Awry by Chelsea Fine Read Free Book Online Page B

die.”
    Relief filled Scarlet’s heart. “Hey…” She hugged Heather back, more grateful than ever for her crazy friend. It felt so good to tell Heather the truth. To confide in her and be accepted. “It’s okay. I’m not going to die. I’m going to find the fountain and everything will be okay.”
    Maybe.
    Heather squeezed Scarlet one last time before releasing her and wiping her wet eyes. “You better. Because I need you.” She added, “And I’m so happy you’re not some crazy serial killer.”
    Scarlet nodded. “Me too.”
    Heather furrowed her brow. Confusion crossed her face, followed by a look of pure joy. “Oh!” She took a step back, lookingat Scarlet’s outfit, and smiled. “You’re not from this century!”
    Scarlet raised her eyebrows.
    “You’re brand new! Modern day life is a whole new world for you!” Heather laughed, clasping her hands together. “No wonder you don’t know how to dress yourself!” She laughed again with a sigh. “Oh, I’m so happy. You’re fashionably-impaired, but it’s not your fault. Wow. It all makes so much sense now.” She smiled, putting her hands over her heart. “I can’t tell you how relieved I am.”
    Scarlet shook her head.
    She had just told her best friend that she was a semi-immortal girl on the hunt for the fountain of youth, and what was Heather’s response?
    Relief. Because Scarlet’s lack of fashion sense was justified.
    “You’re crazy,” Scarlet said. “I love you.”
    “I love you, too.” Heather nodded, looking Scarlet over again. “But I’ll love you a lot more after you take a shower and wash the death smell out of your hair.”
    Scarlet sniffed her hair. “I do not smell like death.”
    Heather wrinkled her nose. “Well, you certainly don’t smell like roses.”
    “Fine. I’ll go take a shower.”
    As she made her way upstairs,Scarlettried to take a deep breath.She had another chance to break the curse. To live.
    And this time, she would do both.

 
     
    10
     
    The next morning, Tristan did everything he could to avoid Gabriel. Things had been tense at the cabin since Scarlet’s mysterious resurrection and neither brother had spoken since.
    His cuts from the fight had all healed, leaving no reminders of his brawl with Gabriel but, in a way, Tristan wished the scars had remained. At least then he’d feel somewhat punished for what had happened to Scarlet.
    He had brought her death. Again.
    Exiting through the cabin’s back door, Tristan stared at his compound bow leaning against the side of the house. Funny how only days ago shooting practice helped him cope with the torment of being so near to Scarlet. But now….
                  Now, he wanted nothing to do with bows or arrows. It was all just a reminder of his misery.
    Dressed for running, Tristan pulled the hood of his jacket over his head, shielding himself from the morning wind and set off without direction through the forest.
    Winter was in full swing, the forest trees dead, the icy breeze wailing into the stillness. Soon there would be snow on the ground and jogging through the woods would be impossible. But, for now, Tristan could navigate through the dead life of winter, snow-free, and run away from the cabin.
    From the memories. From the guilt.
    From the ghosts of all his mistakes.
    A minute passed and soon his lungs began to burn.
    His connection to Scarlet was stronger than ever before, making the agony in his bones more acute now that she was no longer nearby.
    Further and further he ran.
    Breathing in.
    Breathing out.
    Hating himself.
    His eyes caught sight of something glinting up ahead and he slowed to a walk. Moving closer, he saw it was sunlight bouncing off the window of a small shack. The shack was hidden in a dark cluster of trees, barely noticeable but for the shining windowpane.
    Tristan didn’t remember there being any other buildings on his property. How far had he run? A half-mile, maybe?
    He looked closely at the tiny hut. The