All day long Gemma had been working on getting her life in order, but she’d purposely avoided seeing Alex. It was hard enough leaving her sister and her dad. She didn’t think she could handle talking to Alex.

So she put her head down and walked across the lawn. She cut through his backyard, because it was the quickest way to the bay. The watersong got even louder when she was outside, begging her to swim.

“Gemma!” Alex said from behind her, and she heard his screen door slam. Gemma just kept walking, though, so he chased after her. “Gemma!”

“Shh!” She whirled around. If she didn’t talk to him, he’d make enough noise to wake up her sister. “What are you doing out here?”

“I saw you from the window.” He’d stopped a few feet from her. “What are you doing out here?”

“I’m sorry. I have to leave.”

“You shouldn’t be out here alone, not with the killer on the loose.” He took a step back toward his house. “I’ll go get my shoes and I’ll come with you.”

“No, Alex.” She shook her head. “I’m leaving for good.”

“What?” Even in the dim moonlight, she could see the hurt and confusion on his face. “Where are you going?”

“I don’t know, but you can’t come with me.”

“What?” He stepped toward her, and when he did, she stepped back.

“Alex, I can’t do this.”

“What?” Alex asked. “What can’t you do?”

“Say good-bye to you.” She swallowed back tears and tried to ignore the pain in her heart.

“Then don’t,” he said simply. “Stay here, with me.”

“No, I can’t.” She started to step back, and he followed her, saying her name. “No, Alex. You can’t come with. I don’t want you to.”

“Gemma, if something’s wrong I can help.”

“No.” She shook her head and realized that the only way she’d stop him was if she hurt him. “You don’t get it, Alex. I don’t want you. I don’t even like you. You’re boring and lame. I was just using you because you had a car, but … I don’t want you anymore.”

His whole face fell. “You don’t mean that.”

“I do,” she insisted. “So leave me alone. I don’t want to see you ever again.”

She turned and bolted away from him. With her broken heart pounding in her chest, Gemma pushed herself as fast as she could.

Tears blurred her vision, but it didn’t matter. She didn’t need to see where she was going anyway. The sea called to her, telling her exactly where she needed to go.

24. Monsters

TWENTY-FOUR

Monsters

When Gemma hit the water, the song finally stopped. Her legs turned to a tail, and she breathed in deeply.