Page 63 of One Merciful Moment

Boone pried his teeth apart. "Then tell us. No more half-ass answers. No more 'Everstill works how it works.' We need to know what this place is. What the veil is. What we're standing in the middle of, because it's fucked with our lives enough."

Copper studied him for a long moment, then nodded once.

"Everstill isn't a town. Not in the way you think. It's a pocket. A fold in the world. A place that exists because something tore a hole in the fabric of reality a long time ago. A scientist named Dr. Aarin Veyra discovered the hole." Copper paced a few steps, turned, and came back. "The veil is the boundary. It keeps Everstill separate from what you know as the real world. It keeps the people inside safe. It also keeps the world outside from touching what's in here."

Boone replayed the words in his head, trying to understand. He'd lived here so long without questioning anything. The littlest information overwhelmed him.

"Safe from what?" he asked.

Copper's eyes softened. "From ourselves and our pasts. Everstill was a safe haven from the things that broke you before you came here."

Boone looked away. His arm slackened around Ashley.

Copper continued. "Everstill stabilizes people. Even the hardest criminals can live here with food, shelter, work, time, and healing. But it's not meant to keep anyone forever."

Ashley whispered, "Then why can't everyone leave?"

Copper's gaze shifted to Boone. "Because Everstill doesn't just stabilize people. It holds them. Some more than others."

"Me?" Boone asked.

"You came here broken," Copper said gently. "More broken than most. Everstill held you together. It kept you alive. It made sure you stayed clean. So yes, it held you tighter. And Everstill doesn't let go easily."

Ashley slid her hand into Boone's. He looked at her. Her eyes were filled with tears.

Copper stepped closer, voice hardening. "When the veil opens, it will pull. It will choose who is meant to leave. Those meant to stay will feel it too."

"What if someone tries to fight it?" Boone's voice shook.

Copper didn't hesitate. "The veil doesn't respond to force. It responds to balance. If someone tries to go where they're not meant to, it pushes back. Hard. Others have died fighting the veil."

Ashley's hand flew to her mouth. Boone's world tilted. This was too big a risk. He couldn't send Ashley home alone.

Copper grabbed Boone's arm. "I know you're scared. This cloud hovering over us feels like a countdown. But you needed the truth. Everstill saved you. But it won't protect anyone from the veil's pull."

Boone closed his eyes. Pain sliced through him.

"The cloud will reach town by morning." Copper moved toward the door. "You need to be ready."

Boone didn't answer. He couldn't.

Copper paused at the threshold. "I'm sorry," he said softly. "I truly am."

Then he left.

Boone stood frozen, Ashley clinging to him. He had no idea how to survive what was coming. He didn't know how to face the veil.

How could he stand back and let the veil decide her fate? The thought hollowed him, leaving him terrified of a world where Ashley's future hinged on something he couldn't fight.

Chapter 37

Ashley

––––––––

It was the middle of the night. The house was silent except for the refrigerator's faint hum and Boone's uneven breathing.

He sat on the edge of the bed, elbows on his knees, head bowed. Ashley crawled out of bed naked and touched his arm. The moment he sat straighter, she climbed into his lap, her knees bracketing his hips, her arms winding around his shoulders. She rested her forehead against his temple. She wrapped herself around him because she couldn't get close enough.