Chapter 6: The First Betrayal

06

"How about... we just tell the truth."

I didn’t expect Madison to be the first to speak.

Her voice was steady, her eyes fixed on the ceiling as if daring someone to challenge her. The room went still, every breath held, everyone waiting to see what would happen next.

But seeing fierce Tara beside her, arms folded and jaw set, I understood.

Tara nodded, ready to go down swinging if she had to. With those two leading, the mood in our little group shifted—a pulse of hope, or maybe the last gasp before disaster.

Maybe telling the truth would save us. Or maybe it would be the last thing we ever did.