od, this forgotten mining town

e I followed Et

help revitalize it, h

harismatic leader, and I was

stival was ju

t his leadership, to publicly sh

ll-flat stomach, a secre

preg

tell Ethan, to se

one he promise

n, the one we once shared

ightly ajar, an

a woman' s, wheezing an

l, her skin blotchy, her

go through with the 'Founders' Pact'

what if she doe

d. Founders' Pa

," Ethan' s voice, usually so w

ept you by my side. She's strong; she'll

ng for him, for this town. M

a horrible, r

tty face, Ethan? Once the S

' s what they call

healthy, my love," Ethan said, hi

will bind thi

My mind

d imagined shattered

who' d seemed like a local hero,

to sacrifice me for

y went to the old lo

. It was my only real link t

inty that chilled me to t

s isolated, and Ethan