As soon as Leona hopped out of Quinn’s vertible, Sarah’s eyes lit up, and she charged frinning wide. “You’re here!” she squealed, practically flying into Leona’s arms. Her bathing suit—the one she’d teased about—was super-mega-ultra cute, covered in pink cats that stretched across the fabric like they were zing in the sun. She clutched a small roof bag slung over her shoulder, but the way she threw herself at Leona, it nearly cttered to the ground as she ed her arms around her. Leona stumbled back, her sneakers skidding o t of Sarah’s driveway.

  “Hahahahaha!” Leona ughed, hugging Sarah tightly iurn, her cheeks bzing pink. “That bathing suit you’re wearing is ridiculously cute! Don’t you feel a little embarrassed wearing it?”

  “Nope!” Sarah shot back with a pyful smirk, her lips curling into a grin that could only be described as cat-like. “I’d be really embarrassed if it were a two-piece, but my parents would never allow that anyway.”

  Leona giggled, about to respond when Quinn’s voice cut through. “Shhhh—here e the overlords,” she teased, ughing under her breath. She oward the house where Sarah’s parents were emerging from the front door, arm in arm, their serious expressions making it feel like a formal iion was about to begin. It was Leona’s first tact with an alien species.

  “Hey there, Mister and Missus Namias.” Quinn strode forward, her voice light and easy, a broad smile. “o meet you. I’m Quinn—DJ and musi extraordinaire by trade. Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of them both. I’m used to chaperoning thanks to my little sister here. You t on me.”

  Sarah’s father offered a thin smile, his eyes sharp as he sized up the trio. “Make sure you do,” he said, his tone polite but firm. “She’s a handful. Keep her away from anything wild—or any of the criminal element that San Isidro is famous for.”

  Leona stiffened, frowning. “It’s not that bad here,” she protested. “Sure, crime’s been on the rise, but that doesn’t mean everyone in San Isidro is bad.”

  Sarah’s mother tilted her head slightly, her eyes lingering on the way Sarah was still ging to Leona.

  Quinn, sensing the tension, smoothly intervened. “So, what brought you folks to this oh-so-lovely town?” she asked, fshing a grin. “Not that we’re not thrilled to have Sarah here. She’s been amazing.”

  Sarah’s mother softened, her smile warm, but her husband’s expression hardened further. “A forced relocation,” he said ftly. “My pany moved us here because corporate taxes are lowest here for now. Profit matters more than people to them. Though uting across the bay would’ve been an option, the gondo’s too slow. Driving would take over an hour and a half up the coast, so we settled for the best neighborhood we could find.”

  Quinn scratched her head, ughing a little. “Well, it’s a lovely home! han ours. But ours isn’t bad either. Ma owns a charming café, and the people who e in are all friendly. They hug each other all the time. You don’t see that much outside of a church, right?”

  Sarah’s mother’s eyes lit up. “That sounds wonderful! Do they worship there?”

  “Uh…” Quinn coughed, f a ugh. “Not really! We’re ly the devout type, but we feed the body and soul. Everyone calls our mom Goo’s her beatnik thing.”

  Sarah’s father scowled, gng at the sun. “You should be on your way. At this rate, it’ll be su before you leave.”

  Sarah’s mother shot him a look, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Don’t be so harsh,” she chided gently before turning back to the girls. “Go on, kids. Have fun. There’s a lovely pie waiting in the oven when you get back, so don’t be te.”

  Leona gave Sarah a pyful tug toward the vertible. She hopped over the door into her seat with ease, and Sarah followed, albeit less gracefully, gng nervously at her parents. Quinn vaulted into the driver’s seat with practionce. Doors? Overrated.

  As Sarah’s father turo head inside, he paused, casting o look over his shoulder. “Drive carefully,” he said, his voice clipped but irely unkind.

  “SHIT! No offense, Sarah, but your dad’s pretty intense—” Quinn grumbled as she shifted gears, the vertible gliding down San Isidro’s major boulevard. Her eyes flicked to the rearview mirror, sing for any sign of pursuit, though none came. The distant wail of an arm echoed through the city, a remihat some kind of theft was underway. Not an everyday occurrence, but on enough tely. Cheshire’s absened rge over San Isidro—and El Aguil too.

