Free Where Silence Gathers by Kelsey Sutton Page B

because I wanted to cling to something that wasn’t mine to have.
    â€œThe same way it works for everyone else, even with your Sight,” Revenge answers after a long, long pause. “You won’t be picking me or him . You’ll be picking what we are . You can’t just decide to grab my hand one day and that’s it. When you’ve really made your choice, I’ll know, and that’s the moment I’m free to touch you.”
    The pieces of the pine cone fall to the ground. I don’t know what to focus on. The gun, the mines, him, the sky. Clenching my jaw, I decide on the tree I’ve just decimated. “How many times have you been picked?”
    â€œDoes that really matter, Alex?”
    â€œI guess not.” Because I can picture them—those people who were stronger than me. Who made their choices while here I am, using the forest as target practice and hurting the family I have left. That’s not the only reason I back down so easily, though. More questions are crowding into my throat, questions I won’t ask: Did you befriend all those others, too? Or am I just another game?
    I twist so I can see Revenge’s face again. But he’s gone.
    Wind whistles through the woods. No, not just the wind. Alexandra . “Shut up,” I growl. I turn and shoot the tree so many times that it’s more holes than bark.

Eight
    SAUL. FRANKLIN. SWAN LAKE. Every time, the computer rejects my words. I sit in a booth in the diner, inhaling the scents of grease and sweat while I try to unlock my father’s secrets. The weekend has come and gone and still I haven’t been able to find the right word.
    Loretta Roan—Georgie’s mom—walks over, glowering. She has big platinum curls, staggeringly red lipstick, and one too many buttons undone. There’s no mystery as to where Georgie gets her flair. “Anything besides the coffee, darlin’?” she asks. Shouldn’t you be in school? her tone really asks. I shake my head. After a long look, she moves to pour the town pastor another cup. I take a drink from my own mug and my lip catches on the chink of missing glass. It seems like everything in this town is either chipping, rusting, or breaking.
    The front door opens and a gust of wind blows a stack of napkins off the long counter. A moment later someone slides into the seat across from me. Her perfume tips me off before her voice does. “Considering there aren’t any mines to work in anymore, graduating high school is more necessary than it used to be.”
    â€œNot now, Georgie.”
    â€œWhen, then? When it’s too late? When you finally decide to get your head out of your ass?” She smacks the table to get my attention. “I’m not Briana. I’m not going to bake you cookies and tell you nicely that you’re ruining your life.”
    â€œI’m not—”
    â€œSorry, not in the mood to listen to bullshit right now. We can finish this later. Come on. A bunch of us are going to the lake. Some of the guys are going to build a bonfire. Should be fun, right? Oh, and we already called Saul and Missy.” Georgie scoots out of the booth, adding “Hey, Mom” as Loretta hurries by. She lifts her coffee pot in a quick greeting.
    There’s only one reason we build bonfires in Franklin. “The last time I got drunk, Saul gave me the job of cleaning our attic. No thanks.”
    â€œGood. Someone has to drive me home. Which reminds me, we’re taking your car, since mine conked out again and Briana’s brother stole hers. Now get up.”
    Sighing, I allow Georgie to pull me out of the booth. I grab the laptop, still thinking of possible passwords, and follow her to my car. Briana is already sitting in the passenger seat, reading a book. They must have walked here from school. Georgie steals the keys out of my hand and sashays to the driver’s side. As she opens the door Briana lifts her