The Paths We Have Taken: Volume I (The Broken Reality Book 1) by L.R. Hunter

Author:L.R. Hunter [Hunter, L.R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-11-10T22:00:00+00:00

21. Evelyn

The market square was dwindling, nearly barren. Where before, there had been a bustling crowd and legions of performers capering in the center of the plaza, there was now a tepid stream of passersby. All the carts had been pulled from the area. Even still, Evelyn found herself standing at the center of the plaza, staring in the direction of the arena, which towered above the buildings before her. The detail of the arena, especially the intricate carvings rimming the top, began to lose clairvoyance as her eyes glazed over. Spring was still hesitantly returning, and today she was shivering as chilled wind cut into her face and whipped her arms numb. She lacked the clothing to withstand this weather. When she finally blinked, she flinched and realized that her mouth was hanging open. She would have flushed, but she was too drained already to feel anything, let alone, show anything.

"Eve."

Evelyn turned to face Avery, who took Evelyn's hand into her own, the warmth stark against the winds. They had each shed the extent of their tears these past few days, yet Avery looked sick to the soul, and her lips would occasionally quiver. She pulled close, sharing her body heat.

"We should go back."

Evelyn didn't answer. Days of standing here waiting, asking the surrounding buildings if they had seen anything, had dulled her senses and her cognitive faculties. She was hardly thinking at all. Evelyn breathed out.

"Come on." Avery started to pull at Evelyn, only subtly. Evelyn resisted at first, but Avery surprised her through persistence. Evelyn began to shuffle forward before finally breaking into a weak gait—a mere extension of a shuffle.

"Maybe they are near the arena. Maybe we should—"

“Evelyn. We looked there earlier today. And the days before."

Evelyn felt her breath heave, but she was burnt out, and she merely choked on the air. She cleared her throat and took long, careful draws into her lungs.

"Ehric is looking," said Avery. "He and the authorities, all of them, are looking for them. I'm terrified, but . . ."

It was true that their missing status was passed on, but that could never be enough. Every day that passed, Evelyn became more convinced that it wasn't enough. Jade is my responsibility! And Marco . . . he was necessarily bound up in this too. His condition was the sickening twist. What if he breaks down into shivers? Who will be there?

Evelyn should have known this would happen. Jade had been willful from the beginning. Evelyn thought she had been accounting for this, but Jade took advantage of the first opening she could find. The second I let go of her fucking hand. Evelyn almost laughed. "I need handcuffs for that girl."

Avery grinned lightly. "That would make her worse."

"In terms of attitude," said Evelyn. "The cuffs would nullify physical possibility."

"We can speculate on what you did wrong endlessly. But I don't think chaining your sister is necessary."

"I should have seen this!"

Avery suddenly stopped walking, grabbing Evelyn's shoulders. "You did. I saw you.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.