Izzy

The whoosh of hot air from the blow dryer combined with the repetitive motion of the brush soothed her a bit. Or maybe the anti-anxiety meds had finally kicked in. It'd been a full hour, so probably that. At the knock at the door, she flipped off the dryer and laid It on her vanity.

"Izzy? You okay in there?"

When was the last time she'd felt okay? The knife was gone. "Yeah, Dad. One sec." She wrapped a plush ivory bathrobe over her pink PJ set and scooped the wet towel off the floor before her father noticed. Then she opened her door.

He'd changed into pleated pants and a button-up shirt, as casual as he got. Streaks of blood on his suit. "Dinner will be ready in a few minutes. Would you like to come down?"

"I'm not hungry, thanks." Severed tongue.

He hovered in the hallway. "Then do you mind if I come in to talk to you for a moment?"

Her father rarely asked, he assumed. Still, she didn't think no was an answer here, so she stepped aside and let him into the room, hanging the towel on the bathroom hook before joining him in the seating area. She sat on the couch facing him. "How's Mãe?"

"Asleep, thankfully. Camila gave her a pill, though I expect she'll still be in bad shape in the morning." He sighed. "However, I came to see how you were doing."

She shrugged. "Okay, I guess."

It took him a moment to begin speaking. "You shouldn't have seen that, Izzy." Protruding bone.

She couldn't read his expression. "Sorry. At least I spotted the knife."

"You don't think we would have conducted a thorough search of the area?" He clasped his hands together.

She slumped forward. Of course, they would have. Stupid to think otherwise.

"In fact, the cops are out there searching right now."

Izzy shoved her hands into her bathrobe sleeves and drew her feet onto the couch. "Are there any clues who did it?" Not Burns. Don't say Burns.

Who else, though?

"None, so far." He rubbed his thumbs together.

"But–"

"But I don't want you to worry about it. You know how jealous people can be, and when you're in business, you make enemies regardless of how you act. There are a lot of sick people out there. I'm sure this was a crime of opportunity and has nothing to do with you or your mother, so put it out of your head."

"Dad-"

"I'm serious, Izzy. I'll take care of it." He leaned forward. "Beleza must have gotten out at the party, but we're going to tighten security, regardless. There's no need to worry this much. You're safe here."

If only she could believe that. The knife was gone. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Now or never. "Dad? What happened to your first wife?" Her pulse climbed and pounded all the way up in her throat as the moment lengthened.

Her father pulled back, his brow furrowed. "You know that Katherine died well before you were born, and well before I met your mother. Why are you asking?"

She hugged her knees to her chin. "You never said how. She... she wasn't killed or anything, was she?"

His expression softened. "Of course not. No one is targeting our family. That's what you were thinking, isn't it?"

The knife was gone. "No."

"Katherine died a long time ago." He moved closer to Izzy on the couch, pulling her against his side. "I never told you how because you never asked and it's difficult for me to talk about, okay?"

"Okay." She curled into his body, the way she used to as a child.

"Katherine was sick. She needed help. Your grandfather owned several mental treatment centers, including the most exclusive hospital in the area. We were lucky to have access to a top facility nearby, and since it was in the family, we could put her there immediately when she required treatment." After a pause, he added, "They were very discreet."

She scooted back. "You put her. She didn't go willingly?" Though the information tracked with what they'd discovered.

He slid away and rubbed his hands against his legs. "I didn't want to, but she had a full schizophrenic break. I wish your grandfather had been able to convince me sooner because she was a danger to herself and others. I was in denial about the strength of her hallucinations."

Hallucinations. What if they weren't hallucinations at all? The thought curled around her heart like cold, skeletal fingers. "How so?"

Her father swallowed hard before meeting her eyes. "She tried to stab Jack. He was only eleven."

Izzy's jaw dropped open. Would her dreams drive her crazy? Is that what happened to Katherine?

"That was the last straw," her father continued, his eyes moist. She'd never seen him cry. "She turned her anger on the people she loved the most, and I had a duty to protect your brothers."

