“It’s one solid basalt arch,” she says, wonder tucked into the curve of her voice.
Reeve moves to stand beside her without hesitation. Like he belongs there.
I stay where I am. Because I don’t.
“Lots of ancient fishermen claimed it was here before they even settled the land, but who knows. Some say it’s a gateway, others say it’s a shrine to the Gods. Either way, it’s tradition to pass through with a candle.” He motions at the arch and tosses her a grin. “If the candle goes out, it means the Gods have forgotten you and misfortune will follow. If your candle stays lit, it means the Gods still remember and will favor you. It’s why students cheer when they go through.”
Rey laughs. “Ah, meaning the Gods remember them. Do they even realize who the Gods are?”
She freezes like she said something wrong and bites her lip.
I tilt my head, then catch myself. I donotneed to hang on every single thing this woman says. As if to prove my point, I shove my hands in my pockets and grumble, “I’m headed to bed.”
I don’t wait for anyone to answer, just start walking off, and Reeve rushes to catch up to me. He grabs my arm, pulling me to a stop, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes, and says under his breath, “We should make her go through it and blow out her candle to scare her.”
“Yes,” I shake my head and mutter. “Because blowing outa candle will definitely scare the daughter of Satan. Not interested.”
Reeve rolls his eyes. “Bro, you didn’t see her expression.”
I roll my eyes right back. “Why do I have to participate, then?”
“Supervise.” He shrugs. “You’re supervising.”
“I’d rather not.”
“Hey, Rey!” Reeve calls back to where he left her beside the arch. “Aric wants to see you try!”
Great. Killing him later.
He’s wearing his most charming grin, which means she can’t really say no. Not that he gives her any time to do so. He’s already dragged me over and is leading us both to the back of the line of freshmen waiting to cross through.
Rey starts pulling away. “No, I’m good. I’m actually really tired.”
“Afraid?” I scoff, the word sharper than I mean it to be. Something tightens between my shoulders at the sight of her hesitating. “It’s just an old archway. I’ve done it a ton,” I say. Total lie.
I’ve never gone under the damn arch. Not once.
There’s something about it that puts me on edge. Not in some mystical, haunted way—just enough to keep my feet moving in the other direction.
I’ve already experienced enough weird shit in my life. I don’t need to add “creepy magical college architecture” to the list.
“Of course, he’ll go with you,” Reeve volunteers, clapping me on the back. Yup, I’m going to murder him. My own brother. What’s that called again? Fratricide?
By the time we reach the line of freshmen still waiting to go under, many have backed up, some actually silent in awe. Reeve and I have a reputation in school for rarely talking to lowerclassmen, never mind joining them in their ridiculous games. Feels like the whole group has been stunned into silencewhile Reeve grabs two of the plain black candles from the stack on the wooden stump and lights them, handing one to me and one to Rey. “All right, off you go!”
“I hate you,” Rey says to him under her breath. “I told you I didn’t want to do this.”
“Feeling’s mutual.” Reeve winks, then shares a look with me. Right. I’m supposed to blow out her candle. Of all the elementary things, I swear.
“This is stupid,” I say out loud, my breath fogging in front of my face as the temperature continues to drop outside. A chill runs down my spine as Rey and I stand in front of the basalt archway. “Let’s get this shit over with. I’m tired.”
“Same,” Rey mutters next to me.
We both slowly walk under the archway as a mist crawls from the forest and down the pathway toward our feet. Once we’re all the way under the arch and to the other side, I turn to blow out her candle and notice the flame’s already gone.
Extinguished.
The Gods have forgotten her, then?
