Chapter 6: Homecoming for the Doomed

Kayla buried her face in my chest, acting shy, while I quietly picked up my phone and opened my chat with my mom.

I held her with one arm, scrolling through my messages with the other. My hands shook, but I forced myself to keep going.

The last message she sent was a photo: a crabapple tree with white blossoms in our yard.

The tree had always been there, a silent witness to every family gathering, every loss. Its branches were heavy with memories.

But the tree looked sickly, its leaves rusted and its branches drooping.

It was a bad omen, everyone in town knew it. When the tree wilted, another girl would be lost. I stared at the photo, my chest tightening.

I sighed and messaged my mom.

I typed slowly, the words heavy. My fingers hovered over the screen before I finally pressed send.

"I’ll bring her home soon. Get ready."

My hands shook as I sent the message. There was no turning back now. I closed my eyes, trying to steady my breathing.

When Kayla heard I was taking her home to meet my family, she was thrilled.

She jumped up, her eyes wide with excitement. She hugged me tight, squealing with joy. I forced a smile, pretending to share her happiness.

"Really? But will your family look down on me?"

She bit her lip, her voice trembling. I could see the hope and fear battling in her eyes.

Her face was the perfect mix of joy and nerves—a performance worthy of an Oscar.

She glanced at herself in the mirror behind the bar, fixing her hair, smoothing her dress. I almost believed she was nervous to meet my parents, not realizing what she was walking into.

I played along, gently reassuring her. "Why would they? They can’t wait to meet you."

I squeezed her hand, my voice soft. I hoped she couldn’t hear the lie in it.

That much was true. My sister’s time was running out, and the whole family was waiting for me to bring home the woman who would save her.

I pictured Emily’s face, pale and hopeful. I wondered if she’d forgive me for what I was about to do.

I went with Kayla to the bar owner to tell him she was quitting.

The owner was a big guy with a kind face, always watching out for his girls. He looked surprised when Kayla told him she was leaving.

The owner was surprised at first, then just nodded.

He gave her a long look, then just shrugged. "You do what you gotta do, Kayla. Just be careful out there."

"Told you before, it’s best to lay low for a while. If those guys come around looking for trouble again, I can’t help you."

He glanced over his shoulder, lowering his voice. I could tell there was more to the story, but I didn’t push.

I asked, "Who are they?"

I tried to sound casual, but the tension in the room was thick. Kayla’s smile faltered, just for a second.

The owner and Kayla froze for a second, but Kayla quickly recovered.

She flashed a smile, her voice light. "Just some creeps, nothing to worry about."

"Just some creeps who keep bothering me. They wanted to keep me around, but even if I’m not perfect, I know a girl’s gotta have self-respect, so I refused. But they won’t leave me alone."

She looked down, twisting a ring on her finger. She played the part of the victim well, but something in the owner’s eyes told me there was more to the story.

She looked like a helpless innocent caught in a mess.

I felt a surge of protectiveness, even as doubt gnawed at me. I wanted to believe her, but I couldn’t ignore the warning signs.

Judging by the owner’s stunned face, I could tell things weren’t quite how she said they were.

He opened his mouth as if to say something, then just shook his head. I decided not to push. The less I knew, the better.

But I didn’t want to dig deeper. As long as my sister survived, nothing else mattered.

I told myself it was for Emily, that I was doing the right thing. But the guilt sat heavy on my shoulders, impossible to shake.

Without waiting, I took Kayla home the very next day.

We packed her things in a hurry—just two duffel bags and a shoebox full of memories. She clung to my arm the whole way, chattering about the future, about how happy we’d be together.

The whole ride, Kayla chattered nonstop.

She asked questions about my family, about the town, about our plans. Her voice filled the silence, making it easier to forget what was waiting for us at the end of the road.

"Babe, what does your family do?"

She leaned her head on my shoulder, her eyes bright with curiosity. I gave her the same vague answers, not wanting to give too much away.

"Once I meet your family, can we get married?"

She smiled, her fingers tracing circles on my arm. I nodded, not trusting myself to speak.

"I really love you. I don’t need a big wedding, a house, or a car. As long as I have you, I’m happy."

Her words sounded rehearsed, but there was a softness in her eyes I hadn’t seen before. I wondered if she meant it, even just a little.

But as the bus drove deeper into the hills, Kayla’s expression grew more and more uneasy.

She stared out the window, watching the city fade into farmland, the roads growing narrower, the trees thicker. Her smile faded, replaced by a nervous frown.

"Your family isn’t up in the mountains, right? Are you from the country?"

She wrinkled her nose, glancing at the rolling hills. I laughed, trying to lighten the mood.

"How can country folks be rich?"

She shot me a skeptical look, clearly doubting my stories about our family’s wealth.

At that moment, the driver turned around and joined in, grinning.

He was a big man with a booming voice, always ready with a joke. "You city folks don’t know nothing," he teased.

"Miss, you have no idea. Their town’s famous for being loaded. Around here, if you’re just a millionaire, you’re broke."

He winked at me in the rearview mirror. Kayla’s eyes widened, her doubts melting away.

Kayla’s look of disdain disappeared instantly. "Really?"

She sat up straighter, suddenly interested in everything around her. I hid a smile, watching her change in an instant.

The driver looked at her with a knowing smile. "Of course. Otherwise, how could they afford to bring girls in from outside?"

He let the words hang in the air. A warning she didn’t understand. I felt a pang of guilt, but I kept my mouth shut.

Because anyone could lose a daughter, everyone worked hard, saved every penny, and the whole town pitched in. Over the years, every household built up a fortune.

We didn’t talk about it much, but everyone knew the truth. Our town was built on sacrifice, on secrets and savings and the hope that maybe, just maybe, we’d find a way out.

Kayla blushed. "My boyfriend and I are truly in love. We’re meant to be."

She leaned her head on my shoulder, her voice soft and dreamy. I wondered if she believed it, or if she was just saying what she thought I wanted to hear.

Seeing that Kayla didn’t catch the real meaning behind his words, the driver just shook his head and stopped talking.

He turned up the radio, letting the country music fill the silence. I stared out the window, lost in thought.