Vindicate (Insight #5)(21)

“It is , ” I mumbled as I tried to understand the range of emotions before me.

“It’s gray , Willow. Man made. Not natural. We have no idea where this will lead, how dangerous it is.”

“Man made. Austin made , ” I mumbled as echoes of Marc and Landen’s laughter echoed in my memory. I remembered Landen saying that Austin fell into a p assage that led to these people. This had to be them. The same ones. “You don’t have to come.”

“Yeah , right. I’m already an accomplice to your escape . I’m not missing the action.”

I looked down at the i Pod in m y hand to that image – to the broken heart on that demons neck . Anger engulfed me. I had to find her. I boldly stepped forward into the gray unknown passage.





Chapter Five


I heard the guitar just before the gray haze passed. We were standing in what looked like a studio. A large bay window was to the left. There were drums – guitars – amps everywhere. There w as a brown couch and chair in the center of the room. That girl , t he one I saw Preston with in that vision, Charlie, was sitting in the center of the couch. Her dark eyes peered up at me with nothing less than astonishment. Beside her was a girl that was much younger. Her eyes were just a s dark as her long black hair. With the exception of bright purple lipstick , everything she was wearing was black , which made her skin seem pale as snow.

In the chair , there was a guy. Young. A ddictively attractive. His hair was dark, slightly long , and it highlighted his green eyes. I t was him. The boy I saw in that image, bu t something was off about him. He looked the same but felt different to me. The shock I felt from him was reflected in his instant tense composure. I glanced in the direction of the guitar that was playing and saw the identical twin of the guy in the chair . He was the one. The one I saw holding Charlie. I ’d found my male twins. I’d found Charlie, my solution.

The guy was staring out the window as he played . Feeling my gaze , he turned . A t first , he didn’t seem surprised to see me there , but then his emerald green eyes laced in black focused on me , and his emotion of shock instantly mirrored his brother ’s. His hand froze in place over the strings of the guitar as he stared at me , ignoring Olivia at my side.

I let go of Olivia’s hand and held out the i Pod , showing the cover art that belonged to that song to the room. “Which one of you made this?” I asked firmly. I guess my anguish had erased the manners my mother had so diligently taught me as a child.

“Um,” Olivia said , stepping in front of me and pushing my arm down. “Listen. I know. I know you’re asking yourself how we –” she glanced around the room , “h ow we appeared here , but listen , there ’s a very believable explanation , ” s he said , trying not to sound as nervous as she was.

The girl who I knew was Charlie stood slowly and tilted her head around Olivia. “Willow?” she asked as if she couldn ’t believe her eyes.

“You know me?” I asked , fighting to balance the rush of anger and adrenaline that had left me even more weak and dizzy. I dug my nail under my ring. Screaming in my thoughts at the caged fury. I would not hurt these people. I said it over and over again until I felt the storm deep inside me settle.

“Not yet,” she muttered quietly.

“Did you make this?” I asked breathlessly , wanting her to be my solution.

She didn’t answer me ; she just stared into my soul . The guy in the chair had stood and was walking slowly to me with the same stare. The one in the window took the strap of the guitar off his tall , lean body and set it in a stand by his feet – staring at me the entire time.

I wanted to run. But I held my ground. I wasn’t leaving t here without answers. With their stares , I felt waves of emotions. Ones that were all familiar. Love. Passion. Anger. A nd most dominantly grief.

“She’s seducing them , ” Charlie said as if the words made her sick.

“She better not be,” I said through gritted teeth as rage exploded inside of me. It was reflected in what sounded like an explosion of thunder. Everyone in the room , with the exception of Olivia and the pale girl, who hadn ’t moved, ducked with the fierce sound.

I recoiled . Crap. Now they were afraid of me , too.

Olivia gripped my wrist , telling me to calm down. “You know of us? You know why we ’re here?” she asked them as they slowly re gained their composure.

“We see it, Olivia , ” t he boy who was sitting in the chair said to her.

“How do you know my name?” Olivia asked defensively.

He cautiously stepped forward. “I told you . I see it.”

“What ? What do you see?” I asked again , doing everything in my power to remain calm.

“The past , ” t he boy said. “Everything that brought you here.”

“What ’s your name?” Olivia asked him .

“Aden,” he said , relaxing a little. He smiled slightly , revealing dimples that reminded me of Landen . He tilted his head to his twin and said, “Draven.” He t hen looked at the girl on the couch and said, “Monroe.” Before he could introduce Charlie , I spoke.

“Charlie, the girl who has already been to Chara, met Preston.”

When I said Preston’s name , Monroe looked up at me , almost as if she wanted to smile , but she didn’t ; instead , she maintained her calm and gazed at me.