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weakens. I’m not sure why, but that’s what Dominic always told me.
    A tear slips on my cheek, thinking about my brother. He’ll now rest in the Evergreen Lawns Cemetery far away from my grandmother’s resting place. I’m not sure I’ll ever come here again and the thought squeezes my chest, threatening to suffocate me.
    I turn off the engine and get back out of the car. I can’t leave him yet. I’m not ready to say goodbye even though Jazmin warned me not to stay long. I’m supposed to ditch the Mustang at the train station and move on with my life, leaving everything that reminded me of Dominic behind.
    I kneel down at Dominic’s fresh grave and cry into my hands. Sobs rake through me and I fall over and pull my knees to my chest. I’ve never felt so alone and confused in my life. Even with the plan Jazmin came up with, I still feel the heavy burden of navigating this dangerous world on my own. How am I supposed to get through this? What do I even have to live for? I’ve lost everything. I’m truly alone.
    I close my eyes and listen to the sound of the breeze rustling the leaves on the trees. Maybe If I stay here long enough, I can just disappear.
     
     
    HUNTER
     
    “Got a call that a black Mustang with a damaged fender was heading south on Sycamore and turned into the cemetery.” Agent Janie says, peeking her head through the window in the divider between the cargo area and cabin. “Think it’s our super?”
    “Guess we’ll find out. Buckle up.” Agent Chris accelerates and U-turns at a signal.
    I shift in the front seat to look back at the two other agents, Rosaline and Rob, as they latch their seatbelts. Agent Janie touches my elbow and I stiffen my shoulders. I didn’t actually think we’d come across the super and now that there’s a possibility we might, I’m more nervous than I care to admit.
    “You’re not to leave the car, Hunter. Understand?”
    I meet her gaze. “Absolutely. I saw the video of what this monster can do.”
    “Think you can identify her? We only have a blurry snapshot,” Agent Rosaline says from the cargo area.
    I nod. “I think so. Just don’t let her touch you.”
    “The memo was pretty clear about that,” Agent Chris says.
    I tap my fingers on the dashboard. “Good. I hope you guys get her.”
     
     

6. DEAD BEFORE DARK
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    JACQUELINE
     
    It takes everything in me, but I manage to pull myself together. My eyes feel heavy with unshed tears and I inhale a long breath to push all my grief and uncertainty away. I’ll never survive in this world on my own like this and I refuse to let Dominic’s death mean nothing. I’ll live for him, just like he’d want me to.
    The only thing left for me to care about now is myself, so I guess that’s how it’ll always be. I push to my feet and dust off the fresh soil from my knees. Just keep running, I imagine him say. Keep going and don’t look back, Jackie. Don’t let anyone in and protect yourself first. You always come first.
    I stare down at his fresh grave. “You were supposed to always take care of me. You promised you’d never leave me.”
    I’m answered by silence.
    I turn on my heels and strut back to the Mustang and climb behind the wheel. With one more look at the cemetery, I reverse and drive down the small road that leads to the street. My mouth is dry from crying so much and my heart is heavy despite my efforts to forget yesterday happened. Because it did happen and you’ll never forget it.
    I merge onto the street and idle at the stop sign to look at the map on the front seat where Dominic should be. The train station is ten miles from here, and then from there, I’ll be meeting with a shifter in a town two hours from here who’ll get me in touch with the Creature Council. I just hope they let me in. Jazmin made it clear that I’m to lie about what I am, so from now on, I’m not a sin-eater. I’ll claim to be a necromancer—they’re rare and it would be unlikely to