“Today’s the day.” Lili straddled Kevin, pinning his arms down. “Seven years tonight.”
“I’m sorry, okay?! I can’t bring her back!”
“You can.” With the blood from his wound, Lili drew the circle around them both, chanting quietly.
Kevin started to cry.

Mika giggles. The curtain drifts outward.
“Where are you?” I singsong, pointing. The man nods.
“Can’t find me!” Laughter.
The man grabs Mika, curtain and all.
“Hey!” I yell.
He drops a billfold, drags my little brother away.
Tonight I’ll eat.
Alone.

“Hit the sand, duck, crawl fast. Guns are mounted at three feet.”
I tie the message into my rotting pointe ribbons. “Ready.”
When I step onto Lily’s interlocked fingers, she lifts me high.

As I jeté over the wall, I hear screams.

“What brings you here?”

Marcy blinked. “I was on a flight to Boise with bad visibility. You?”

“Bus to Seattle,” Tara replied. “Mudslide.”

Both shifted in their chairs.

“Think they have Doritos here?”

Marcy eyed the landscape of flames outside.

“Couldn’t say.”

Mom stands. “Clear the glasses.”
I rise, knocking my spoon to the floor. “Sorry.”
I kneel, reach, find something under the shadowy drapes.
I draw it out.
It is not a spoon.
“Mom, what –“
Her hand has me before I finish.

“Stop that,” I roared. I heard another door slam.

“You’re acting like a child,” I yelled down the hallway. Plates rattled.

I finished my makeup and headed for the noises. “Get it togeth-“

The kitchen was empty.

“David?”

The room went dark.

Emily held the clear marble, closing her eyes. She ran it over her left eyelid until it hummed, indicating its waythread had accessed her soul.

Emily placed the now turquoise marble beside Liliane's pale red, revealing her alignment. Someone gasped.

"Let's play."