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Chapter 253
~Valerie’s POV~
My thumb hovered over the ssage preview, my heart suddenly lodged in my throat. I swallowed hard and opened it.
I froze.
The silence of the lab pressed in like a blanket.
"Solstice," I whispered her na aloud in my mind, then again under my breath like it could summon her.
I clutched my phone tighter, my fingers curling around the device like it might disappear if I let go.
Gods, I hadn’t expected this now, today of all days. It felt like reliving it all again, all the pain of her leaving with Uncle Zade, seeing the betrayer with Dristan.
I didn’t want that. I didn’t want to think about anything negative, yet that was all my brain was doing while my heart played a different ga.
I sat down slowly on one of the lab stools, the phone still glowing in my hand. My heartbeat was erratic; too many emotions were flooding in all at once.
It wasn’t just the text. It was the mories that reopened.
Solstice and I were always more than cousins—we were best friends, soul sisters, confidants in a world where everything was uncertain. She was the person I confided in.
"At least you are safe?" I muttered to myself.
I swallowed down the lump rising in my throat.
"I miss you too, I typed out. "More than you know."
But I didn’t hit send because in that mont, with her words still ringing in my ears and the warmth of her voice echoing in my mory, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to say.
Everything felt too fragile and yet too important.
My thumb hovered over the ssage box, backspacing slowly.
Before I could type anything else, my screen lit up again with another ssage.
Solstice: I hope you’re okay. I don’t care what’s happening around you. I just wanted you to know I’ve always got your back.
My throat tightened, and a shaky breath escaped . There she was, still Solstice, even after everything.
"Okay, Val get your shit together."
My mind flickered to that night when I saw the Nightshade bandana. It only ant that Uncle Zade was right. They are hidden even in PSA.
I just need to know how to join.
I sighed, letting my shoulders slouch. Should I now join every group in PSA in hopes of hearing soone ntion it, or what should I do?
I raked my hand through my hair. I was confused and just too lost. Subconsciously, I reached uo to my neck to feel my necklace, but even that was nowhere to be found.
This is a ss.
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~Lucy’s POV~
It didn’t take long for Kieran to find behind the gym building where I spent the whole of lunch break in
Ever since yesterday and the stunt we pulled on Valerie, I have minimised the ti spent in his presence.
Why?
He had claid maybe Avery had done sothing, and he was going to find out. Knowing Avery, she may not rat us out, but our third teammate, I wasn’t so sure.
His jaw was tight. His eyes, stormy. I’d seen him mad before—but never like this.
"You got Valerie punished," he snapped the mont he reached . "Because of you, and your worthless stunt."
I didn’t look at him. I kept my head lowered, clutching the hem of my sleeves, fighting the sting in my throat.
I didn’t answer.
"You should have gotten worse than getting burned," he said, venom dripping from his tone. "You should be grateful that’s all you got."
A soft whimper left before I could stop it at the remarks he gave. Unfortunately, that only made him angrier.
He was in front of in two strides. His hand grabbed a fistful of my hair, yanking my head back so I had no choice but to look at him.
"What? You think you matter that much?" he hissed. "That you can hurt Valerie and just walk away?" His eyes burned into mine. "You think I wouldn’t notice the pathetic little plan you and your useless friend pulled?"
His breath was hot against my skin. His fingers dug in.
"I want you to apologise to Valerie. Today."
My eyes widened. "What?" I breathed.
He yanked even harder, straining my neck. "You heard ."
A cold fury settled in my gut at what he was making do when I wasn’t the one who had tampered wth her solution. "No," I said through clenched teeth.
Imdiately, he lifted his hand, threatening, dangerous.
"Do it," I said, my voice cracking. "Hit . If that’s what it takes to make you wake the hell up."
Kieran’s hand hovered midair, trembling slightly.
"Because in case it slipped your mind, Kieran," I spat, "ever since that girl showed up, your life has revolved around her like she’s the godsdamned sun. And we’re all just standing in her light."
His eyes flashed blood-red, his teeth clenched tight—but I didn’t flinch.
"If hurting will make you rember who you were before she showed up, then hit . I’ll take it. That’s a small price for the boy I once knew."
His hand slowly lowered. A strange silence passed between us. And just when I thought he was finally going to see my point, he laughed.
It wasn’t a pleasant sound. It was hollow, cruel and maniacal.
"You think you know anything about ?" he asked sharply. "You don’t know shit."
I stared at him, breathing hard.
"I will chase Valerie until she falls to her knees and begs to be mine," he growled. "And I won’t stop even at that. I will always put her above you. You better get used to it."
With that, he shoved back and walked away without another word ignoring where I had fallen butt first on the ground.
I stayed there for so seconds with the soft sound of my uneven breath accompanying even as my limbs trembled.
Suddenly, a slow clap echoed from the door behind .
I stiffened and turned.
Avery stood there, leaning against the fra, a wicked smirk playing on her lips.
"How long were you standing there?" I demanded, trying to wipe the emotion off my face.
"From the start," she said sweetly. "And darling? That performance was a chef’s kiss."
I glared at her.
She stepped forward, keeping her amused expression on. "Now do you see? That girl—Valerie Nightshade—is the disease. And we?" She smiled. "We’re the cure. It’s ti we take care of her... once and for all."
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