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Prologue

Chloe

I reine It’s funny how that’s what stayed with ht, hat little bit we had that orth taking with us and we drove away as fast as we could

We didn’t stop running, not for a long time, and I didn’t have to ask him why

No one leaves that place and gets aith it

Crescent Hills is nothing but sin and ned to keep every soul trapped there in a fog of devastation I grew up surrounded by violence and agony Living in fear and in anger The constant tur more than a name on its list of victims That’s the truly unfortunate part I never wanted to call it home, but back then, I knew I’d never have another

Until Sebastian

He was always the only one for me, because he stainedtouch before I ever considered letting a boy touch me Well, any boy other than him No one else could have compared

It all started with a kiss

He followed h school I didn’t know it and I never would have guessed he felt even a fraction of what I’d felt for hih, because that unfortunate day, I turned around after crying so hard and there he was I was embarrassed to be inside with the other kids, so I hid outside, trying to suppress the shameful tears The second I heard him, the second I turned around to see who’d followed ainst the brick wall and crushed his lips against mine

Stunningconsued everything

Because he kissed ot that kiss

Because I took his hand and he led me away

A sad slass It was freezing cold e ran away over a decade ago We were barely ed us so

It’s fitting that it’s bitter cold now that we’re returning

Now that we’re going back into the nightmare

“I never thought we’d go back,” I whisper into the silent cabin of the car The stereo works just fine, but I can’t stoht now I don’t want to ruin any songs with this o they’ll be forever associated with this memory

Bastian lays his hand onhis warmth when he tells me, “I didn’t either”

I think he just says what he thinks I want to hear