CHAPTER 10 The Mark Between Us

All night, Veronica couldn’t stop thinking about him.

How… how is he connected to me? I can feel it.

Elizabeth was lying beside her, watching. She inched closer.

Veronica flinched. “What are you doing?”

Elizabeth’s fingers traced Veronica’s skin as she laughed softly.

“What are you thinking? I can smell it—you’re thinking about that pathetic boy.”

Veronica’s cheeks warmed. “Yeah… so?”

Elizabeth lay next to her. “Go to sleep. I told you, we’ll solve this together. But if you don’t…” Her voice dropped into a whisper. “I’ll kill you.”

“Okay, okay, I’ll sleep.”

Elizabeth smiled faintly, patting her head. “Good girl.”

In the morning, Veronica woke to find Elizabeth gone. She changed into her school uniform.

“MoM ! I’m ready!” she called.

“Eat your lunch. Today, your dad will drop you off,” her mother replied.

Her father arrived, picked her up, and set her in the car. “Bye, my loves!” her mom called as they drove away.

At school, Veronica saw Keido standing at the entrance, checking uniforms. His eyes locked on her. She clutched her doll tightly.

“Dolls aren’t allowed, sweetie. Give her to me,” he said.

In the corner, Elizabeth stood silently, a knife glinting in her hand, her expression sharp. She mouthed, No.

Veronica’s voice came out fast. “No. She comforts me. When she’s not here, I feel lost… like I’m alone in the woods.”

Keido laughed low. “Alright then.”

At break, Veronica sat alone in her classroom. Keido walked in slowly.

“Oh, sweetheart,” he said.

“I told you… I’m not giving you my doll.”

“I’m not here for your doll.” His eyes held hers. “I’m here for you.”

Her pulse quickened. “Why?”

“Because you and I are linked you said.”

Her breath caught. “H-how… how do you know?”

“Want to see?”

Before she could move, he undid the top button of her shirt. Veronica froze, blushing — but on her skin, she saw it.

A strange clock.

“Want to touch it?” he asked.

He grabbed her hand and pressed it against the clock.

Instantly, her chest tightened. A rush of heat shot through her arm, and her vision blurred. The sound of ticking echoed in her head — loud, urgent, endless — until it drowned out everything else.

The last thing she saw was Keido’s faint smile before everything went black.