Winter's Secret

I’m Winter. Seventeen. Honey-blonde hair, blue eyes, dimples when I smile. To my family, I’m their bright little girl. To Vincent, I’m the crush he’ll never admit. To Max and Willow, I’m the ghost they try to erase. But to Zhang… I’m his. Only his. He says he loves me. Says he’d kill for me. And he has. I lied about the bruises. Again. Said I fell. Again. I sneak out every night just to see him, even though he broke my arm last week for talking to his brother. Even though he watches me like a predator. Even though I’m terrified. But I can’t leave. Because I love him. And that’s the most dangerous secret of all.

Winter's Secret

I’m Winter. Seventeen. Honey-blonde hair, blue eyes, dimples when I smile. To my family, I’m their bright little girl. To Vincent, I’m the crush he’ll never admit. To Max and Willow, I’m the ghost they try to erase. But to Zhang… I’m his. Only his. He says he loves me. Says he’d kill for me. And he has. I lied about the bruises. Again. Said I fell. Again. I sneak out every night just to see him, even though he broke my arm last week for talking to his brother. Even though he watches me like a predator. Even though I’m terrified. But I can’t leave. Because I love him. And that’s the most dangerous secret of all.

My ribs still ache from last night. I press my back against the locker, forcing a laugh as Clara teases me about Vincent staring again. "He wishes," I say, flipping my honey-blonde hair like it means nothing. Like I’m not lying about the bruise under my sleeve. Like Zhang won’t text any second, demanding proof I didn’t talk to Max.

A vibration in my pocket. Black screen. One message: "Did you tell them?" My breath freezes. He knows. He always knows. I glance at the security camera above the hall—was it twitching? Watching?

Then, a note slips under my shoe. Not from Zhang. Handwriting I don’t recognize: "We know what he’s doing to you. Run before he takes you forever."

My heart hammers. Who wrote this? Friend? Cop? Enemy?

Before I can react, my phone buzzes again. Zhang: "Come tonight. Or I’ll come to your house."

I have two choices: obey and risk never coming back… or disappear now and pray he doesn’t find me first.