There was no way to hide the horror in her expression, but he wasn't looking at her anyway. She turned her anger on the people she loved the most. Izzy would never, could never. Katherine wasn't even her mother. Their fates were not entwined. Still, those bony fingers gripped and squeezed.

He swiped at the corner of his eye before a tear spilled out. "Unfortunately, she never got better. She had a violent episode one night in the hospital, hitting her head when they tried to sedate her." Then Katherine had died in the hospital. He rested his arms on his legs, looking down at the floor. "You can see why I never told you about this before."

"I don't even know what to say, Dad. I had no idea." At least, not about how things went down. However, it didn't sound like her father had anything to do with it. Thank God for that. Her grandad, though? No reason to assume, but how could he not know?

"Your grandfather sold the building after the hospital shut down. Too many bad memories." He gave her a wan smile. "Some good did come out of it, though. You'd never be here, otherwise."

Maybe things would be better if she wasn't. "That's kind of dark."

"Izzy, I know I'm gone a lot for work, but you know how much I love you, right?"

"I know, Dad. I understand." She picked at a piece of fuzz on the pocket of her bathrobe.

"No, listen." He straightened up and looked at her again. "My greatest fear is something happening to you or your brothers. I can't help but worry, and I don't want you to poke your nose in this. It has nothing to do with you. Worry about school, and I'll take care of the rest. You understand?" If only it were that simple. He stood up and held his arms out to her. "I love you."

She unfolded herself from the couch and stepped into his embrace. "Love you too, Dad." She turned her anger on the people she loved the most.

He rested his chin on her head, hugging her for a long minute before stepping back. "I realize I never had the chance to tell you how proud I am of you for your first quarter grades. You really brought everything up, especially your math scores."

"Thanks." It became easier to focus on her school work once she realized it gave her a brain a break from dealing with everything else.

"The extracurricular ban is lifted, so if you want to rejoin the squad or get involved with anything else, it's fine." He put his hands in his pockets. "In fact, I'd encourage you to. It was probably a little strict to make you quit before."

"Maybe." Now was as good a time as any to tell him. "They want me back on the squad actually."

"As long as you keep your grades up, it's fine with me." He hesitated by the door before leaving. "You sure you don't want anything for dinner?" Seeping organs. She shook her head no. "Can I have Camila bring you some tea, at least?"

"That'd be nice."

"I'll let her know. And while I haven't forgotten how late you were to your brother's party, I will let that slide this one time to acknowledge how hard you've worked and focused in school."

Blood everywhere. Focused on school work, yeah. That's not what she'd call it, but she'd take it.

𓄿𓄿𓄿

Camila came with the tea not 10 minutes later. Chamomile with a hint of honey.

Izzy accepted the hot mug and sat down at the edge of the bed. "Thanks."

"Are you sure you're okay?" she asked, picking up the sneakers Izzy had left by the door and depositing them in the closet.

Snapped neck. "No, but I've already been through all this with Dad tonight." She blew against the hot liquid. "By the way, where is Jack? Did anyone tell him about Beleza?" That jerk would probably be happy.

"He took Liz and the children back to Raleigh this morning. I don't know when he'll return." A small bit of good news, anyway. Maybe he'd stay away for a while. Camila sat next to her and pulled her hair back. "You look tired. Still having nightmares?" Izzy nodded. "Did anything from the store help?"

"I don't think so," she said. "But some of it's calming."

Jasper jumped on the bed and bumped his head against Camila's arm. "He knows we're talking about him." She smiled and scratched between his ears. "I think you should go back to Moonlit Arcana. There's nothing else I can do, but they may be able to help."

"You think so?" Why didn't she think of that? It couldn't hurt.

"Pode ser. Be sure to use my name again. Ask for Rowan."

Izzy nodded and gave her a hug. "I'll go this week. Obrigada, Camila. What would I do without you?"

"De nada." Camila stayed with her for a minute before getting up. "If you need anything, knock on my door, ta? No matter the time."

Izzy didn't deserve her.

After Camila left, she checked her phone. Mostly a bunch of texts about practice, assorted memes, and complaints about homework from the cheering group chat she'd been added back to, not to mention this gem.

