"This is a horrible idea."

"It was your idea."

Ash gulped. "That doesn't make it any less horrible."

She and Roan kneeled behind the trees lining her family's property. Nerves crashed in her stomach like restless waves. They'd taken the quickest route back to her home, and they'd yet to see any signs of trouble in her house or the Modika approaching. Still, the dwindling time hung over them, pushing Ash to act.

"You know, you don't have to do this." Roan spoke softly, and although she didn't want to, that gentle voice forced her to turn to him.

He watched her, his brows drawn together with concern. He had worn some variation of that expression ever since she first explained her plan to him. There had been a spark early on, as well as thoughtfulness, but it had diminished quickly.

"It's dangerous," he went on. "When the gods discover what's going on, I can't imagine they'll take well to one impersonating their chosen. There is no telling what wrath it will bring down upon us. We could end up in the same state as Odella."

Ash's determination faltered for a moment, but Roan's final words made them harden into steel once again. She set her shoulders. "I must do this because of her," she said.

Even though the worry remained, Roan nodded. "Alright. Then I shall continue to support you."

She gave him what she hoped was a reassuring smile. "Wait here. If you see any sign of the Modika, go to the window on the left side of the house. You can find me there."

"Is..." Roan averted his eyes. "Is that where Odella is?"

The pity welling inside of Ash at the slight twinge in his tone almost had her asking him to follow her. She shook the idea away, though. She needed to do this sneakily, and she couldn't afford his extra presence. Besides, she did not know how Odella would react to the sight of him. Another screaming fit would make it impossible for her to get in and out quietly.

Ash squeezed Roan's forearm. "I'll be back soon."

As she hurried across the backyard to the door, she wished she could have waited for night to fall. The sun continued to beat down from above, exposing her to anyone who looked. She had no time, though. The Modika could check her house at any moment.

She paused at the door and strained her ears. At this time, her father would be out helping in the fields, and her mother would be in the kitchen, preparing for the midday meal and watching Odella. Gods above, Ash hoped her mother was watching her.

Would her twin be alright with Ash gone? Her parents' struggles and frustrations had been mounting for a lune now. This would ease that, right? Her mother could be kind to Odella again without the worry of constant discovery.

This was how it would be. Ash needed it to be this way.

Taking a deep breath, Ash inched the door open.

As she expected, she heard her mother moving around in the kitchen, muttering too quietly for Ash to hear. There was no way to tell where Odella was without a screaming fit, either from her or their mother, but Ash figured the two would be in the same room.

Ash crept to her room. After years of living in the same house, she knew what floorboards creaked, and it was easy enough to step around them. The main difficulty came from the two in front of her door. Both squeaked when stepped on, but she managed to both lean over them and open the door slowly, all the while peeking over her shoulder to make sure nobody walked into the hall.

The room offered her cover, and she allowed herself a moment to take a deep breath. Step one was complete. For step two, she walked over to the small writing desk in the corner. Drawing was one of the few things that Odella would do of her own free will, so they made sure to keep a small pile of parchment in their room. Ash glanced at Odella's latest drawing. Although Odella was no renowned artist, she still had some talent in the skill, but Ash could never tell what her sister drew. It was always multiple harsh, dark lines forming abstractions that made no sense outside of Odella's own mind.

Ash couldn't help but feel it was a depiction of something within Odella. Perhaps the mess that was Odella's conscience. Ash gulped. With this plan, she'd fix that. She'd get her sister back.

Maybe. Hopefully. She squeezed her eyes shut for a second to quell all the uncertainties. She didn't have time for those. This needed to work.

Grabbing a quill and parchment, Ash wrote out her letter. She couldn't risk revealing too much, so she kept it simple.

I know how to help her. Don't worry about where I am. I will return as soon as I can. Until then, I beg you, care for her. I will bring her back to us.

Ash reread her note three times. If the Modika discovered it, they easily misinterpret it as Ash trying to find Odella, or Odella had left a note before setting off to find Ash for whatever reason. She'd left enough wiggle room for her parents to create a lie to protect themselves. All the while, they'd know she'd willingly left to find a cure for Odella. It would suffice.

The floor squeaked. Ash nearly spilled the ink bottle over the parchment as she spun.

Odella stood at the door, her head tilted in the way she always did to ask her silent questions.

