This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp [Nijkamp, Marieke] (z-lib.org).epub

you and Autumn, it’s a disease. It’s not natural. You think you can come into our
lives and steal my family. You need someone to set you right.”
“Your family?” I shot back, despair strengthening my voice. “When is the last
time you took an interest in Autumn? You don’t know the first thing about
family.”
When I tried to roll over and crawl away from him, his boot found my
stomach, and I doubled over. He pinned me, his knees on my arms and his hands
on my shirt. When he leaned down, his breath smelled sour. “They abandoned
me. They all did.” His grin stole the scream from my lungs. His finger traced my
jawline. I couldn’t move.
“Next time your brother tries to get in my way, I will kill him. Remember
that.” Tyler hovered above me while the sky turned purple. “And I will make
sure you remember me.”
I couldn’t run then. I couldn’t escape, no matter how hard I tried. I’ve been
running ever since.
“Remember.”
And now he’s found me.
• • •
CLAIRE
“Thank you,” Chris says as soon as we’re out of earshot from the rest of the
group.
My breathing is shallow. Running on the hard concrete rattles my knees.
Although I don’t need an explanation for Chris’s hesitation, he gives one
anyway. “School was always supposed to be safe.” He grasps for words. “I—”
I nod. “I know.” Nothing ever happens here.
Cars fill up the student parking lot, even though most of us take the bus to
school. The route to and from Opportunity High is a single two-lane road.
Behind the school’s athletic fields, there is a forest, but in front of the school, the