Wretched (Never After Series)(30)

The second Nessa was gone, everyone moved on as if she wasn’t there in the first place. A used-up toy that gets thrown in the garbage and forgotten.

Normally, I sit through service then dip out before Sunday dinner at the house, but today, with Brayden sitting two aisles away, I needed an escape.

Needed a reminder of my goals and why I have them in the first place.

Fallen leaves crunch beneath my shoes as I walk through the graveyard, a mix of headstones lining the way. I stop in front of Nessa’s, the gray marble dulled from thin layers of grime, and I place the small bouquet of red roses I picked up from a street vendor at its base.

“Hey, Ness,” I murmur.

I reach forward, running my fingers along the engraved letters of her name, Vanessa Esther Westerly, wishing I could wipe away the dirt along with it. There’s no actual body here; it was never recovered after the “accident” that killed her, but I come here anyway, the memorial to her life somehow making me feel closer to her than anywhere else.

My stomach churns.

“I miss you,” I whisper, glancing to either side of me before sitting down. The grass is cold, but I make myself as comfortable as possible, wrapping my arms around my bent knees as I stare at her tombstone.

A ball of sadness forms in my throat, making it difficult to swallow around the pain.

“What are you supposed to be?” Nessa laughs, flicking the top of my pointed hat.

I grin at her, the green paint on my skin still tacky as I throw my hands out to my sides. “A witch, duh.”

She smiles, her eyes taking in my costume. I know it’s not much, but I made it all by myself and I’m pretty proud of it. It took days.

She places her hands on her hips. “Are you a good witch or a bad witch?”

I tilt my head to the side, not understanding the question. “What do you mean?”

“Well… you either cast wicked spells against your enemies or you use your powers for good. You know, to help people.” She looks me up and down again. “Good witches normally wear white though. At least, that’s what they say.”

I chew on the inside of my lip, my brows furrowing as I take in her words. I hadn’t thought about what kind of witch I wanted to be. Honestly, I didn’t know there were choices. Embarrassment swirls through me, wondering if people will judge me if I pick wrong.

Dorothy cackles, walking in from the foyer, followed closely by our mother. “No way she’s a good one. Look at her.”

Nessa’s eyes narrow, and my chest twists when I see Mom fawning over Dorothy—as usual—and completely ignoring me.

I twist my fingers together, shifting on my feet, suddenly feeling like my homemade costume is stupid. Especially next to Dorothy, who’s dressed in a sparkly pink ball gown, complete with an elaborate silver crown on her head and a magic wand with a star on top.

“Wow. Who are you supposed to be?” I ask, marveling at her costume.

Dorothy’s grin widens and she twirls around in a circle, the dress shimmering as she does. “I’m a fairy princess, right Mama?”

Our mother glances down at her, running her hand through the ends of Dorothy’s perfectly curled hair. “That’s right, baby girl.” She looks over at us. “Doesn’t she look great? We had the outfit specially made.”

My fingers twist so hard they ache.

Nessa scoffs. “Jesus, Mom.”

“Glinda!” Dad’s voice pours in from down the hall. “Get your ass in here. Now.”

Mom’s smile drops and she whips her head behind her before looking back to Dorothy. “I’ll be back later. You have fun trick-or-treating, okay? Remember what I told you.”

Dorothy nods, smiling, and our mom bends to kiss her on the forehead before spinning around and rushing away.

Nessa blows out a breath, pasting on a smile and clapping her hands together. “Okay, let’s go now before everyone steals all the good candy.”

“Nice costume, Dorothy,” I whisper as I step up beside her, grabbing the black cauldron-shaped bucket sitting on the kitchen counter.

She scrunches her nose, looking past me to Nessa. “I’ll be out front. It stinks back here.”

My chest aches and I stare at the floor.

A hand clamps down on my shoulder, Nessa’s face coming into view. “You know? I definitely think you’re a good witch.”

I nod, trying to hold back the sob that wants to break free. I swallow it down, glancing at the empty hallway where Dorothy disappeared. She’s so stupid, she thinks just because she’s eight and Mom’s favorite that she’s better than everyone.

Something dark and heavy twists in my middle, heating up my body as it spreads. Good witches help people, but I don’t really feel like helping her. Or anyone, for that matter.

“No,” I say, stiffening my spine and glaring at the empty space. “I’m the bad one.”

That was the last Halloween I saw my mother. Before Dad went away and she decided she was too good to raise kids on her own.

Footsteps crunch behind me, and my spine stiffens, jolting me out of the memory.

I’ve been coming here every single Sunday for the past seven years, and no one has ever followed me. No one even cared I went missing in the first place. They never do.

Zeke appears at my side and sits down next to me, crossing his legs.