2|| Whispers in the Wind

27|| a long way to go

Kalyani

Wilder sharply inhaled. His tanned skin paled. "Hi guys. Sorry I'm late."

"Why were you late?" Kalyani crossed her arms.

He laughed, but there was no humor to it. "I should come clean, shouldn't I?"

"You really should," Aria provided.

Roxanne tapped her nails on the wall impatiently. "Hurry-"

Kalyani whirled on her. "Could you please just shut up?!" The girl floated a few steps back, but didn't remove her gaze on them.

Wilder awkwardly hopped on one foot to the other. "Antonio and Sarah Ramirez. Sarah Wesner. That used to be her name. And I knew."

The room seemed to whirl around Kalyani. "Your mom. You knew. But you didn't tell." Kalyani was ready to laugh a hysterical laugh of her own. "You're related to the Wesners."

"Yeah. And I said I wasn't. I've lied. I'm sorry.You want to know why Sarah Wesner never showed up? Because I told my mom you would be calling. I was never at the restroom- you know, when we were at the library. Mom made something up, said she would be here. She wasn't, wouldn't, won't."

"And let me guess, you were late because you were planning on how to turn us over to Roxanne?"

Shock and hurt flashed over his face. "What? I wouldn't. I was trying to climb down a drainpipe because my mom knew what the price to pay was and wouldn't let me go. You know me better than that."

"Do we really?" said Arlo too-loudly. "Do we know you?"

Wilder looked down at his feet. "No. I guess you really don't."

Kalyani didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "So you've been hanging out with us so you can report the details to mommy? So you could save yourself?"

His gaze hardened. "Of course I would tell her. She's my mom, and I would never ever do anything that could endanger her- no matter which one of my friends is involved. Even you. But I do know a better way. Roxanne Wesner doesn't need a Sarah. She needs a substitute for Morgan. And it can be anyone related to a Wesner."

Aria was staring at Wilder intently. "So that's what it was..."

"What?"

"Kalyani, remember the time you got all worked up because I told you I had a weird feeling about Wilder? Maybe this is why," Aria explained.

Jacob randomly popped in. "So you can't directly communicate with spirits but you can sense if someone is involved? That's really interesting-"

"This isn't time for a science lecture. As for Aria's feeling, I guess. So what do you say, Roxanne? What about it?"

Kalyani wished she could take back all her last words. What Wilder did was right, but... there was no way out of it. And what was he asking Roxanne?

"Is it not obvious? He is related to me, Kalyani Chopra." Roxanne's words no longer came from her mouth, but seemed to leak from the walls of the room. "He wants to be the substitute. Just like you did."

"Excuse me?" to everyone's shock, it was Leo. "You can't just prance around and pick a random person off for your own personal needs! Wilder, you're going crazy. You know you can't do that! Think clearly. For once. We'd really appreciate it."

Wilder shook his head sadly. "Sorry Leo. I have to. Once Roxanne takes me, your lives will go back to normal."

"But... we won't have you," Evelyn whispered.