Helene Island Geocache #8

I’m sorry, Stella. I’m so sorry that you were killed. It was my fault. I had to make a choice. I hate lying. I’m not any good at it. It makes me queasy and nervous, as though there are ants crawling on my skin. But I didn’t tell them the whole truth when I said I didn’t report Umbra coming because it was only a slim possibility. The whole truth was that if she did come, and we’d prepared for it, Ailith would’ve died instead. I hope you can forgive me,

Pax.

The crowd parted, and Kalbir was dragged out, wrapped in a cocoon of chains. Even so, the links strained as she flexed inside them. Ethan held a gun to her head. Its metal gleamed dull and cold, like the cylindrical tombs in Will’s bunker.

She tried to turn her head away as she gazed up at him, tears of rage and fear blazing in her eyes. Her thread flashed in my mind, present again, an inferno. I felt myself starting to slip down it and bit the inside of my cheek to stay present. Kalbir twisted in the chains, shrieking with frustration.

At Ethan’s shoulder, Celeste smirked, her lips curling into an ugly smile.

“See how far I’m willing to go?” Ethan said, pressing the barrel into the skin of Kalbir’s temple.

Fane shrugged. “You’re not proving anything. She’s never been important to y—”

Ethan pulled the trigger.

Blood and brain matter splattered the legs of the crowd.

Pax grabbed my hand. “It’s starting.”

Cindra cried out then pressed the back of her hand against her mouth as Oliver wrapped his arms around her and murmured in her ear. She nodded, wiping her eyes with her sleeve.

Tor shook his head in disgust. “He’s a coward. I’m going to enjoy this.”

I would’ve expected Ethan’s people to be shocked, but their macabre smiles told me that threatening Kalbir’s life had not been the bargaining chip Ethan had pretended—her death had been premeditated. To him, she was still one of us.

Celeste’s grin widened.

I’ll tear that smile from your face before this day is done, Celeste.

Ethan spoke up again. “This is what fate awaits all of them, Fane, if you don’t give yourself up.” He swept his arm across the sky.

Fane turned to me, horror creeping over his face. “I didn’t think—” The shattering of a teacup, centuries old.

“I did,” I replied. “No. He’ll destroy us even if you do what he wants. You know that. We agreed on this, Fane. No mercy.”

He turned back, his face set into a dispassionate mask. “Goodbye, Ethan. Thank you for my life.”

Ethan gave Fane a grim smile then let out an exaggerated sigh. “I was really hoping it wouldn’t come to this,” he lied. “Ji.”

Ji’s eyes went wide. “Ethan—”

“Do it,” Ethan snarled. “Or I’ll do it myself. And I won’t be gentle.”

Ji hesitated then reached down next to the pile of gear they’d heaped on the beach and pulled a bound figure to its feet.

Something knocked against my back—Lily, pushing between us and dropping to her knees. “Grace!” she screamed.

Ji walked Grace over to Ethan, catching her arms as she stumbled. As they neared him, Ji’s steps slowed and his eyes found us on the cliff. He opened his mouth to speak, but whether to appeal to us or Ethan, I never knew. Impatient, Ethan stalked over the distance remaining between them and snatched Grace away, throwing her to her knees on the bruising rocks.

She shook as Ethan turned the gun on her and looked back up at Fane. “Are you sure that’s your choice?”

Ji lurched forward, raising both hands in a shield. “Ethan, this is wrong. You promised. You said we were going to talk to them, not harm them. You said you wanted to make a deal. You promised—” His voice broke as tears streamed down Grace’s face. “ Grace.”

Fane’s hands curled into fists.

“Wrong choice, Fane.” Ethan smiled.

“Now, Ailith,” Oliver whispered.

“Save her, please.” Lily’s voice was a fragile shell, shattering at Grace’s feet.

As I closed my eyes, several things happened all at once. Ji stepped between Ethan and Grace. Ethan pulled the trigger. And I found the switch Oliver had put in me a few months ago and turned it on.