Who knew disobeying your parents could destroy your entire life in just one night. 

It all started with one small act of rebellion… sneaking out.
One night Evelyn should have stayed home. One moment where she didn’t listen.

By morning, her brother was missing.
Her dad was gone.
And whatever innocence Eve had left disappeared without leaving a trace.

No matter how hard she tries, she can’t stop blaming herself. If she hadn’t wanted more, none of that would’ve happened.

Now Evelyn lives in a house that doesn’t feel like home.
With a mother pretending they’re okay.
And three stepbrothers who look at her like she’s a mistake that walked into their perfect life. 

They watch her intensely, and hate that she exists in their space.

But sometimes… their stares linger too long. And she forgets they’re supposed to be off limits.

Then the letters start coming.

Anonymous, uncomfortable intimate letters, written like the sender knows too much about her.
About the thoughts that lives inside her head, the fears she’s never said out loud, and the desires she refuses to admit even to herself.

Every word feels like proof she’s being watched.

She should burn the letters.
She should be terrified, or tell someone about it.

Instead, her hands shake as she opens the next one.

Now she’s falling into something she shouldn’t want.
Craving a mystery she should run from.
The danger is getting closer….and whoever the stalker is, he’s not ready to stop sending the pleasure letters.

The person writing them may already be standing in the same room with her.

The slippery slope theory isn’t a theory.
It’s a curse.

The past is bleeding into the present.

Will Evelyn find her missing brother before it’s too late?
Or will she disappear the same way the rest of her innocence already has?

I didn't stop smiling the entire drive to school.


I still couldn't believe i had my voice back.


Seb slowed the car to a stop. "You good?" he asked, glancing at me.


"Yes," I smiled back. "I mean…yeah. I'm good."


Seb glanced at me, and smirked. "Miracles do happen."


"Thank you," I called back, already halfway out. "For the ride. And…for everything."


He lifted two fingers off the wheel. "Try not to terrify the school, Swamp Monster."


I groaned. "You're never letting that go, are you?"


At the lockers, Alia was already there, leaning against one with a girl I didn't recognize.


The sound of my own voice echoed back to me.


She spun around so fast she nearly dropped her phone.


"What the?!!" Her eyes widened. "Evelyn?"


"Oh my God." She rushed toward me and grabbed my arms. "Oh my God…..you can talk. You're talking. Say it again."


She squealed, then pulled me into a hug. "Do you know how insane this is? Do you know how long I've been waiting for this?"


"I thought it was gone forever," I admitted. "I thought… maybe it was just who I was now."


She pulled back, looking furious. "Absolutely not."


The girl beside her cleared her throat, smiling. "So this is Evelyn."


Alia turned. "Yes! Oh…Evelyn, this is Violet. My best friend. She just got back."


"Welcome back," I said, then paused. "I talk now."


Violet laughed. "I can see that. And…." her eyes dropped to my hair, "why are you green?"


I sighed and tugged at a strand. "Someone dyed my conditioner. And now I look like I lost a bet with Shrek."


Alia gasped dramatically. "Wait. That's traumatizing. And also iconic."


Violet snorted. "My brother once dumped purple dye into my shampoo. I had violet hair for a week."


Alia snorted. "We cried for three days. Even my brother was furious." 


I was still laughing, when a hand rested lightly on my shoulder.


"You forgot this." He held out my textbook


I turned, looking surprised. "Oh, thank you."


He handed it to me, as our fingers brushed. "Congrats again," he added quietly. "On the voice."


He nodded, already stepping back. "See you."


Something made me glance down at his fingers, and my eyes widened. 


A smear of green pigment, the same shade as my hair, stained the tips.


Seb disappeared into the crowd, like nothing had happened.


Like he hadn't just left green dye on his fingers.


Could he really be behind it? Was Alex really innocent? 


Because Alex had sworn he didn't do it.


And now I wasn't so sure who the real culprit was.


Chapter 21 - And Now I Was Sure Who the Real Culprit Was