Logan looks like he doesn’t want to accept this. I don’t know if I mean the words, but right now pushing Logan away feels like the only option to save myself.

So push I do, right into this uncharted territory, where everything feels numb and explosive at the same time.

I push right into this next chapter, where nothing feels certain…

And where Logan maybe doesn’t belong anymore?

Click here

The words leave my mouth, but I’m surprised by how hollow they sound.

“Chase, do you really mean that?” Logan asks, his hand falling on my knee. “Or are you just saying that?”

I turn away from Logan, my head falling.

“I don’t know.”

It might be seconds or it might be minutes, but eventually Logan’s hand leaves my knee.

“Well, maybe I should give you some space?” he tries. “So you can decide?”

“No.” I react on instinct, turning to Logan. “I don’t want that.”

“Neither do I,” Logan says, looking pained once again. “But I also don’t want to force you into something you’re not sure about.”

All I want to do is tell Logan no again. Tell him not to leave. That I don’t want to figure anything out without him. That I’ll do whatever it takes. That I love him.

So then why do I say nothing at all?

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PART THREE

REPENTANT

CHAPTER NINE

AMELIA

I SIT ON THE deck overlooking the dark forest and try to let the greens and browns soak into me. I try to let the trees remind me who I am, remind me why it’s still important to take this journey. For good measure, I also hold several tarot cards in my hand, hoping they’ll speak to me if the woods won’t.

It’s only been one day since we left the Isle of Baxter, and the experience has most definitely stayed with us—especially since not all of us actually stayed. Last night we spent a pretty sleepless night at a nearby motel, because Anwar claimed his home was too far and winding a trip to make that late. Then first thing this morning, Logan insisted on taking the bus home. I tried to talk both him and Chase out of it, but he and Chase barely spoke five words between them.

Which is why, unbeknownst to Chase, I stole a secret moment with Logan when we dropped him at the nearest bus station.

“Listen, I don’t know what happened, but I just need to say this before you go, because someone needs to,” I began. “You’re one of us, Logan. No matter what.”

Tears had formed in Logan’s eyes then. I knew what this would mean coming from me in particular.

“Thank you, Amelia,” Logan said. “This actually—”

Logan had to stop himself from finishing, for fear of breaking down.