e Harv

s were

n agonizing burning in my chest. I gasped, but in

s flew

himmering, distorted light of the sun. I recognized the mur

lake on the

a swimming race to the small island in the middle of the lake. Halfway there, she'd feigned a cramp, and w

life, but back into the old one. B

lumsy, fighting my way toward the surface. My head broke through the

from the shore. "How dare you

ace was wrapped in his arms, soaking wet and shivering dramatically. Her fac

rst branded me as "vicious." The day

med my innocence, my words dissolving into hy

hilling calm s

I let the water support me and took a moment to examin

y silence. He saw it as defiance. "Get her

I stumbled onto the grassy bank, dri

shed toward me, her face a perfect mask of concern. "Oh

ke water. I said nothing. The look on my face made

ld for his precious, perfect sister. "What d

but steady. "Kandace," I said, my voice cutting through her fake whim

as simple: she was supp

r lip trembling. She opened her palm to reveal a cheap, gaudy glass pen

ed. He glared at me,

y right hand. A thin, red line was carved into

voice level, "then why are there scrat

e trying to give it to me on the shore? Or did it happen to break off in th

was the other half of the broken clasp, and nestl

back. But it was too late. We had all seen th

asn't a fool. The evidence was rig

r. "Did I push her, Junior? Or did she try to

, her eyes wide with a mixture of shock and fear. She h

oughs, her hand flying to her chest. It was her go-to move, faki

ly an act. The shock was real. And it w