  Sarah shifted in her seat, adjusting the strap of her bag, her expression thoughtful. “I’m not offended,” she said quietly. “Daddy’s stern, but he’s a good Christian. He expeothing but the best from me.” She forced a small smile, but the weight behind her words hung in the air like heavy fog.

  Leona bit her lip, unsure whether to offer fort or let the moment pass. The sileretched out, taut and unfortable.

  Sarah broke it first, her voice sentler. “Anyway, I’m really happy to be going with you to the water park.” Her gaze lingered on Leona, curious, almost searg. “But…” She tilted her head, eyes pyful but serious. “Why did you choose that swimsuit? It’s not as cute as mine, even though you’re way cuter than me. Did you wear that? Just to make me giggle?”

  Leona’s ugh came out high and nervous, her cheeks bzing crimson. “N-no! I didn’t—” She shot Quinn a sidelong gre, rese simmerih the surface. Quinn’s idea, of course. Leona could still hear her voice teasing, “It’ll be adorable, trust me.”

  The swimsuit iion g to her like a sed skin—a stereotypical Japanese school one-pieavy blue, snug in ways that made her hyper-aware of every movement. Beh it, the gaff did its job, but she still felt the subtle press of self-sciousness. It didn’t help that every passing seade it feel smaller.

  Quinn, by trast, looked breezy and effortlessly fident in a daring bikih her light green sundress. The fabric fluttered in the warm breeze, and her sandals tapped rhythmically on the pedals. She’d dressed to impress Sarah’s parents, despite her olive-green hair still spiking out in a bold, rebellious halo.

  “How does that work, exactly?” Leona muttered, shooting Quinn a look. “The sundress and sandals, I mean. You think it made your hair invisible?”

  Quinn smirked, eyes twinkling with amusement. “Hey, it’s all about bance, babe. Distract them with wholesomeness while giving off just a little chaos. Besides, Sarah’s mom didn’t even blink.”

  Sarah giggled, her smile warm. “I think you looked lovely, Quinn. But I have to agree—your hair is hard to miss.”

  Qui out a bark of ughter. “Hard to miss? It’s iic, thank you very much.”

  Leona slumped a little in her seat, tugging at the nee of her swimsuit. “I should’ve just worn a hoodie.”

  Sarah leaned over, eyes twinkling mischievously. “Nah, you’re cute like this. Just don’t trip and fall into the water before we evehere.”

  Leona groaned, c her face with both hands. “Why did I agree to this?”

  “Because you like me,” Sarah teased, leaning back with a smug grin.

  Leona and Sarah’s screams rang out, mingling with the rush of water as they hurtled down the slide, ughter bursting free with each twist and turn. Leona g to Sarah’s waist, carefully trolling their position to avoid any mishap that could make things awkward in a way her of them were ready for. The spshdown into the cool pool was a relief from the heat, and they surfaced, gasping and grinning, before paddling madly toward the edge.

  Sarah scrambled out first, her wet hair ging to her shoulders, already tugging at Leona’s hand. “e on! The big o!” she chirped, dragging Leona toward the t slide in the distance.

  They darted from slide to slide, the world narrowing to the sound of rushing water and the sp of their bare feet o pavement. Leona followed, uo stop smiling at Sarah’s enthusiasm, the way her eyes sparkled with eaew challenge. As they waited in line for the biggest slide, Leona g Sarah, a question bubbling up.

  “So... how did you mao sneak out to that rave?” Leona asked, voice low, though she didn’t finish the thought aloud—with your parents being so strict hung unspokeween them.

  Sarah flinched, her shoulders jumping slightly, but she exhaled a quiet ugh. “Um... yeah. I told you I rebel sometimes.” Her chuckle was brittle, edged with something wistful. “That night, I said I was going to a small anime vention. My dad doesn’t approve of ahinks it’s full of satanic messages—but Mom vinced him to let me go. She thinks I need more friends.”

