Chapter Six – The Hollow Stirs

The storm broke just as Thorne collapsed.

The rain washed the trees, lightning like a warning from the sky dancing at the cabin. Ivy kneels next to him, her heart knocked against her ribs. The wind threw itself through intervals in the wooden walls, and thunder deepened, such as some ancient stirring in the soil.

"Thorne! Stay with me."

He gritted his teeth, blood streaming down his forearm. "I'm fine."

"You're not. You're burning." Her fingers brushed the mussel skin. The heat beamed him like a fever that had claws.

"I heal quickly."

"Not enough," she whispered, her voice cracking.

Ethan hovered behind him, still wide eyes, and still trembled. His transformation had reversed, but some wildlife in his eyes became wolffish, uncertain. He was breathing hard, tighting his shoulders, closing his eyes on the forest as if he expected to jump into someone else.

"Ivy," he said, voice barely above the wind. "We can't stay here."

She looked up at her brother. "Why not?"

"She's coming."

Thorne's eyes snapped open. "Thalia?"

Ethan nodded. "She's near. I heard her voice again." In my head. ""

Ivy blinks. "She's talking to you?"

"No, not like words. More like ... feelings. Pictures. She wants something."

"What does she want?" Asked ivy.

Ethan's voice fell into a whisper. "You."

Thorne tried to sit, but his body shooked. Ivy caught him again before he hit the ground and grabbed him under her shoulders. His breath was shallow, his chest grew and fell very quickly.

"She's not a ghost," he said. "She's a revenant."

"What's that suppose to mean?"

"This means she died, but someone pulled her back. Some ancient. It turned around. She's not what she was. No more."

Ethan stepped closer. "She said you left her behind."

Thorne did not answer.

He just stared at the wooden line, rain soaking his face like it didn't even matter.

Ivy stood slow, her chest was tight. "What happened to her?"

Thorne looked at her. "She was my friend."

The words hit her like a punch to the gut.

"Your what?"

"I was seventeen years old. She was part of my old packs. Smart, violent, hollow and passionate with her power. I loved her, but she wanted a lot. She wanted a lot. She found something buried—something forbidden. I tried to stop her. She… died."

"But now she's back?"

He nodded. "She's not the same. She's a vessel now. shadow laced in flesh."

Ivy's stomach turned. "And she wants me because-?"

"She thinks you're the way. Or worse - she thinks you're her replacement ."

A branch cracked outside . All three of them froze.

Ivy realized that Ethan's hand slipped into her. His palm was cold, either sweaty or rain moist. Maybe both.

"We have to leave," he said. "Now."

"No," Thorne pushed himself up. "We'll lead her right to town."

"She already knows where I am," Ivy said. "You heard what Ethan said."

Light cracked again. The trees outside the cabin swayed hard, even though the wind was still there.

The wind felt heavy.

Like breath held too long.

Then -footsteps.

Crushing the leaves. Wet grass.

Ivy reached for her bow.

Ethan moved slightly, the eyes were narrowed, the nostrils broke out.

And Thorne—already pale—grew still.

"She's here," he whispered.

The front door creaked.

Then it opened.

But no one took steps.

Only fog.

thick. Silent. Curl like fingers through the floorboards. It spread quickly, creeping against their feet like it had a purpose.

Ivy went forward .

 "Thalia?"

No answer.

Then came the voice. Not from the door. From everywhere. From the inside.

"You wore my name before you knew your own."

Ivy's breath was caught. Cold spiral through her chest.

"I don't know you," she said.

"You know the song in your blood," the voice replied. "The thorns remember."

"I'm not part of your story."

"You are the story."

Suddenly the fire in the stove flared high, unnaturally then died out.

The darkness swallowed the room.

Thorne growled, half -shipped, pointed. "Show yourself!"

The Voice sighed , ancient and cave.

"You never understood. You were always afraid of the fire you couldn't control."

Then - like suddenly - a figure appeared in the door.

She was barefoot.

Hair soaked with rain, and sticks in the face that swings. Her dress was torn, was in the color of moss and clinging with her as if she was growing up there. Her eyes ... green. Blank. Like ivy.

Thorne stepped between them and swung a bit. "Leave."

Thalia titled her head. "Do you want to fight me for her?"

"She is not yours."

"She's mine by right ," said Thalia, voice twisting like smoke. "You gave a promise, Thorne. And now you break it for a girl made of shade and steal breathing?"

Ivy lifted her bow. "I'm not related to anyone."

Thalia smiled. "Not yet."

Lightning flashed - and her face changed.

For a moment, Ivy saw her own face staring back at her. Identical eyes. Identical scars.

Then Thalia disappeared in the fog.

The door closed behind her.

silence.

The fog did not move. It just sat there as if it was listening.

Ethan exhaled shakily. "What the hell was that?"

"Projection," Thorne muttered ."She's is not fully back."

"She felt real."

"She's regaining strength."

Ivy turned to him. "What did she mean by your promise?"

Thorne looked away.

"I signed a compromise with the hollow. Many years ago. To protect my pack. I gave something back in return."

"What?"

He looked at her.

"You."

"You didn't even know me," she said, her voice was thin.

"I didn't. But I saw a vision. A girl with green eyes standing in thorns. She was bleeding. And I chose to save my pack instead."

"That was me?"

"I didn't know then. But I know now."

Ivy back away from him. "You traded me."

"I tried to stop it. I thought it was a warning. I didn't know it was a bond."

Ethan steeped in. "And now she wants that bond back."

Thorne nodded. "Thalia is not just after revenge. She wants the bloodline severed."

"Mine," Ivy whispered.

Suddenly, her palm flared with heat.

She looked down.

A single black vine appeared under her skin. Twist. Thorned.

It pulsed once.

Then it disappeared.

Thorne's eyes expanded. "She's has marked you."

"Why now?" Ivy asked. "Why me ?"

Ethan spoke before Thorne could.

"Because your blood carries the hollow last secret."

Thunder rolled again.

And in the outside of the shadow, a dozen eyes blinked open.

Watching.

Waiting.

The hollow has awakened.