My anger is barely contained, I am a hair away from throwing my sister out the bar window. Inhaling a sharp breath, my hands tighten into fists. I exhale when I feel James's hand on the small of my back. Ellie steps down from the table, using one of the men as support. They whistle as she walks past, swinging her hips seductively. I grab her wrist and yank her with me out the door, James stays close at my heels.
He leans down to my ear once we're outside. "Do you want to be alone with your sister?" he says softly.
I shake my head. "We need to find a way back as soon as possible."
My gaze shifts to my sister. "What the actual hell is wrong with you?"
She flinches. "Jackie-"
I hold a hand up. "What were you even thinking? Did Vivian not tell you that it is impossible to go back the way you came in? Do you realize that we have no apparent way of getting home?" My voice rises with every question.
Ellie shrinks back, and that is when I see it in her deep, blue eyes.
"You were never planning on coming home," I whisper.
Her lower lip trembles. "I was so tired of everyone always saying you were the better one, and why couldn't I be like you? Everyone told me if I was like you, then people would finally accept me. But here..." her voice catches.
She inhales a deep breath and meets my eyes. "Here no one judges me, they like me Jacklyn. Everyone is a misfit, just like me."
I drop her wrist. "Ellie, the men in the bar only like you because you're pretty, and because you're dressed like...that," I say gesturing to her skimpy outfit.
She bites her lip. "No th-"
Suddenly James puts a hand on both of our shoulders. "Guys, I hate to break it up but we need to leave. Now," he warns, jerking his chin towards a group of rough looking me walking up to us.
I gulp. I know those men all too well. What in the skies are they doing here? Sighing I pull my cloak off and wrap it around Ellie. I slip the hood over her eyes and turn to James. "Come on."
He nods and we follow him down the alleyway that leads to the space behind the Pointy Hat bar.
Ellie tugs on my sleeve. "We should split up."
I shake my head. "Absolutely not, we're finding a way to go home together."
"What if I don't want to go home?"
She says it so softly I almost don't catch the words. My eyes widen.
Ellie folds here arms. "I like it here Jacklyn."
I lean against the brick wall behind us and pinch the bridge of my nose. "No, you don't. You like the idea of this place. But there is a reason it's called the City Of The Dead Ellie. You can't stay here, it's dangerous."
Before I can stop her, she pulls out her wand and waves it in my face.
"What are y-"
The last thing I see is my sister vanishing before something hits the back of my head really hard and everything fades to black.