  Leona snorted, smirking. “Satanic? What’s satanic about this swimsuit? It’s the most modest thing ever.”

  Before Sarah could answer, a voice from behind them cut through the air.

  “Whoa! A real middle-schooler Japanese swimsuit!” A guy’s voice, too loud, too close. Leona stiffened, heat rushing to her cheeks. The guy gawked openly, wide-eyed with mispced excitement. “That’s awesome! I take a picture?”

  Leona’s stomach twisted. She flushed deeper, her grip tightening oal railing.

  “Dude, this isn’t an anime ,” the guy’s friend chuckled, though it cked any real reprimand. “But hey, not a bad idea. Wanna grab a bite at the snack stands after this? Maybe hit the zy river?”

  “Nah, we’re doing this slide at least four more times!” the first guy crowed. His gaze lingered a sed too long on Sarah’s pink kitty swimsuit. “But hey, the more, the merrier.”

  Leona’s mi bnk. She khe feeling, the way catcalls and stares used to leave her frozen. Even now, fully herself, fully Leona, it hadn’t gotten easier. She searched desperately for something—anything—Quinn oonie might’ve told her in moments like this.

  She didn’t o.

  “These girls are underage,” Quinn’s voice sliced in, cold and sharp as a knife. She stepped forward, popping her knuckles, her eyes dark with warning. “Keep it in your pants. Or better yet, walk away. Now.”

  The guys exged gnces, smirking, clearly unfazed by Quinn’s lean frame or the venom in her voice.

  “Rex,” the blonde one said, fshing a tht grin. “I was just being friendly. I’m loaded, by the way. My treat if you ge your mind. I’ll show you all a good time if you give me a ce.”

  Sarah’s polite smile was steel under velvet. “Thanks, but I’m good.”

  Quinn crossed her arms. “Our pns don’t include you, so kindly fuck off.” Her voice was smooth, almost sweet, but the threat lingered like smoke.

  The sed guy narrowed his eyes at Quinn, clearly irritated. “That’s rude. What about you?” He leaoward Leona, voice oozing false charm. “You’re awfully quiet.”

  Quinn stepped in, a wall between them. “Touch her, and I’ll break your hand.”

  The gre Quinn shot at them silenced further protests, and she steered Leona and Sarah to the back of the lih a terse, “Let’s stand here instead.”

  A nearby couple with grinning kids waved them ahead, clearly more amused by the se than upset. “Go ahead,” the woman said kindly. “Looks like you’ve had a rougher day than us.”

  By the time they climbed the scaffolding stairs to the top, the cool breeze ruffling their damp hair, the exhaustion of the frontation began to fade—until they saw him again.

  The blonde guy from before stood at the top, leaning casually where the employee should have been, his grin sharper now.

  Quinn’s expression darkened. “You two go first,” she murmured, voice soft but dangerous. “We’re not ing back if they’re still here.”

  The blonde guy smiled disarmingly, his grin widening like a predator pying nice. His friend leaned casually against the slide, his hands in his pockets, watg them with an uling amount of i. Leona’s gre was hard, calg. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right. Her instincts were screaming, but the feeling was quickly overridden by Quinn’s sharp voice. “Just go, quickly. Jump in.”

  The hesitation was brief, but real. Leona exged a quice with Sarah. Then, without waiting, Leona nodded and dove feet first, Sarah’s hand tightly gripped in hers. The force of the water immediately swallowed them, and they spiraled downward.

  Sarah’s voice rang out beside her, a gleeful “Eeep!” as the two girls shot through the twists, the world a blur of colors and rushing water. Leona’s mind scrambled. She was gd that she hadn’t ed her legs around Sarah again—there was no way she’d be able to trol herself if she pressed up against her now. If she got hard, that would be it. That would be the end of all of this. Not now. Not here.

  But the relief of the safer position was fleeting.

  When Sarah’s legs suddenly ed around her hips, squeezing with uional force, Leona’s breath caught ihroat. Her heart pounded, and the familiar pressure of her body’s rea surged in protest, pushing against the gaff, testing its limits. Leona fought to hold it back, even as Sarah squealed with excitement into her ear, her modest B-cups pressing softly against Leona’s back, her thighs g around her body with undeniable force. Leona cursed herself under her breath, furious that she hadn’t thought this through. What the fuck was I thinking? The st thing she needed was to feel this way when she was already battling to keep everything in check.

