailey?”

“Can you put in a good word for me with Aiden?” It tumbles out of her mouth.

My jaw drops, but I stop myself from gasping. “With…mybrotherAiden?”

“Yes. You see, I think we’re supposed to be together.”

Her big blue eyes hold a frame of tears on the lower lids, and my heart immediately aches for her. For several reasons that are difficult to explain in less than a minute. Part of me wants to just put her off and tell her I’ll do what she asks. But perhaps there’s a way to get through to her. Save the wreckage she’d be attempting to tie herself to.

I brush some of her hair back over her shoulder. “Um…mysweetlittle sister. I say this as lovingly as I can. I would stay far, far away from my brother?—”

She tries to interrupt, but I continue.

“Shh. Not because ofyou. But…Aiden isn’t…”

How do I explain him? He’s probably got a full list of diagnoses sitting in his childhood psychiatrist’s files. But the one my parents sent him to said there was nothing that could be done. So…

“He’s justAiden. He’ll have to choose you, but honestly, I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy.”

Her chin quivers, and she drops her voice to a whisper. “But I think he did something to Carl after Red Night so that I could behis. Aiden found out I was appointed to Carl and…” She smirks like she has a plan. “He found out we were hooking up one night. Or about to before he... Doesn’t that mean he’smadehis choice?”

If she’s going around telling people about my brother’s extracurricular activities, that would be dangerous for her. Not just with Aiden himself, butThetaand the society wouldn’t like it one bit.

“I highly doubt that Aiden touched anyone that way.” It’s partially the truth; Aiden would send someoneelseto do his dirty work. “But also, we’lldefinitelyfind you someone worthy.” My mind focuses on the one person I’ve been avoiding thinking about… “Oh! I got it! Nick!”

She grimaces. “Nick? Nick Veldt?”

“You two would beperfect!” Yes, this willwork. “He’s inTheta. Finance major. You’lllovehim.”

“I think I made out with him freshman year, but…okay.”

Phew. Saved a devoted fan. Maybe broke her brainwashing. She hasno ideahow many followers Aiden strings along like a pack of devoted warriors ready to rip anyone’s head off for speaking ill of their human god. It’s disgusting.

Nick better be good enough to fuck her mind away from my insane brother. Now that I think of it, maybe I should give Hailey a knife.

Just in case.

The drive isa twenty-minute anxiety-filled car ride fromOmegahouse to my parents’ cabin in a gated neighborhood. Sprawling estates caress the edges of a vast man-made lake, golden, orange, and yellow trees surrounding the area.Most have now lost their splendor, but the colors are still breathtaking.

Winter seems imminent with Thanksgiving in just a few weeks. The blue water behind the hill where the cabin sits is a deeper shade of indigo, almost black. A bright mid-afternoon sun only bounces off the cold surface as I step out of my car.

Upon entering the foyer, laughter spills from the kitchen, my brothers’ voices carrying on far too cheerfully. Ryan’s enthusiastic bellow blends with Aiden’s dry chuckle. Dad’s voice isn’t there—probably observing, silently enjoying the moment when he thinks no one notices, but Mom.

“O? Get in here! Your date has arrived!” Ryan yells.

A flutter interrupts my heartbeat. Date? Who could he mean? I shrug off my coat and hang it on the hall tree, dreading every step toward the open living room.

My breathing stops when I spot Nick, the sacrificial lamb. One that my brothers seem intent on thrusting at me. Nick, with his fake dimpled grin and too-perfect manners.