2|| Whispers in the Wind

29|| a long way to go

Kalyani

Evelyn shrieked. She ran toward her brother, but froze, held back by something they couldn't see. 

"What did you do to him, you bitch?" she screamed.

Wilder was ghostly pale, and he stepped forward. "Wait, wait, please. Roxanne. I'm here now, I'll do it."

"Do what?" the raised voice came from Leo. "Can anyone in this room tell the truth for once? Will, please."

Wilder made a placating gesture at the ghost girl. "Just let me come clean, let me tell them the truth."

The darkness faded from the room oh-so-slightly. Roxanne tapped her nails on the wall impatiently, floating far too close to Jacob's unconscious form for anyone's liking. Aria and Arlo stepped in the way, trying not to look at her. 

Wilder hopped from one foot to the other. "I'm sorry, guys. But I have to do this. My mom," he took a deep breath. "Is Sarah Wesner. She changed her legal name to her mom's, but. Yeah, that's why Roxanne killed my dad. To get to her. It didn't work, that time, but she has another chance again. Because this used to be her house, and you two have psychic abilities. It's perfect."

Evelyn was fighting against whatever grasp Roxanne had on her. Tears were streaming down her face.

The room whirled around Kalyani. "Your mom. Sarah Wesner." Kalyani laughed, hysterical edge prominent. "You're related to the Wesners." Oh. "And you're going to take her place?"

"Yes. 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. I told her to make something up, and said she would be here. She wasn't, wouldn't, won't. I would never let her do that."

"And how do we know you're not just going to turn us over to Roxanne?" Kalyani breathed. "You could do that, you know. Be safe and happy with your family while she rots in hell."

Shock and hurt flashed over his face. "I wouldn't do that, Kalyani. I was trying to climb down a drainpipe because my mom knew what the price to pay was and wouldn't let me go. I'd rather give myself up than ever hurt you. 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're just going to leave us? Just like that? As if none of this ever mattered to you?"

His gaze hardened. "Of course it matters, that's why I'm doing this. Roxanne probably spun some story up for Jacob, there's no way to defeat her unless she takes me. Roxanne Wesner doesn't need a Sarah. She needs a substitute for Morgan. I'm different from all of you, I'm related to a Wesner. If I'm gone, she doesn't have to take the rest of you. It's like getting revenge on the bloodline. And she'll be gone from the house, too, just like she was with dad."

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

"What?"

"That feeling I had. That we couldn't trust you."

"Come along, Wilder," Roxanne said.

As Wilder took a step forward, Leo's arm shot out and grabbed his wrist. "Will, you goddamn moron, please just think for once. You can't leave us like this. I thought we were in this together."

Wilder shook his head, trying to pull away with no avail. "Leo, we are. That's why I'm doing this. My mom, my sister, you guys, you'll go back to living normal lives. Think about it."