The First to Die at the End (Death-Cast #0)(4)

I look at the time—10:31—and want to FaceTime Scarlett. New York is three hours ahead of Arizona, so I call now, hoping to catch her before she leaves to photograph the big Death-Cast party happening in Phoenix. That job is going to pay one month’s rent and leave enough change for train fare and modest lunches. I sit on the counter while I wait for Scarlett to answer, spotting Frankie through the kitchen window. Of course it’s his apartment that I can view. Frankie grabs a beer out of his fridge, and hopefully he’s a sleepy drunk because he’s already pretty insufferable.

The call goes through, and Scarlett’s face cheers me up.

“Val!” Scarlett props her phone on the bathroom sink as she does her makeup. “Are you in our new home?”

“I am indeed.”

“Let me see, let me see!”

I flip the camera around to reveal our space. It doesn’t take long.

“Is it just me or—”

“It’s not just you. It’s smaller than advertised.”

“Did our rent shrink too?”

“The landlord literally said that we’ll make it work since we shared a womb.”

“If I had time to stop putting on my mascara to roll my eyes, I would. I need to jet in a minute. Please tell me you’re going to Times Square.”

Between Scarlett’s gig and this huge modeling campaign I booked, our dreams have gotten in the way of celebrating Death-Cast Eve together. But that hasn’t stopped Scarlett from pushing me to attend the Death-Cast party in Times Square.

“I don’t know, Scar. The jet lag—”

Scarlett makes a buzzer sound. “Wrong answer. You lost three hours, but you’re not tired. Try again.”

“I should still rest for tomorrow’s shoot.”

“You’re going to be too wired to actually fall asleep, Val. So instead of tossing and turning on that cheap air mattress, go experience what’s either going to be a historic event or the biggest prank that’s ever been played on this country.”

“I’d love to see Mom and Dad’s faces if Death-Cast is proven to be real.”

“Me too, but I’m not hanging around to photograph them.”

“You’re leaving straight from the party?”

“Absolutely. Especially after how they treated you earlier.”

I’m still a little in shock. It’s like the sting that comes from scraping my elbows and knees when I’ve fallen during my runs. “I appreciate the solidarity.”

“I’d be a horrible twin—and human—to not be on your side. But let’s not give them the power of thinking about them tonight or ever again. In the very near future, Mom and Dad won’t be able to ignore you as your face pops up all over the country, including their magazines.”

“I bet they’ll unsubscribe.”

“Which means you’ve won. Now get out to Times Square before you take that over too.”

I take a deep breath, knowing she’s right. “I wish you were here with me.”

“Same, but the money I make tonight will buy us front-row seats to our first Broadway show.”

“Don’t you mean one month’s rent?”

“We need to live a little.”

“That sounds like living a lot.”

“You say that like it’s a bad thing, Val.”

“Good point.”

I moved because life has been suffocating with my parents ever since I came out. They made me feel like a stranger in my own home. I thought it would be different when I was rolling my suitcases through the living room. But they didn’t say anything, not even when Scarlett said it was their last chance before we were leaving for the airport. Mom and Dad stayed quiet, as if they had only one child. I stared at the cross on our front door, praying it fell off as I slammed the door shut and left that life behind.

Freedom should be freeing, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be heartbreaking.

I’m going to find my own way now.

“Keep me posted on your party,” I tell Scarlett.

Scarlett grabs her jacket and turns out her light. “Speaking of, I have to leave five minutes ago. I love you.”

“I love you same,” I say, our favorite saying born out of our twinness. “Drive safe.”

“Always do!”

She does always drive safely. The same can’t be said for everyone else.

Back in May, Scarlett was almost killed because of a reckless driver. I was forced to imagine this nightmarish world without her shine, something I haven’t experienced since being born two minutes ahead of her. I’m never going to exist without her again. Even tonight feels weird, since she’s not in New York, but I’m okay knowing she’s alive and well in Phoenix. I’d rather be planets apart as long as she’s still breathing on the other side of the galaxy.

Surgery saved my sister’s life, though our parents claim it was all God. At the time I thanked the doctors and God, but these days I’m struggling with mysterious forces. That includes Death-Cast, an organization that expects us to trust them with no real proof. Part of me wants to be a believer and the other half has experienced firsthand how faith can backfire. Unlike my parents, I’m open to having my mind changed so that I never have to be scared of losing my sister out of the blue. Maybe we’ll all know more in a few days.