The Lost Girls || Bbangsaz

XXIII

     I spent the next two days pacing around the house, biting my knuckles, and generally annoying everyone with my inability to sit still. Hyein got sick of it and went out hunting just to get away from me, and she hadn't been back since. Dani kept shooting furtive glances at my wrist, where I kept Hanni's bracelet. I didn't explain to them what it meant. They didn't need to know. That was between me and Hanni and no one else.

     Since I'd be breaking every other promise I made, I had every intention of keeping this one. I'd put her bracelet in the fire with my locker. Who I had been and the symbol of who she had been would burn together. Even if I was the only one losing my memories.

At dawn, Dani and Haerin went outside to watch the sun rise over the trees. They both had a thing for the way the light filtered through the remaining autumn leaves. Though there were only a handful left now, clinging to dark and crooked branches.

     I didn't have Dani's knack for stress-cleaning or Haerin's patience for art projects. The only thing that calmed my nerves was reading. There was something soothing about getting lost in someone else's love and life. But I hadn't been able to concentrate on any of the books I'd picked up from the library. Not when I had so many worries running through my mind.

     Every minute of the day, Hanni occupied my thoughts. While I trusted she had kept her word and left town with her mom, I still needed to make sure they were really gone for my own peace of mind. Getting in and out of the school would be risky. If Elton still prowied the halls, he'd take his frustration out on me. I had no doubt.

     He had to know Hanni was gone by now. I could only imagine his fear-fueled rage.

     I threw on the Glen River West sweatshirt Hyein had stolen from the girls locker room and went out to the backyard. Dani and Haerin louged on the swing while Dani read out loud from a water-stained onk of sonnets. Sneaking out the front had been an appealing idea, but Haerin would probably harvest my organs if I left without telling them.

     "I'm going up to the school for a minute," I said.

     Dani dropped her book in the grass. "Absolutely not."

     "I have to make sure Hanni is really gone." Even they had to see the logic behind that. If she stayed in town, she was still susceptible to being turned. "It's for our protection."

     "Do whatever you want." Haerin tipped up her sunglasses. "But leave your heirloom."

     Okay. That was fair, all things considered.
I lifted the chain over my head and handed my locket to her.

     My neck felt strange without it, as though I'd just exposed myself by taking it off. Maybe my memories clung to me the same way 1 clung to them.

     "Don't you care?" Dani pushed her foot into the leg of the swing, sending the whole structure crashing to the ground and flipping Ida over her head. "You just tell her to leave her heirloom, like she's not about to expose herself to unnecessary danger."

     Haerin jumped to her feet, pushing her hair out of her face. She glared at Dani. "You need to relax. Minji knows how to take care of herself, and it's not a bad idea to check up on Hanni."

     "Honestly." I gave Dani a kiss on the cheek. "I'll be fine, Mother Hen."

     She grumbled in response.

     "We only have two days left," Haerin said. "If he has Hanni, I'd rather prepare for Plan B now than be left scrambling after the fire."

     "Exactly." I didn't tell them that I had what would've been Hanni's heirloom. Dani had her suspicions, but I didn't bother confirming.
They needed to believe that if Elton did have her, he'd still be able to turn her, otherwise they'd never let me leave the house this close to the full moon just to make sure a mortal girl was still alive.