Page 47 of Twilight Tactics

Iris hesitated. Her eyes, once full of spark and mischief, looked older now. Dimmer. “No. I don’t think they’re planning to leave. Not ever. At least Dad’s not. He seems happy. Empowered somehow.”

“He’s definitely different. He might seem happy, but he never laughs anymore.” Eleanor stared at the ground. The knot in her chest twisted. “I hate it here.”

“I know.”

“I miss the pine trail. I miss Old Man Fischer’s stories. I missyou.”

Iris didn’t say anything for a beat. Then she reached into her coat pocket and pulled something out—a crumpled page from Eleanor’s old notebook. The one she thought had been left behind.

“I smuggled this,” Iris said with a small smile. “Found it in my nightstand while I was packing. ‘Operation Mozzarella Moonshine.’ Remember?”

Eleanor’s lips trembled. They both loved mozzarella cheese. “I thought you threw it away.”

“Never. I needed something to remind me who I am. Who we are.”

She tucked the paper into Eleanor’s jacket pocket, pressing her hand gently. “We can’t laugh like we used to. Not here. Someone’s always listening. But we can still think. Still imagine.”

“But they’re changing you,” Eleanor said, her voice cracking. “They’re changingus. I can feel it.”

Iris’s jaw twitched. “Maybe. Maybe we have to change to survive.”

“I don’t want to survive. I want tolive.”

Iris pulled Eleanor into a quick, fierce hug. “When things get bad, go to the mossy patch in your mind. You promised me, remember?”

Eleanor buried her face in Iris’s shoulder and nodded.

“Hold on to that,” Iris whispered. “Because we may not get out of here for a long time. If ever.”

The sound of the morning bell rang out across the compound—sharp, metallic, final. The moment was over. Iris pulled away first, slipping back into the role of obedient daughter.

But as they walked toward the cabin together, their hands brushed once—just enough to remind Eleanor that somewhere inside the walls of this harsh new world, her sister was still in there.

A shudder shook her, bringing her back to the present. So why had Iris run from her in the post office? Elena’s next look at the mirror straightened her spine and all thoughts of her sister fled. “Sully—”

“I see it.” His voice was calm, but his knuckles whitened on the steering wheel. The scent of his woodsy cologne mingled with the leather upholstery in the confined space. And why she noticed that was beyond her. Maybe it was the heightened sense of danger that sent her into a hyperawareness of everything around her.

It was getting dark, but she could still make out that a black pickup had fallen in behind them and was closing the distance. She turned back to the road in front of her. The sharp curve ahead was the one that would lead them to the next turnoff for the ranch.

Sully took the curve fast, the sedan’s tires gripping the asphalt. They rounded the bend and Elena gasped. Another black pickup was directly in their path, blocking the road. Trees and mountains to their right. Drop-off to the left.

He slammed on the brakes while the truck behind them drew closer.

“We’re boxed in,” Elena said, struggling to keep her voice steady. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears.

Sully released the strap that held his gun in his holster. “Hold on.”

His eyes met hers for a split second. She pushed down her fear. “What are you going to do?”

“The only thing we can do. I’m going to have to try to squeeze between the truck in front of us and the tree line. Looks like there are four of them. I can make out shadows in the front seats.”

Elena pulled out her phone and dialed 911.

“911, what’s your emergency?”

“Julie? Is that you?”

“Yes. Who’s this?”