Justin nodded eagerly. "You might not remember me, but you saved me a few months ago! In the alleyway, just outside the boundary."
"Oh!" She let out a breath, eyes lighting up with the memory. "Yeah, I remember you! You were the one running away like a coward."
Justin scowled. Dennis snorted.
"Hey! I wasn't running away," Justin huffed, crossing his arms.
Ava raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Oh, really? Because I distinctly remember you bolting."
Justin grumbled under his breath before muttering, "Everyone runs from Raventhorn."
Ava's teasing smile faltered just a bit.
"Yeah," she said quietly. "I guess."
Dennis watched the exchange, his mind working quickly.
Something wasn't adding up.
He cleared his throat. "What happened after Justin left?"
Ava hesitated. Her fingers tightened around the cup Missy had given her.
"Well…" she started slowly, choosing her words carefully. "He… killed one of the boys who was bullying Justin."
Dennis's brows lifted slightly.
