I WALKED OUT THROUGH MY BACK DOOR AND CAREfully made my way across the town toward the east side where I’d hidden Eli in the abandoned building. I was mindful of being seen but cared less than I had previously. In an hour, when I walked up to the Pierce home with the boy in hand, it would all be over anyway.

I’d expected my fear of the consequences of my sins to assault me, but I was either too numb or too resolved. I did fear for Eli, however, so I began to lie to myself.

Maybe Rose wouldn’t kill Eli. Maybe if he showed her what he’d shown me, she would change her mind. Eli didn’t seem to fear anything, so maybe he would find a way to save himself. Maybe there was hope after all. I needed to at least imagine that much so I could maintain the strength needed to save my mother.

As soon as the abandoned house was in sight, that hope began to fade. How could I really be considering this? I should just trade myself for my mother. Leave the boy out of it. Tell them that I’d helped him escape and he’d taken off into the forest. But what would that solve? Rose wouldn’t rest until the boy was found.

I took a deep breath and made my way to the back of the house. Turning the corner I came to a stop, surprised. Eli was standing in the tall grass behind the house, basking in the sun as a light breeze pulled at his hair.

I glanced around to make sure we were alone. He shouldn’t be outside!

He must have heard me because he turned around, smiling. I tried to politely return his smile but couldn’t. The sight of him standing there—the sun washing over his round face, his eyes catching the light and shining like jewels—filled me with terrible guilt.

Eli walked toward me, his expression never wavering. He reached me, lifted his hand to wrap his fingers into mine and looked up at me. “It’s okay, Grace.”

Okay? What was okay? He had no idea just how not okay things were.

Tears filled my eyes. Surely he didn’t know what was coming. But then maybe he did. Maybe he had always known.

“Can I show you something?” he asked. He doubled back in the direction he’d come, his hand still laced in mine, gently urging me to follow. “Come on, it’s okay. Promise.”

I went with him, wondering how I was going to break the news to him. Or if I could. Maybe I should just take him without any explanation.

We crossed the backyard and stepped into the forest.

“Where are we going?”

“You’ll see. Hurry.” The excitement in his voice only deepened my guilt. How could such an innocent boy be the subject of such rage and fear?