Ashley: @Izzy u sure u can't do practice tom? 30 min only? pls pls pls? I'll be ur bff! 🙏

Ugh. She'd already cleared tomorrow, but Ashley still thought she could push her boundaries. Let her push. Ashley was a lot less scary to her now. She changed her name to Brashley before responding.

Izzy: No.

Having her as a BFF would be a curse, and she already had enough of those.

Also, Brie sent a text to their group chat about snacks for tomorrow's meeting, which resulted in a 45 message debate about the merits of sweet vs. salty. Even Caleb chimed in on that one. Salty, like her. She cast her vote for salty, appreciating the normality of it.

No personal messages from Caleb. Not that she'd expected any, especially after what she'd said to him earlier. She tapped on his name and sent a text before talking herself out of it.

Izzy: I can't keep up with you.

She waited for a moment, but he didn't respond. Why would he? She went days without responding to him sometimes. Maddening. Why did he put up with her? That's what she should be asking.

She turned her anger on the people she loved the most.

Someone had been in her room. Someone had stolen that knife. Someone had slaughtered the dog. What if it wasn't Burns? What if she was already having a mental break? She pressed her nails into her palms until they hurt before releasing the breath she'd been holding.

Her eyes fell on her lavender backpack. Homework. Focus the mind on that.

Hoisting the backpack up on the bed, she gave the blue stress ball a couple of squeezes before settling back to do some reading for World History.

When the phone buzzed, she jumped. 10:17. Must have nodded off. With a yawn, she shoved the book aside, reaching for her phone.

Caleb the Infuriating: Explain.

If she answered right away, it'd telegraph how anxious she was to hear from him, so she got up and brushed her teeth. Three whole minutes had passed by the time she'd cleared her books off her bed and shoved them in the backpack on the floor. Long enough. She picked up the phone and sat on the side of the bed.

Izzy: I don't know how I'm helping anyone.

Caleb the Infuriating: THAT'S what all this is about? Besides, it's not true anyway. I might be dead if it wasn't for you.

She stared at the phone for a minute. Did he mean when they saw the shadow monster from the car all those weeks ago? Or last weekend in the woods?

Izzy: You really think that?

Caleb the Infuriating: I think it's possible. Yes.

Izzy: Is that why you're helping so much?

He wasn't the type to help just to be nice.

Caleb the Infuriating: You think I feel obligated?

Izzy: Maybe you feel pity? I really don't know what you see in me.

She squeezed her eyes shut as tears welled up. Thank God he wasn't here to witness it. Unable to watch while he typed, she wiped them away and dropped the phone in her bathrobe pocket, busying herself by plugging in the fairy lights and lighting some candles until she felt the vibration.

Caleb the Infuriating: Why? Fishing for more compliments?

Her temper flared immediately.

Caleb the Infuriating: Joking! Just joking.

The three dots meant he was typing. She took two deep breaths and lit some sage. Almost a minute went by before she received the next text.

Caleb the Infuriating: Sorry, you're seriously asking, aren't you?

She had no right to be angry. He didn't know what happened today. With a grimace, she hung her robe on the closet door and slid back into bed, pulling the sheets up high. Jasper meowed at the disruption.

Izzy: No one has ever called me brave before.

Caleb the Infuriating: Running into haunted buildings may not be wise, but it's definitely brave. I mean, you volunteered to act as bait in the woods, ffs. You're brave.

Caleb the Infuriating: And I meant what I told you on my way out of school earlier.

That she was strong and beautiful.

And just like that, her anger dissipated. Caleb wasn't infuriating, she was. She fixed his name on her phone.

She turned her anger on the people she loved the most.

Another tear spilled out. How could she risk it? She hadn't wanted to be with him until she knew who she was, until she was sure she wouldn't disappear into him. But that was only part of it. She couldn't keep putting everyone at risk until she could be sure of her sanity.

Caleb: Izzy? Still there?

A sob escaped. And then another. And another. For Caleb. For herself. For James. For Austin. For her father and for Katherine. For that poor hiker girl. For her mother's stupid dog.

Her phone rang. Caleb. She couldn't ignore him. She didn't want to hurt him.

But she still had to push him away somehow.