A Song He Never Wrote

Wilder spent seventeen years finding his own voice, only to have it replaced by a melody he was never meant to sing.

The air in the hallways always felt a little lighter when Wilder Thorne was around.
Seventeen, fast, and impossibly agile, Wilder was the human equivalent of a sunbeam. Whether he was scaling the school's brick walls for a laugh or cracking a joke to pull a friend out of a funk, he was the heartbeat of the student body. He was the "little brother" everyone looked out for, the kid who saw the best in everyone-especially his father, Silas.
Wilder knew things were tight at home, but he never let it dampen his spirit. He spent his days climbing with his best friend, Maya, and dreaming of a future where his speed and energy could take him anywhere.
Then came the mention of the "surprise."
Silas started talking about a life-changing opportunity-a way for all their money problems to vanish overnight. He promised Wilder a "new start" and a chance to be part of something elite. But as the days count down, the vibrant, fearless boy starts to feel a chill he can't explain. The laughter in the Thorne house feels brittle, and the "gift" his father keeps mentioning starts to feel less like a reward and more like a sentence.
Wilder Thorne has four days of freedom left. He just doesn't know what he's being prepared for.