𖤓 𖤓 𖤓

"No. No I don't want to." I run my tongue across the ridges of my teeth. I feel like I could stop breathing or crawl into a hole and die... but this is the right thing to do. And when have I ever done the right thing ever in my entire sorry goddamn life? But it stops now. Today. Today I become the sister Luke knew I could be. Even if that means losing the only brother I have left... who I just got back. "Luke would not be on your side." I swallow harshly.

Sam stares at me, hurt flashing across his face, but I can't.

"You can make those who hurt you pay without getting everyone involved in the process." I tell him. Why the fuck would we release an entire group of people with a VIRUS that could KILL US?! When we can just burn down the fucking school and everyone in charge of it instead? Shetty's already fucking gone... already ahead of the curb there. And I'm not against letting those who deserve it suffer, clearly, but this?

I can't breathe. It feels like something is clawing it's way up my chest and squeezing the life out of me, crushing my throat... I feel like I could die. Luke died for Sam. He went insane trying to save him knowing he was alive... because of Cate.

And now I'm going to let him go... and turn against him. God, what kind of sister am I?

The worst one, a whisper spreads in the back of my mind. YOU'RE THE WORST SISTER!

I glance at Jordan out of the corner of my eye as they switch to their female form. Sam and Cate turn to leave when suddenly Jordan appears in front of them. Fuck

"You can beat me." Cate tells them. "But do you really think you can beat him?" She asks. They already did. Jordan has stopped Sam twice now.

Their eyes meet mine instantly. I tilt my head, drowning in defeat. If Jordan and Sam fight, right now, I may just lose my goddamn fucking mind, and actually go insane... cause either way I lose. Jordan's face tenses, they understand. And I know they hate it. But they understand me. And Jordan listens.

Which only suffocates my guilt even more.

How can they can still step to the side and hear me without words after everything I've done?

After everything I've done.

Jordan looks to the side as Cate walks past before Sam purposefully walks directly in front of them. They glance over their shoulder watching them leave.

What have I done?

I can't... I just can't look at Sam and not see the little boy who would cling to my legs... Who looked at me like I put the sun in the sky... who just grew up.

And it fucking hurts.

"Fuck." Jordan sighs.

Marie's eyes widen as she inhales.

What have I done?

Jordan pulls out their phone.

"Who are you calling?" Marie asks, her voice edged with panic.

"Campus security emergency line." They answer.

My ears start to ring as the room grows hot. "What?"

Emma slaps the phone out of their hand.

"Yo." Jordan snaps, holding their hands up.

"Are you crazy? They'll get Sam." Emma snaps back.

"What about all the people in The Woods?" Jordan retorts. My fingertips press into my temples as I can feel my heart pounding in my ears. "She lets them out, it's gonna be chaos."

Do NOT forget this is NOT what Luke would have wanted. He would have disagreed with Sam. Dread and trepidation rises up my throat, crushing my windpipe.

I need Andre... I need Magnet.

"Yeah, but-" Marie's voice reaches my ears.

"Great, you too?" Jordan voice yanks me out of my thoughts. "Iliana? Iliana."

I snap my head up to them, noticing beads of sweat tricking down their forehead. The heat wafting off my body and the light burning though the curtain ceases.

"Look, this is fucked up, but Godolkin and Vought are fucked up, too." Marie stresses.

"She's right, Jordan." I choke out. "We can't fucking trust them." I grind the back of teeth together, fighting the urge to seer my blazing palm into my arm. I can't with Jordan's fucking eyes burning into me.

"So, we just sit here?" They question.

Marie glances at me, sharing the same thought. If I want to burn the school down... I have to do it myself. If I want to stop Cate... I'll do it my damn self. I give her a subtle nod.

"No." Marie says.

"We'll stop them." My voice carries in the air. I rub my lips together. "It has to us." It should be us. After everything this school, and Cate, has done to every single person in the room, not just me...

𖤓

"Do ever wonder what life would be like if we weren't here?" I ask Luke, leaning my head on his shoulder.

He pauses, actually taking in my question. "I don't know. I think our house would probably be a lot more damaged." He chuckles. "Maybe burned to the ground at this point." Isn't that the truth.

"Do you think we'd be... happier?" The words roll off my tongue before I can stop them.

"Happier?" He exhales. "No. Free..." He trails off. Luke's usually always happy, positive.

Yes. But what's the difference?

"What if this school tears us apart?"

"It won't." Luke assures, his strong voice, so sure, calming me already. "We're gonna make it out. Everything will be okay."

A small smile stretches on my lips, nodding. Everything will be okay...

What a fucking lie.

𖤓 𖤓 𖤓

𝟶ʙᴜᴛᴛᴇʀʙɪsᴄᴜɪᴛ𝟽 sᴘᴇᴀᴋs!

Wow... hi... hello... haha, it's been a long ass minute... uh, how y'all doinggg???

First of all, can I just say we hit 29K todayyy, holyyy shittt?! I can't thank y'all enough for continuing to read & support this book, & hopefully y'all still here lol, thank you for your patience <3

Now, let's get into it... so back in January I went through a writing slump for a couple weeks... happens, was needed lol, then when I finally came out of it I wrote the first chapter for this book kicking off ep. 8 & I was SO fucking proud it, holy shit, like one of my favs... AND WATTPAD DIDN'T SEND OUT ANY FCKING NONIFICATIONSSSS!! Which I'm ngl irritated me & also unmotivated me for a bit unfortunately... so I didn't want to update this book until Wattpad fixed their shit... then I just didn't come to this book for a bit tbh, nothing bad, I honestly think I just needed a break from it. I've been updating this book nonstop since I came back to it last June, so I feel like a break from it was coming & needed lol.

Then when I finally did come back, this chapter took forever to write lmao. Idk what tf was wrong with me but I knew exactly what I wanted to say/write, I just couldn't. Like I would not like what I would write or be stuck with how to say it. And I've been working on this chap for a couple weeks now SERIOUSLY, but I would just never get finished before I would have to stop for something or get so unbelievably tired. BUT this scene is finally done lmao & I am FINALLY BACKKKK!!! WOW, how I missed this book & Iliana SO fucking muchhh!! Anyways, y'all probs don't care & may not want to read all that, but after not updating for like a month & a half I just wanted to explain why!! Sooo... sorry that took sooo long & I dissapeareddd, but again I feel like this break was nice & needed!! I just never want to force myself to write something that just isn't working or coming out.

ANYWAYSSS!! I hope y'all enjoyed this chapterrrr!! I'm actually rlly happy with how it turned out & idk why but was feeling a small flashback chapter at the end !! Also, Ilorda crumbsss!! And I love Iliana & Marie's friendship so much!! They rlly grew on me & they've come so far from when they first met!!

PLEASE, PLEASE comment your thoughts, questions, & reactions as it is so much more motivating & it's been so long I'd rlly love to hear from y'all & know you're still here!! Thank you for sticking around & buckle up for the rest of ep. 8 cause... we're just getting started ;)

Also, I think this moment was very eye opening for Iliana & shows her growth!! Like she thought about ALL of them & not just herselfff... she's grown so muchhh!! AND IN CASE YOU MISSED IT OR HAVEN'T READ IT YET BC OF WATTPAD, EPISODE 8 PART 1 CHAPTER ISSS OUT & ONE OF MY FAVS SO MAKE SURE YOU DON'T MISS OUT ON IT!!! Until next timeeee... mwah!!! <3333