A few days had passed since Helena's day out with Jay, but the peace that briefly settled over her had long evaporated. Selena's absences were becoming more frequent, and the knot of worry in Helena's stomach tightened with every passing day.
At school, it was no different. Selena's seat was empty again. Helena tried to focus on the lessons, but Mr. Carson's pointed glances in her direction made it impossible to concentrate. She could feel his suspicion growing with each absence.
As the final bell rang, Helena quickly packed her things, hoping to slip out before Mr. Carson had the chance to stop her. But before she could reach the door, his voice cut through the classroom.
"Helena, could you stay behind for a moment?"
Her heart sank. She turned around slowly, forcing a neutral expression as she faced him. "Yes, Mr. Carson?"
He waited until the other students had filed out before speaking again, his tone measured but firm. "This is the third time this week that Selena's been absent. I've spoken with her before about this, but now I'm concerned. What's going on with your sister?"
Helena swallowed hard. She had been dreading this moment. How could she explain Selena's absences when she barely knew the truth herself? Lying wasn't going to be easy, especially with Mr. Carson watching her so closely.
"She's been… sick," Helena said, trying to sound as convincing as possible. "It's nothing serious, but she needs some time to rest. I'm sure she'll be back soon."
Mr. Carson didn't seem convinced. He crossed his arms, his gaze narrowing slightly. "Helena, I've been teaching for many years. I can tell when something's wrong. Is there something else going on with Selena that you're not telling me?"
Helena's mind raced, trying to come up with a believable answer. The truth was, she didn't know what Selena was doing half the time anymore. But there was no way she could tell that to Mr. Carson.
"No, nothing else," she replied, her voice a little too sharp. "Like I said, she's just been unwell."
The tension between them grew thick in the air, but before Mr. Carson could press further, Helena quickly gathered her things and excused herself.
"I have to go now. I'll let you know if she's recovered from her illness."
---
Outside the classroom, Helena hurried through the halls, her mind swirling with frustration. Selena's absences were becoming more than just a problem—they were drawing attention. And now, with Mr. Carson getting involved, they couldn't afford any more slip-ups.
When she finally reached the entrance of their apartment, she was still fuming. Selena was home, sitting at the kitchen table, casually flipping through a book.
"You're home early," Selena remarked, not even looking up as Helena slammed the door behind her.
"What the hell is going on with you, Selena?" Helena snapped, her voice sharp with anger. "You've missed so many classes this week. Mr. Carson pulled me aside today—he's starting to get suspicious!"
Selena raised an eyebrow, her expression calm, almost infuriatingly Helena. "Relax, Hel. I told you, I'm handling it."
"Handling it?" Helena's voice rose. "You're not handling anything! You're disappearing at all hours, and you won't even tell me what you're doing. This isn't just about us anymore—people are starting to notice. They're asking questions."
Selena sighed and closed the book, finally giving Helena her full attention. There was a coolness in her demeanor, as if she didn't see the urgency in the situation. "You don't need to worry so much, Helena. I know what I'm doing."
Helena's patience was wearing thin. She couldn't understand how Selena could be so calm when everything around them felt like it was on the verge of unraveling.
"You're not the one dealing with Mr. Carson, or with people asking questions about where you are," Helena shot back. "I am! And I'm running out of excuses. You need to start being more careful."
For the first time, a flicker of something crossed Selena's face—whether it was frustration or guilt, Helena couldn't tell. But it was enough to show that her sister wasn't as unaffected as she seemed.
"I'm doing this for us, Helena," Selena said quietly. "For our family. You don't have to understand it right now, but when I find out the truth, you'll see."
Helena shook her head, feeling the weight of her sister's words but unable to shake the worry gnawing at her.
The truth.
Selena had been obsessed with uncovering the reasons behind their father's downfall for months now, and though Helena had tried to support her, it was becoming clear that Selena's search was taking her down a dangerous path.
"And what if you don't find the truth?" Helena asked, her voice softening. "What if this just gets us into more trouble? We can't afford that, Selena. Not now."
Selena stood up, her eyes steady and determined. "I will find it. And when I do, we won't have to live in the shadows anymore. We'll be able to reclaim what we lost."
Helena sighed, running a hand through her hair. She wanted to believe her sister. She wanted to believe that all of this—Selena's absences, her secrets—would lead to something that could fix their broken family. But the risks were growing, and the consequences were becoming harder to ignore.
"Fine," Helena said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. "But if you're going to keep doing this, you need to be smarter about it. No more skipping school like this. Mr. Carson is already suspicious, and if he keeps digging, he's going to figure out something's wrong."
Selena nodded, but there was still that glint in her eyes, the one that told Helena that she wouldn't stop until she uncovered whatever it was she was looking for.
"I promise, I'll be more careful," Selena said, her voice steady. "But I'm not giving up."
The tension between them remained, unspoken but thick in the air. Helena knew that no matter how much she tried to protect Selena, her sister was determined to follow her own path. And that path was leading them both deeper into dangerous territory.
---
That night, as Helena lay in bed, she couldn't shake the feeling of dread that had settled in her chest. Selena was determined to uncover their family's past, no matter the cost. But Helena wasn't sure if they were prepared for what they might find—or what they would have to sacrifice along the way.