Reborn: Help My Sister Seize Back Her Destiny Chapter 2

Just as I'd expected, Abigail's first instinct was still not to believe me.

Anxious, I edged a little closer, but I didn't dare touch her.

"Nobody taught me. I also know you got into a college in Mayes City."

My sister's breath caught.

I kept going. "Dad tore up your acceptance letter. You snuck back and saved half of it, and you hid it under the third brick behind the pigpen."

This time, she went completely silent.

Outside, the footsteps were getting closer. Someone was pushing through the tall grass, cursing as he went. "That brat. All these people waiting on her today, and she has the nerve to pull this."

It was Uncle Stuart.

My sister's face went white. She grabbed my wrist, her voice barely more than a breath. "Aaron, how do you know about that letter?"

My throat tightened.

Because twelve years from now, I'd be the one to pull it out of the gap in the pigpen wall with my own hands.

But I couldn't tell her that. I just looked at her. "Abby, I also know you found out about the 11:40 bus to the county seat. Your teacher, Ms. Stein, is going to be waiting at the station to help you get away."

I paused awhile, then said firmly, "Abby, I'm going to help you too."

Her eyes instantly turned red.

Outside, Mom had already led a group of people to the side of the haystack. "Abigail!

"Stop this nonsense! The groom's cars are already at the edge of town!

"They've already paid the money. If you run off today, how are we supposed to show our faces?"

My sister bit her lip and instinctively started to burrow toward the other end of the haystack.

I grabbed her at once. "No, Abby. Uncle Larry's definitely already at the bridge. If you go out that way now, you'll run right into them."

She looked at me, her chest heaving. "Then where else can I go?"

I squeezed her ice-cold hand. A six-year-old's hand was so small that mine could only close around three of her fingers.

"Come with me. Don't run off on your own this time."

Abigail didn't come with me right away. She stayed crouched in the haystack, staring at me for several long seconds.

"Aaron, tell me something first. Did Mom and Dad teach you to say all this?"

I shook my head.

Her voice only grew tighter. "Do they want to find out which way I'm planning to run? Is that why they sent you to fool me?"

It felt like something had stabbed me in the chest. But I didn't blame her one bit.

In my last life, at the most dangerous moment she ever faced, I was the one who brought everyone running.

To her, a six-year-old little brother had never been any help. Especially a little brother Mom and Dad had spoiled since birth. To her, I was a nuisance, the kind of kid who'd cry and shout and bring everyone running.

Mom's voice rang out again. "Whoever finds Abigail first gets a whole bag of candy!"

A few kids laughed and immediately ran off into the fields.

I didn't have time to explain. "Abby, come with me to the pigpen."

She frowned and didn't budge.

I had to add, "The letter's there."

That finally got her to follow me out.

We slipped out from behind the haystack and edged along the dirt wall back toward the house.

The yard was in chaos. More than a dozen tables had already been set up for the wedding feast, the cooking tent was full of steam, and relatives who'd come to help were hurrying back and forth with basins.

Nobody would notice two people slipping around behind the pigpen.

I went straight to the third brick and pried it loose like I'd done it a hundred times. A plastic bag was stuffed inside.

When my sister saw it, she stopped in her tracks.

I handed her the bag. Just as I'd said, it held half of her college acceptance letter and a slip of paper folded up very small. On the slip were Ms. Stein's phone number and the number for the Mayes City Board of Education.

Her fingers trembled for a long time before she managed to unfold it.

Only half of her name was left on the letter. Dad had torn "Abigail Ritter" right down the middle.