  The slide spun them, uhem faster, and Leona could barely focus on the movement anymore. All she could feel was Sarah’s body pressed so close to hers, the unintended friaking everything harder, worse. It was getting so much harder to hide the iable. Hold it together, Leona, just hold it together.

  Back at the top of the slide, Quinn stood arms crossed, watg the two men with narrowed eyes. “What are you two up to?” Her voice was low, the warning there even if she didn’t say it out loud.

  The blonde guy shrugged with exaggerated nonce, clearly trying to hide his amusement. “Nothing. The guy on duty’s a friend of mine. I’m not in the mood for food anymore. Just gave him a little bit of cash to grab a cold drink.”

  Quinn’s eyes narrowed even further, studying them both. The blonde’s friend was eerily silent, only casually admiring the skyline across the bay. It made the situation feel even worse, like they were prey in the wild. Quinn couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.

  Quinn’s voice, when it came, was calm but firm. “Fine. But I don’t want to see either of you stalking us today.”

  She turned, making her way toward the slide, her eyes flig betweewo guys as she moved, ensuring she kept track of them. But just as Quinn he drop, everything happened in an instant. The guy’s quiet friend—who had been too still, too silent—moved with surprising speed, rushing behind Quinn and seizing her legs. Before she could eve, he jerked them out from under her, sending Quinn crashing face first into the slide with a harsh, loud, wet sp.

  The blonde guy’s ughter rang out, cruel and victorious. “Have fun on your way down, bitch!” he shouted, his grin wide and gleaming as he waved, smug satisfa curling his lips.

  Quinn’s startled shout was drowned out by the rush of water, and the friend stepped back, a self-satisfied sneer on his face.

  Leona’s hands shot down instinctively to her crotch, trying to cover herself as they hurtled down the slide. The water and fri hit her with a force she hadn't prepared for, her body jolting in ways that made it all too easy for her boy bits t free from their restraints. The st thing she needed was for Sarah to notice right now, especially as she heard her friend scream joyfully beside her. Not like this, not like this...

  All too soon, the ride ended, and they made a mighty spsh at the bottom. Leona immediately resurfaced, gasping, only to find Sarah ing up beside her, ughing and spluttering iement. But Leona's heart was still ihroat as she wiped water from her eyes. She g Sarah, her gaze hazy, desperately trying to clear her vision. Don’t let her e too close...

  Sarah swam closer, her strokes graceful and effortless as she narrowed the space between them. Leona’s heart hammered in her chest, each beat louder tha, and she instinctively dodged to the side, her legs tremblih her. If Sarah hugs me right now—if she finds out— Leona’s pulse quied, her hands gripping tighter, pressing against her crot a desperate attempt to hide her secret. The st thing she needed was for Sarah to realize what was happening. Not like this. Not here.

  Her mind raced, panic g at her chest. Every sed felt like ay. Why did I think I could keep this under trol?

  But before Leona could dwell on that, a loud, gut-wreng scream pierced the air. It was Quinn’s voice! The scream got Sarah’s attention too, her head snapping up as both girls looked toward the top of the slide.

  Leona’s stomach twisted, and her gaze shot back to the top. Where is she? The blonde guy’s smirk fshed in her mind, still burning sharp and cruel. That look… something’s off. He’s up to something. Utled deeper in her bones. He was watg us. Watg Quinn.

  Although Leona tried to shake the feeling, it g tnawing at her insides. She forced herself to take a breath, but it came out shallow, like a panicked animal trapped in a cage. Her ay wasn’t just about her ow anymore—it was about Quinn.

  Sarah blinked, finally catg up, her brow furrowing in . “Are you okay?” she asked softly, genuine worry in her voice. But the siy of Sarah’s question only added to the storm brewing inside Leona. She chewed her lip, trying to steady herself, but her hands trembled despite her best efforts. Calm down, Leona. Don’t make it worse. Every moveme wrong, like the universe was spiring against her keeping her posure.

