I pad down to my parents’ room next but find a similar scene—Dad in the mechanical bed we got him after his stroke and Ma in the twin bed next to him, both fast asleep.

Did I dream it? Maybe I’m going crazy. That’s probably what happens when you work two jobs at once and survive on coffee, energy bars, and sleep deprivation.

I’m not even sure why I’m keeping the job at Arcade Games. I was planning on quitting as soon as I was settled at the farm and knew for sure I’d be staying in Sonder Hill, but I’ve been stalling. And since I talked about it with Wren yesterday, I’ve been second-guessing my choice even more. What if moving here is a mistake? Or what if quitting this job I love bites me in the ass one day? Everything in my life is a mess. I have no clue what I’m doing with any of it, but I guess I can stall a little longer while I figure it out.

Making sure once again that everything is good in my parents’ room, I close the door and head back to bed. My parents had converted my childhood bedroom into a neutral guest room for when people like my cousin Will and his family come to visit, so the place is decorated simply. A queen-sized bed covered with a cream comforter sits in the middle, surrounded by two bedside tables, and that’s it. Different from my room at my place, but whatever. It’s not like I spend much time here anyway.

Sitting on the plush covers, I try to convince myself that the high-pitched scream I heard was nothing. But right before I can lie down, I hear it again. Except now, I’m awake and can tell it’s not coming from inside.

And there’s only one girl I know who’s not sleeping inside this house right now.

Shit.

Just as fast as I got up earlier, I run down the stairs, slide into my boots, and rush toward the cabin that sits right next to the house. Thank God I’d gone to sleep with pants on. Another scream pierces the air once I’m halfway there, making me run even faster. A thousand scenarios run into my head, from a man attacking her all the way to a wild bear crushing her between its teeth. I don’t think about anything as I knock once, then try to open the door. It’s locked. Fuck.

I knock again, shouting, “Wren! Open up!”

The door opens wide a second later, allowing me to take a breath for the first time in a minute.

“Aaron?” Wren asks, out of breath. “What are you doing here?”