Chapter 238

My sister came back a couple of hours later. She looked exhausted and headed almost immediately for the bedroom. Aaron and Elliott were with her, and they both sat down without saying anything, aloud anyway, and Brandon and I exchanged glances. We had been watching The Goonies, but now real-life monsters seemed much more important than the ones on the show.

“Everything okay?” I asked, looking from one of them to the other.

“Yeah, she’s just tired,” Aaron said. He looked a little tired himself.

I glanced at Brandon, and he gave me a reassuring smile. With a deep breath, I stood, deciding it was now or never, and headed for the bedroom.

Cadence was sprawled on the bed she’d claimed earlier. Her eyes were closed, but when I sat down on the other bed across from her, she opened them. “What’s up, Sis?” she asked, forcing a smile.

“Do you have a minute?” I asked. “I wanted t