Chapter 4

I looked at Ethan and smiled.

“I never knew you could twist things like that. We're done, Ethan.”

His face hardened. “Don't come back and tell me you regret this, Nora.”

I didn't answer. I looked at the other three.

“We're not friends anymore. If we run into each other, you don't have to say hello.”

“I'm sorry! It's all my fault!” Jenna cried, then turned and ran.

“Jenna!” Ethan chased after her without looking back.

Owen followed. “That was out of line, Nora.”

Caleb gave a short, cold laugh. “Look at you. You're the one in the wrong, and now you're threatening to cut us off? We'll see who comes crawling back first.”

I watched all three walk away.

Then I apologized to Ms. Carter and explained that I was moving. I might not be able to visit her on holidays anymore.

I went straight home afterward.

Mom worked fast. Most of the house was already packed.

“I haven't touched your things,” she said.

“Thanks, Mom. I'll take care of them.”

This time, I didn't hesitate. I got rid of everything connected to those four people.

None of them messaged me that evening.

I slept well.

Early the next morning, Caleb called.

“Nora! Ethan was putting together an apology surprise for you at our hideout. Something happened! Get over here!”

Something had happened to Ethan.

For a second, I couldn't think.

He'd found our hideout when we were six. Whenever I was upset, he'd fill it with surprises to cheer me up.

It held some of my happiest memories.

I hurried there as fast as I could, calling Ethan over and over on the way.

He never answered.

“Ethan! Where are you?”

As I reached the little cabin, someone shoved me hard from behind.

I stumbled inside. The door slammed and locked behind me.

Ethan spoke first.

“Nora, this time you're going to learn your lesson.”

Caleb's voice came coldly through the door.

“After you said we weren't friends yesterday, Jenna disappeared. We looked for her all night. We still haven't found her.”

Owen was covering the windows with black tape.

“You can stay in there and think about what you've done. Once we find Jenna, you can apologize. When she forgives you, we'll let you out.”

The last gap in the window disappeared. The cabin went dark.

I couldn't stop myself from curling up in a corner.

“Ethan! Caleb! Owen! Let me out! You know about my heart. I can't be shut in here!”

Their voices were already farther away.

“Stop using your health as an excuse. You had heart surgery. You're fine now!”

“Just hope we find Jenna soon.”

“Then you can come out.”

Their voices faded. Everything went quiet.

I was cold all over. Even this place, one of the happiest parts of my childhood, was now somewhere they'd tricked me into coming so they could hurt me.

I couldn't hold on to those memories the way I used to.

I sat on the floor, unable to work out what I was feeling.

Then the door opened.

Dana, the bodyguard Mom had hired for me, stood outside.

“Nora, do you want me to call the police?”

I shook my head and wiped away my tears.

“Let's go home. We're supposed to move today. I want to leave now. I don't want anything to hold us up.”

On the way to the airport with Mom, I deleted and blocked Ethan and the others everywhere they could reach me. I'd already left their group. Now I was cutting off the rest.

I never wanted to see any of them again.