  Leona leaned against the edge of the pool to hide her bulge, praying Sarah wouldn’t look too closely. “I’m fine,” she muttered, barely able to keep her voice steady.

  “Are you sure? You seem kind of...” Sarah trailed off, eyes flig between Leona and the rest of the ark. Then, as if something had clicked, she turned back to Leona, her voice quieter. “You’re worried about Quinn, right?”

  Leona didn’t respht away, instead watg Quinn from the er of her eye as she stood at the edge of the water. Quinn had always been like this—protective, instinctive. But that blonde guy... something in her gut told her she wasn’t going to like what came . You ’t let yuard down, Leona.

  Sarah tinued, oblivious to the tension in the air. “I think she’s overreag. The guys didn’t seem that bad. You’re being paranoid.”

  Leona snapped before she could stop herself. “Don’t be so he words came out harsh, louder thaehey want us alohey want us to follow them. Leona couldn’t shake the image of that blonde guy’s predatory look. “They probably wao take us somewhere... for some ‘private fun.’” Her stomach tur the thought.

  Sarah’s eyes widened in disbelief. “What? That’s insane, Leona! They’re just college guys. Why would they do anything like that?” Her voice held a note of incredulity, as if the idea was too ridiculous to even sider.

  Leona could only shake her head. She’s too i. She wao scream at Sarah to open her eyes, but before she could say anything more, another disturbing sound cut through the noise of the water park.

  A gurgling cry echoed from the exit of the water slide.

  Leona’s eyes so the slide. She barely registered the spsh before she saw it—Quinn’s olive-green hair fshing through the air before she hit the water, a siingly loud smack. Leona’s heart seized in her chest. No...

  Quinn had dove face-first into the water. And it wasn’t the usual reckless fun Quinn was known for—no, this was different. What was going on?

  Leona’s breath hitched, a primal fear gripping her. “Quinn!” she yelled, her voice hoarse as she dove uer, swimming powerfully, her heart thudding painfully in her chest.

  Leona swam as fast as she could, pushing against the water with everything in her, her arms burning as she reached Quinn’s limp form. Quinn wasn’t moving, her head bobbing ier like a ragdoll. Leona’s stomach twisted into a knot of panio, no, no, Quinn—!

  She grabbed Quinn’s body, pullio the side of the wading pool. Sarah was right behind her, and when she saw Quinn’s pale, lifeless fad her bloodied nose, she froze, her eyes widening in horror.

  “Is she okay?” a lifeguard called from the poolside, rushing toward them. Leona’s hands were shaking as she shook her head, uo find the words.

  The lifeguard moved quickly, swimming out to them, faster than Leona could blink. He grabbed Quinn’s limp body, towing her from the water with practiced efficy. Kneeling beside her, he helped Leona and Sarah drag Quinn to the poolside. As soon as Quinn was on solid ground, the lifeguard’s hands went to her neck, cheg for a pulse before he immediately bega pressions.

  Leona’s breath caught ihroat as Quinn’s skin turned deathly pale, her faearly white as a sheet, blood trig from her nostrils. The sight made Leona’s heart rad her world tilt—a ing mix of panid helplessness crashing through her. It wasn’t just the blood; it was the stillness. The horrible stillhat had settled in Quinn’s body.

  Tears spilled down Leona’s cheeks as she watched the lifeguard work, pumping at Quinn’s ribcage, breathing into her mouth, w to force air into her lungs. The seds stretched like hours.

  Sarah’s face crumpled, and she choked back a sob. “I was wrong... I was wrong about them,” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the sound of the lifeguard’s urgent efforts. “I—oh God, Leona, I was s!”

  Leona’s vision blurred with tears, but just as she thought her heart might break, Quinn suddenly sputtered, her chest heaving as she coughed violently. Blood and water spilled from her mouth.

  “Quinn!” Leona yelled, colpsing beside her, her hands trembling as she reached for her sister. She couldn’t st. She couldn’t stop shaking. Quinn was alive. Quinn was okay... for now.