The Devouring Gray(73)

It would be easy to grovel like May had, until the whole town moved on like none of this had ever happened.

But there were already so few founder descendants remaining. The town had noticed. The town was turning. It would make so much more sense to nurture founder children instead of snuffing them out. And all Justin could see when he opened his mouth was the rage in Harper’s eyes as she pressed her blade to his throat. Rage she didn’t even properly understand, because she didn’t know what Augusta had taken away. The powers she couldn’t use.

For so long, Justin had dwelled on all the things he couldn’t have. But at least he knew what he was missing.

Harper believed she was powerless. So did Violet. And there was nothing he could do to save them.

But he knew what they would’ve done if they’d been the ones sitting across from Augusta Hawthorne.

They would’ve fought back.

And he owed it to them to prove he’d learned something from what they had lost.

“You didn’t take Harper’s and Violet’s memories away because they were dangerous to the town,” he said, rising to his feet. Their rage was his rage, filling in the places May had collapsed, bolstering him until he understood what he needed to say. “This town desperately needs strong founders. They threatened your authority, so you made them forget. Isaac’s done more damage than they ever did, but you keep him around because he listens to us. But you couldn’t control Harper and Violet, so you got rid of them. And you’re trying to get rid of me, too.”

For once, Augusta was silent, her pale face tinged with just a touch of pink, her gloved hands frozen at her temples. They stared at each other, mother and son, as Justin backed away from the desk.

When Augusta spoke again, it was in a quiet, hateful whisper. “Being a founder is all about sacrifice. If you cannot learn to put others’ safety above your own emotions, then it’s a good thing you failed your ritual. Because you are unfit to serve this town.”

Justin didn’t say anything more. Didn’t blink, didn’t breathe. Just fumbled for the doorknob, rushed down the hallway, and sprinted out of the house.

He ran farther than he ever had before, until the world was wide and blurred and strange around him and his body was ablaze with pain. And when his feet came to a stop, hours or days or years later, he stood at the door to Isaac’s apartment.

“I can’t go home,” he said, and then he yelled it, banging his palm against the cracked, peeling wood, as if that would somehow make the words hurt less. When the door creaked open, he was trembling and weary, ready to collapse.

“I can’t go home,” Justin told him again, and Isaac’s mouth did that same thing it had done back at the Diner, that almost-sad almost-smile he couldn’t read.

“So don’t,” Isaac said gruffly, pulling the door open wide enough for Justin to stumble inside.

He was used to Isaac trailing behind him, but tonight, it felt right to be the one following Isaac’s broad shoulders and dark curls as he led him to the couch. Where he could finally, mercifully, rest.



Harper hated how easily she could be left behind. Mitzi and Seth had taken her home after the sheriff showed up in the clearing. She tried to talk to her father about what had happened to Nora, but he reassured her time and again that it had been an accident.

She did not believe him, but she had no proof otherwise.

The next few days passed quietly.

Justin, Isaac, May, and Violet were all out of school. Violet didn’t answer her phone, and Harper couldn’t bring herself to contact Justin. So when she walked into homeroom a few days later and saw Violet sitting in her usual seat, looking well-rested and peaceful, she was confused, to say the least.

Harper sat down across the room and watched as Justin and Isaac slid into the back row. She waited for something to happen, some acknowledgment of the things they’d all seen, the monster inside Violet. But nothing happened at all. Violet didn’t speak to anyone, just stared at Mrs. Langham with a vague half smile on her face.

The same thing happened in history and biology, so when Harper saw Violet fumbling with her locker before lunch, she swallowed her nerves and marched up to her. After all, Violet had called Harper a friend on the equinox. Maybe she was processing the events of the previous few days.

“Do you need help with your lock?” Harper said.

“I should know the combo, but I can’t remember it.” Violet scowled. “Pretty embarrassing, right?”

“I’ve been here my whole life, and I still mess it up sometimes,” said Harper.

Violet chuckled. “Thanks for making me feel more adequate. What’s your name?”

Harper’s stomach sank through her shoes and into the floor. “What? Violet, that’s not funny.”

“I’m sorry, have we met?” Violet’s face was still fixed in that odd half smile. “You do look familiar. Is it Hailey? Holly?”

Harper couldn’t stand the way Violet was looking at her. It was the same look Justin had given her three years ago, vague and apathetic. And although she knew something else had to be going on, that Violet wouldn’t just forget her, she could not stop the panic rising inside her.

“I have to go.” Harper fled to the music practice room where she usually ate her lunch and tucked her knees up to her chest.

Something was wrong with Violet. Either that, or she had chosen to ignore Harper on purpose.