Cypriana couldn't breathe in her own house.
The walls felt too close.
Her mother was gone again—some man, some bar, some laugh that wasn't real.
The TV played quietly in the background, but Cypriana wasn't watching.
Her eyes kept seeing the flyer.
MISSING.
Brianna Shaw.
Her stomach turned every time she pictured it.
Because she knew.
She knew.
And Andrew's voice echoed in her skull like a curse.
Something for her.
Cypriana stood abruptly.
Her chair scraped the floor.
Her heart was pounding before she even knew where she was going.
The night air was sharp.
Cold enough to sting.
Cypriana walked fast through empty streets, hoodie pulled tight around her.
Her breath came out in foggy bursts.
She didn't text Matt.
Didn't text Steve.
She didn't want anyone to stop her.
Because this wasn't about them.
This was about Andrew.
And the growing, sick dread that she was somehow part of what he'd become.
The school field was dark.
The bleachers were silhouettes.
The woods beyond looked like a mouth.
Cypriana swallowed hard.
"Andrew?"
Her voice disappeared into the night.
She stepped forward.
Grass damp beneath her shoes.
Then—
A sound.
A soft crunch of leaves.
Cypriana froze.
Her pulse roared.
"Andrew," she said again, louder.
"I know you're here."
Silence.
Then a voice, quiet as smoke—
"You shouldn't be here."
Andrew stepped out from between the trees.
Hood up.
Face half-shadowed.
Camera hanging at his side like it was part of him.
Cypriana's breath caught.
He looked…
Calmer.
That was the terrifying part.
Not angry.
Not broken.
Just…decided.
Cypriana took a step closer.
Her voice trembled.
"Where is she?"
Andrew didn't blink.
"Who?"
Cypriana's throat tightened.
"Don't."
Her hands curled into fists.
"Brianna."
At that name, something flickered in Andrew's eyes.
Not guilt.
Not regret.
Just memory.
Cypriana whispered—
"She's missing."
Andrew's voice was flat.
"I know."
Cypriana's chest tightened violently.
Her voice cracked.
"What did you do?"
Andrew stared at her.
For a long moment, he didn't answer.
Then he said, softly—
"She was hurting you."
Cypriana's breath shook.
"That doesn't mean—"
"It does," Andrew interrupted.
His voice sharpened just slightly.
"It does when nobody else stops it."
Cypriana swallowed hard.
"Matt would've stopped it."
Andrew's lips twitched.
"Matt stops things with words."
Cypriana flinched.
Andrew stepped closer.
The air felt heavy around him.
"I stop things for real."
Cypriana's voice broke.
"I didn't ask you to!"
Andrew's eyes flickered.
"I know."
That was worse.
He hadn't done it because she wanted it.
He'd done it because he wanted it.
Because it made sense in his head.
Cypriana whispered—
"…Andrew."
His gaze softened at her voice.
Just for a second.
"I saw you today."
Cypriana froze.
"What?"
Andrew's voice was quiet.
"When she lifted."
Cypriana's stomach dropped.
"You were watching."
Andrew nodded slightly.
"She was afraid."
Cypriana's breathing turned ragged.
"I almost—"
"You didn't," Andrew said immediately.
His voice was strange.
Almost proud.
"You held back."
Cypriana whispered—
"I didn't want to be a monster."
Andrew's eyes darkened.
"They made you one first."
Cypriana shook her head violently.
"No."
Andrew stepped closer again.
His presence was suffocating.
"You don't understand what it's like."
Cypriana's voice cracked.
"Then tell me!"
Andrew's jaw clenched.
His hands trembled slightly.
And for the first time…
The calm slipped.
"My dad beat me tonight."
Cypriana went still.
Andrew's voice dropped.
"He beat me and then went downstairs and drank like it was nothing."
Cypriana's throat tightened.
Andrew's eyes burned.
"My mom coughed so hard I thought she was going to die."
Cypriana whispered—
"Andrew…"
His voice rose, shaking now.
"And nobody cares!"
The trees trembled.
Leaves lifted slightly off the ground.
Cypriana's breath caught.
Andrew's eyes were wet.
Angry tears he refused to let fall.
"So when someone hurts you…"
His voice broke into something raw.
"…I can't just watch."
Cypriana's heart shattered a little.
Because she saw it.
The boy underneath.
The boy who wanted to be good.
Who just…
Couldn't anymore.
Cypriana stepped closer, slowly.
Her voice was gentle.
"You can't do this."
Andrew whispered—
"I already did."
Cypriana's eyes filled with tears.
"Where is she?"
Andrew stared at her.
Then—
He looked away.
Toward the woods.
His voice was quiet.
"She's alive."
Cypriana's breath collapsed out of her.
"Oh my god…"
Andrew added softly—
"She's just…learning."
Cypriana's blood ran cold.
"Learning what?"
Andrew looked back at her.
His eyes were darker than the night.
"What it feels like."
Cypriana whispered—
"…Andrew."
He stepped close enough that she could feel him.
Feel the power humming around him like a storm.
His voice dropped.
"I did it for you."
Cypriana's tears fell.
"I didn't want that."
Andrew's gaze softened.
Almost hurt.
"…Yes you did."
Cypriana shook her head desperately.
"No. I wanted to be safe. I wanted to be left alone."
Andrew whispered—
"That's the same thing."
Cypriana's breath shook.
"You're scaring me."
Andrew froze.
The words hit like a slap.
For the first time, his expression cracked.
"Cypriana…"
His voice was small.
Like a child again.
"I would never hurt you."
Cypriana sobbed quietly.
"I know."
That was the tragedy.
She knew.
He wouldn't hurt her.
He would hurt the world for her.
Andrew reached out slightly, like he wanted to touch her.
Then stopped.
His hand trembling in the air.
Cypriana whispered—
"Come with me."
Andrew's eyes flickered.
"To where?"
Cypriana's voice broke.
"Back. Before it's too late."
Andrew stared at her.
And for a moment…
He almost looked like he might.
Then the cold returned.
Slow.
Inevitable.
Andrew whispered—
"It's already too late."
And then—
He lifted into the air.
Silent.
Weightless.
A shadow rising above the field.
Cypriana watched, trembling.
Andrew hovered for a moment.
Looking down at her like she was the only thing tethering him to earth.
Then he turned.
And disappeared into the night.
Leaving Cypriana alone with the truth.
And the fear—
That she might be the reason he finally let go.