Page 88 of The Secrets of Jane: Reborn

My eyes shoot wide open when I think I hear something.

Sticking my head out the window, the faint hum in the air comes from the jungle nearby, when it’s now clear that what I hear is the sound of sirens singing in the distance…

J A N E

Gently placing my hand on the rough wood, I hold my breath, angling my head slightly to hear better. The song of sirens is absolutely out there, and as I slowly peer through the window, I swear that rather than coming from the ocean, it’s coming from thejungle.

I know that’s not right. My stomach drops, like someone trying to outrun a tiger only to realize they’ve been hunted across an entire ocean.

How the fuck is he here? Already?

There’s no way this isn’tnotMisery’s doing.

My feet are immobile, wanting to run to my father and demand he tell meeverything. I want to know about Cypress, about what he really thinks—wait.That’swhat I want; I want to make aninformeddecision.

Cypress is the opposite of clarity. I still can’t shake that it seems like I’m being tricked into this, that she’s leading me astray on purpose.

As if having someone tap on my shoulder, I sharply steal a glance at the hourglass; it’s over halfway filled. My heart races with anxiety. What if I choose not to go? Would Soren truly fall that easily to Misery?

No. Why am I even willing to risk that?Misery wantsme.Clearly, he’s not going to kill me. Not right away.

Okay, what do I fear about going, other than the obvious?

I cant my head, as if conceding to a point; I fear that being taken means everyone here will overreact and suffer in an attempt to come for me.

Or that I’m being influenced by bravado and not logic.

The sand… make a decision.

“Okay,” I say to myself, my voice shaking. “Let’s just climb out the window. Start there.”

The idea of leaving without any note of explanation sounds like a terrible fate to deliver to my father or Soren; rushing over to the table, I find that it actually has a very worn quill and barely any ink left. On the back of a map I don’t bother to look at, I begin penning my farewell note.

At least this might give them some peace in knowing why I chose this.

Signing my name is… odd. Heavy. Like I just realized what I committed to. I glance down at my thigh, pulling out the rose dagger. I hold it in my hands, taking in the beautiful design.

He gave this to me thinking I’d be with them at all times, not taken.Like fucking hells I’ll let them lose this.They’ll strip it off me as soon as they’ve got ropes on my wrist, and probably toss it into the ocean.

No time to look at it any longer.

I place it beside the note, repositioning it a few times, wondering if I should add anything about why I’m leaving the blade. But it seems obvious, especially since I asked about it already.

The singing grows louder.

I feel rushed, like I need to evacuate but don’t have anything ready.

GO!

I rush to the window, climbing out as my knees scrape against the shanty until I’m dangling. I release my grip and land with ease, moving to the jungle almost right away.

The single action has my heart racing and breaking all at once, just like the letter. What if this doesn’t have a happy ending? What if I lose everyone? What if I never get to say goodbye?

Soren will be coming back to an empty room.

Fuck.

Thathurts.