out tomorrow. Be smart out there. Keep your eyes and ears open. See if you can figure out where the infected went or, better yet, where the animals are all hiding.”
Uan stood with her.
“Thanks for hearing me out,” she said.
“Thanks for talking to me,” I said.
Merdon got the door for them then turned to look at me.
“I’m going,” I said before he could object. “I hated being left behind. It didn’t feel safe.”
“You will do nothing to hurt yourself while we are out there,” he said.
I almost smiled at the command.
“Not intentionally. But we both know this world isn’t a safe place.”
He grunted.
“You bring her back, Merdon,” Emily said, her strange tone drawing my attention. “Swear to me. No accidents. I couldn’t live through a second one.”
“What are you talking about?” I asked.
“Tell her,” Merdon said. “It’s time she knows.”
I glanced between the two of them as he crossed his arms and gave me that stern look he usually gave when I’d done something wrong. This time, like so many others, I was clueless.
“What’d I do?” I asked Emily.
“It’s not what you did. It’s what my sister did.”
For a heartbeat, I thought her sister had done what I should have, sacrificed herself for Emily.
“She died in a car accident two years before the quakes,” Emily said softly. “She was my best friend. My twin. And she left me.”
The pain in her eyes cut a knife through my middle, and guilt hurtled through me.
“We always did everything together. Except the day she died. She ran to the store for some chocolate icing for our birthday cake.”
“Emily, I’m so sorry.”
“Do you know what her name was? Hailey Anna Belle. My family called her Hannah-bell. I called her Hannah.” Her gaze held mine. “I died that day, too. My life wasn’t the same. I went through the motions. When everything fell apart, I thought, ‘finally, I can let go.’ But no matter where I went or who I was with, it was never me who died. It wasn’t until I met you that I understood there was a reason. I might not be the sister you lost, but you’re the sister I found. I can’t lose you.”
It wasn’t the first time I’d heard her tell me she couldn’t lose me, but it was the first time I fully understood it.
Eyes watering, I leaned in to hug her hard.
“I don’t want to be lost anymore. I’m so glad you found me.”
“Do you mean it?” she sniffled. “Even though I broke the rules.”
I pulled back and held her face in my hands.
“Especially since you broke the rules. Thank you. For being there. For caring and never giving up. For everything.”
“I’ll be back for dinner,” Merdon said quietly before leaving.
I released her.
“Why is he always doing that?” I grumbled. “He just got back.”
“I think he’s trying to give me some time with you. I mean, he just had some time with you. A good time, based on what I could hear.”
I gave her a sheepish smile.
“Sorry about that. Still want to be roommates?”
“Yep. The noise you make will keep everyone else away.”
I snorted. “You mean all the other fey. And I doubt that. They’ll probably be drawn to it.”
“Still not changing my mind.”
I gave her a grateful smile.
“Thanks.”
We ate lunch together, and I felt bad that Merdon missed it. The regular cheeseburger was amazing and something I thought I wouldn’t have again.
Most of the day, we just talked. Emily ended up telling me more about the sister she’d lost, and I told her a little about mine. She already knew that Katie had been attacked by the infected, thanks to the fey rumor mill. And though I couldn’t bring myself to tell Emily about me letting go of Katie’s hand, I told her what happened later. How Katie had found me and I’d had to kill her.
We both cried, and Emily hugged me. I felt guilty about the comfort, but Emily shared the same sentiment that Merdon had.
“If you hadn’t made the choices you had, I wouldn’t be here now. I would have given up a long time ago. Maybe I’m selfish, but I think it was supposed to be you who survived, Hannah. Don’t let guilt rob you of the chance at life you’ve been given.”
As promised, Merdon returned just as Emily pulled dinner from the oven. With his perfect timing, I suspected he’d been watching us through the windows but didn’t call him out on it. How could I? I’d enjoyed every moment I’d