Beyond the Pack’s Law: My stepsister or nobody else

Hayley’s Pov

The message itself chilled me to my bone; it was like an ominous premonition. The words pierced through the silence and echoed in my brain 1, 000 times over.

You need to leave Australia immediately because things won’t be funny soon if you don’t leave. Something was hauntingly afoot, running through my head in questions and what-ifs.

So who in the world might have sent this? And why? I had the imminent feeling of danger, as if I were running out of time, but there’s no way that I could get up already.

There were too many loose ends still dangling as well.

I chose to ignore the warning and still went on with my search. I wanted to know just why Aiden had lied to me.

It was like an image of him with someone else had been burned into my memory, and I kept experiencing feelings that it was plain betrayal. Why would he do this to me? What was he hiding? Why would he worriedly track me down now?

I grabbed for my phone once more, this time with the intention of calling Ryan. But his pop-up appearance here in Australia was another piece I couldn’t ignore. What was he doing here? And had he any inkling of what Aiden got up to?

I called Ryan as soon as he answered the phone. I have a question.

Hayley The voice that responded was completely calm. “Hi, Hayley.” “What’s going on?”

Why are you in Australia? I inquired, trying to take the emotion out of my voice. So, what does Aiden have his hand in?

When Ryan answered after a brief pause on the other end of the line, he told me, ‘This is a work thing.” But I haven’t seen Aiden. But I dismissed him as a really cool guy-I wasn’t even aware he was here.

His answer only added to my confusion. If Ryan hadn’t seen Aiden, then who was the girl in the picture with him? And why was Aiden so desperate to find me now?

“I said in a tone that begged frustration, “You lost me. This is all so weird.

“Hey, it’s ok,” and Ryan sounded as soothing as he always does. We can figure this out together. Where are you right now?”

“Outside the hotel, in case you are wondering, I needed some fresh air.”

“Stay there,” Ryan said. I’ll come around, and we can carry on talking.“

While I composed myself and waited for Ryan, my mind continued to race with thoughts.

The cool night air brushed against my skin without calming the struggle within.

I checked my phone, half-wishing there was another text from the unknown number, but nothing was present. To Sarah, the leer was almost less disturbing than what came next: silence.

Ryan arrived to find me exactly in the spot where I sat down when he got off the bus, my brain a jumble of thoughts. He then sat beside me, and I felt comforted.

Like an anchor in the storm of my emotions, a piece of solid ground amidst the freefall.

Okay, and he turned around to face me. “Where do we begin? Oh, but, like, what about Aiden?”?

I inhale deeply as I try to gather my thoughts. He was with this other girl, and I choked out a near-silent voice. “They were… close.” Then, I received this message: To get out of Australia, as you’re in serious danger.”

Ryan’s frown deepened, his furrowed brow exuding worry. “Who on earth could have sent that message?”

I shook my head. “No. But that is what scares me the most.”

Ryan glanced up, his insight deepening. “All right, we should think systematically. So the first step is to learn more about this girl. Do you have anything to identify her by?”

I pulled up Aiden’s picture with the girl on my phone and showed it to Ryan. He looked at it for a second, and then he returned the phone to me.

“I do not know her, “he quipped. But that is not to say we cannot find out who she is. You know where Aiden usually hangs out?

I thought for a moment. He has this cafe that he uses. It’s not far from here.”

“Alright,” Ryan said. “Let’s start there.”Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.

The night was deadly silent as we tiptoed to the cafe. The streets were near empty, and it was this silence that helped unsettle me. When we reached the cafe, it was open but with only a few customers. . We positioned ourselves in the back, trying to lay low and watch.

I just sat there, feeling a strange mix of feelings. One part of me was happy Ryan had come along; another, however, still harbored anger over what felt like a betrayal. I was desperate for answers yesterday.

Some time later, the door leading to the cafe opened, and Aiden entered. My pulse leapt, and Ryan jerked next to me. It’s a good thing Aiden didn’t spot us.

He went straight to the counter and ordered a coffee. As he took a seat, the girl from earlier approached him. My heart sank.

Aiden and the girl slipped into a booth towards the back of the cafe, looking not quite so much as if they were dating but rather kindred spirits.

A combo of rage, perplexity, and fascination leads me to knock on his door with my heart pounding in my chest. A text came to me before I could move my body.

Looking at the screen, it was my mom on the other side. Then it hit me that it was late in the evening back home.

“Mom?” I replied, keeping my voice level as best I could, even though the cauldron in me boiled and churned, causing a struggle with every syllable.

‘Hayley, thank the gods’. A worried voice cut in. “Something terrible has occurred. Are you okay?”

A wave of horror washed over me, and my stomach bottomed out. “I’m fine, Mom. What’s going on?”

“It’s your father. He got into a car crash, and it was really bad. My voice cracking, I said, “He’s… in the hospital.