Whispered Darkness by Jessica Sorensen Page 0,41

could be.” He contemplates, scrubbing his hand across his jawline. “I bet Star knows more about this.”

“Me, too, but she seemed really determined not to talk about it.”

“Yeah, I got that, too. That doesn’t mean I want to let this go. I need to talk to her when we have more time to talk and when we’re not”—his eyes shift to Beth’s body in the wagon—“doing this.”

I nod, fleetingly sinking into silence. “I still can’t believe she’s been undead and immortal the entire time I’ve known her.”

“Me neither,” he agrees. “But I guess I could say a similar thing about myself. I mean, it’s been years since I … died, and I’ve been walking around, completely oblivious to the changes, except for the fact that I can see shadowy figures now. But that’s it. Maybe that’s all I can do, too.”

“I don’t know about that,” I say. “You can clearly save lives.”

“Life,” he corrects. “I’ve only saved one, and only because she’s important to me.”

Warmth spreads through my chest, and I begin to extend my hand to touch him, but then a branch snaps from somewhere and a chill spills through the air. With my gaze, I scan the trees, and while I can’t visibly see anything anywhere, I can’t help thinking about how those arms twisted out from the bark of the trees.

“We should hurry,” Kingsley whispers tensely. “The quicker we get this over with, the better.”

I nod in agreement, hoping that the arms in the trees are the only things we have to worry about. However, I have the weirdest feeling that we’re being watched by something else.

13

Harlynn

The cemetery is a mysterious place. One minute, we’re walking through the forest, encompassed by nothing but trees. And the next thing I know, tombstones surround us. It’s almost like a magical veil has been lifted to reveal this place. At this point, I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s exactly what happened.

Kingsley halts near the iron-gated entrance. “That was sort of creepy.”

“Definitely.” I close the book and glance around at the fog lacing everything. “We should get this done as quickly as possible, and then get the hell out of here. I think I’ve had enough forest for one day.”

“Me, too,” he agrees, pulling the wagon forward. “Any suggestions on where we should bury her?”

Twigs crunch underneath my shoes as I follow him. “I think maybe near Star’s tombstone, since we know for sure that her grave is empty.”

“Good idea.” He stops and twists to face to me. “Do you remember where it is?”

“I think so.” My feet move forward, winding around headstones and statues.

Kingsley trails after me, the wheels of the wagon squeaking and echoing around us.

I walk for a ways until I arrive at the angelic statue with cracked wings.

“This is her headstone?” he asks, staring up at it in awe. “It’s very … I don’t know, otherworldly, I guess.”

“I know. Makes me wonder who Star was back when everyone thought she died.” I make a mental note to find out more about Star then reach out to collect one of the shovels from the wagon.

It’s in that moment when I think everything begins to sink in. Or perhaps I’ve just been in shock this entire time. Whatever the cause, as my gaze lands on Beth, pressure builds inside my chest.

I’m so sorry you died.

I’m sorry we’re out here, burying your body.

I’m sorry for what happened to you.

Tears burn my eyes, and one streams down my cheek. I quickly swipe it away then wrap my fingers around the shovel. As I’m pulling it out of the wagon, the movement shifts Beth’s body, causing what’s left of her hair to fall to the side, revealing more of the left side of her face.

While most of her flesh is decaying, a small patch of skin remains on her cheek, almost untouched from the rot the rest of her body is suffering from. And on that patch is a small, circular symbol with what appears to be a raven in the center. A tattoo? Doubtful since Beth wasn’t the sort of girl to get a tattoo. Not to mention, I didn’t see a tattoo on her face the last time I saw her, which was probably only hours before she died.

Why I do what I do next can be put on a very long list of things I’ve done that are out of character for me since I died and was revived. I reach out and brush my fingers along the mark.

The