"Odella," Ash whispered. She glanced over her sister's shoulder. Their mother was nowhere to be seen, but she could still make out quiet movements in the kitchen. She returned her gaze to Odella and forced a smile. "Odella, I need you to return to Mother, alright?"

She continued to stare at Ash, a worrying pinch between her brows. Gravest terrors, she couldn't afford to get caught or waste time. She needed to enact the full plan before the Modika arrived.

"I'll be right out, alright? Please just—"

"Ro..."

Ash's heart stuttered. A single syllable. That was all Odella had uttered, but it was the first one she'd spoken in a lune. Her first sound that wasn't groaning, humming, or screaming.

The crease of Odella's brows deepened, and a sharpened awareness rose in her usually dulled eyes. "Rooo...." she tried again.

"Odella," Ash croaked through the emotions bubbling in her throat. She rushed to her sister, taking each of her biceps into one hand. "Dellie, speak to me. I'm here. I'm listening." Her eyes stung, and something wet trailed down her cheek. "Tell me what I must do."

Odella's lips parted, and she made a low whining sound, almost as if something was trapping whatever she meant to say. She trembled with the effort. Every second, her eyes cleared more, almost like a fog was lifting from them.

Maybe Ash wouldn't have to do this after all. Maybe Odella was moments away from breaking herself free. It would be just like her twin. Odella never needed help; Ash shouldn't have expected that to change now. Still, she squeezed Odella's arms encouragingly. "Yes. That's it. You can do it."

It was as if a string had been pulled too taut before snapping. An overwhelming terror washed over Odella's face, and a shriek erupted from her open mouth. She fell to her knees, hands digging into her hair. She screamed and screamed, hiding the sound of Ash's shattering hopes.

The glimmer of her sister vanished like the stars when the sun rose.

"You wretched girl!" their mother's voice called from the kitchen. "If you don't cease before I get there, I may just shut you in your room."

Her mother didn't mean that. She couldn't. But the irritated grumbles and creaking floor revealed she did mean to come back to their room.

Ash's pulse quickened as she looked between Odella and the doorway. She couldn't escape from there. The window, then. She had to be fast. She snatched another piece of parchment and the quill with its ink jar before darting for the window. Unlatching it, she threw it open and flung one leg through the opening. The new position let her glance back and see Odella, still curled up in a ball.

Tears once more threatened to spill. "I'm sorry. You have my promise."

She escaped the rest of the way, racing away from the cries of her sister that tried to drag her back.

"What's wrong?" Roan asked when she reached him. "I heard screaming—you're crying."

She was, and with a quick swipe of her arm, she dragged away the tears. "It doesn't matter. I did what I needed. Let's head for town before my mother tries to find out if Odella opened the window or if someone else did."

Roan hesitated for a moment, and Ash thought he would push, but in the end, he nodded and asked, "Why do you have parchment?"

She held up the ink bottle and quill as well. "Appearing in town to ask someone to deliver a message word-of-mouth works, but I thought a false letter would be a better idea."

They walked half the distance to town before Ash paused to scribble out her second note on a rock.

I'm sure you've heard about my disappearance. I wanted to assure you that I am well, and my quest shall continue where it left off, undeterred. I hope to return home to you soon with the land left better by my actions.

May the gods bless your stars,

- Odella

Roan read over her shoulder. "Your handwriting is messier than hers."

Ash resisted the urge to send him an exasperated look as she blew on the paper. Once the ink had dried, she folded it. "I hope the Modika do not know Odella's handwriting then or that they will blame it on a rush."

When she rose and turned back his way, she found him raising his brows at her. "It was just an observation," he said. For a moment, something about the way he watched her made her nerves dance. Before she could decide if she liked it or not, he smiled, and the feeling was gone. "Sorry if you took offense."

Ash shook her head, both at him and at herself as she willed away the remnants of her confusion. "I didn't, but that's not important right now."

"Of course." He grinned. "Let's go create a stir so great that the Modika will have to notice."

*****

Welp, isn't that a way to leave poor Odella v.v But this new plan of Ash's (horrible or not xD) is slowly unfolding!  So far no hitches, but will it stay that way?  Still one more stop to go it would seem, after all 😬 

Let me know your thoughts on the chapter down below, and if you enjoyed it, don't forget to vote and comment! I also have a discord open to anyone who wants to join, and we have a section there to discuss the book :D Let me know if you want to join!