The Twin Who Got The Ring And The One Who Got The Altar Chapter 04
The Keeper’s Rite started before dawn.
The hollow wasn’t fully lit yet, but lights were on in every house. String lights hung along both sides of
the main road. Drums rolled from Granger Hall, one beat after another, slow as a heartbeat.
I put on the white ceremonial gown.
The Keeper’s dress wasn’t a wedding gown–no embroidery, no gold thread. Just plain white, so clean
it made your chest tight.
I faced the vintage mirror and combed my hair, strand by strand, then tied it back with a white ribbon.
The woman in the glass looked like a stranger.
I stared at her for a while and thought–this face was born to be let down.
Mom knocked from outside. “Willa, are you really
going?”
“Yes.”
“But you’re a college graduate-
“Mom.” I cut her off. “Stop using that. I don’t have to go back.”
Silence on the other side. Footsteps faded.
I knotted the ribbon and stood.
Sera was in the hallway when I came out. She wore regular clothes, her face pale, eyes still puffy–she hadn’t slept.
We looked at each other for one second.
“Willa.” Her voice was quiet. “If you really don’t want to do this, you don’t have to. You could make a scene, tell everyone off, and leave. No one could stop you.”
I smiled. “I know.”
“Then why-”
“Because I thought it through.” I said. “The
hollow still needs a Keeper. And Elder Granger already said you can’t hold it.”
Her eyes filled. “Willa…”
“Don’t feel guilty.” I said. “You go. Live your life.
Don’t worry about this place.”
I walked past her toward the door.
Morning light was just spilling in–pale gold, soft, touching the stone path.
The drums were getting closer.
I moved down the main road, people stepped aside on both sides. Someone whispered, “She’s coming, she’s coming.”
A kid stood on tiptoes to see.
I walked steady. Not fast. Not slow.
About halfway there, I heard footsteps running up behind me.
It was Tate. He was out of breath, sweating.
“Don’t do this!”