The Wrong Side

Chapter 36

I drop my pack, completely and entirely in shock and denial. Being here is not possible. It's too much of a coincidence. There's no way.

"Caden?" Luna takes my hand. I don't feel it. My hand is numb. "Are you alright?" She asks and I slowly shake my head. "What's up?"

"We have to get out of here," I mutter.

"What?" Luna looks back at her siblings who have stopped walking, and they come over to us.

My knees feel weak, but I stay standing up. I know my mouth is hanging open and that my eyes are huge, but I don't care. For months, I've imagined this day. Almost a year now has passed where all I knew for certain was the Voice, whispering in my head its message. I've dreamt about the outcomes. I've imagined every bad and good situation, and now that it's here, I don't believe it. I don't believe it...

"Caden!" Luna shakes me lightly.

"Wha-?"

"Are you okay? You just spaced out there for a second. What do you mean we have to get out of here? What's wrong?"

"Just - just trust me," I say, taking a step forward and not removing my eyes from the little town.

"Caden, is this where you grew up?" Kadiya asks.

I nod slowly.

"Was it always like this?" she asks, coming beside me.

I nod again.

"What about your house? Is it in better condition than the rest of this place?"

I incline my head. "I think so..."

"Then we can stay there for the night," Matthew says.

"No!" I shout. "Not here. I don't think it's a good idea."

"Why not?" he asks, turning me around.

I look at the three of them. They all seem concerned. I take a shaky breath, and I feel my entire body trembling slightly.

Don't tell anyone.

The Voice comes out of nowhere, sending a flash of pain through my head, causing me to wince. I have a choice here: Tell them everything, and ruin my only chance of finding out the truth; or pretend everything is alright and risk their safety just to find out what the Voice meant. I'm not even certain I'm going to get my answers if I listen to it.

"I haven't been completely honest with you guys," I say, and the reaction is instantaneous. They all take a step back.

"What is it?" Matthew asks.

"I-I've heard this voice in my head, and it's been telling me about my house and-"

"Wait," Kadiya says, stopping me. "You said you didn't know what the voice was saying."

"You told me that it was telling you not to tell anyone something," Matthew adds.

"Yes, and I wasn't completely honest with you there," I say. "It was telling me about the house where I grew up. A house that is in that town," I point to the buildings behind me. "It was telling me to bring you guys there."

"Why?"

"I don't know, honestly," I say. The look on all their faces sends waves of guilt into my stomach and heart.

"What are you talking about?" Luna asks softly.

Kadiya glares at me. "You didn't tell Luna?" she demands.

"I'm sorry!" I defend. "There wasn't an opportunity."

"What do you mean?" Luna asks. "We had the past few weeks just to ourselves."