Chapter 13 · Bring Him Back Wrong

The handle turned under its own power.

Elias moved first. He slammed both hands against the door, hard enough to rattle the glass.

“Don’t,” he said.

Not shouted. Worse. His voice came out low and wrecked, like he was talking to someone holding a gun against his ribs.

Behind the glass, Micah looked thirteen again.

My little brother had a split in his lip. His hoodie was too big on him. His hair stuck up on one side the way it used to after he fell asleep on the couch with the TV on. He pressed both hands to the glass.

“Nora.”

My knees almost gave out.

I took one step toward him.

Elias caught my arm.

I spun and drove my elbow into his bad shoulder.

He hissed and let go, blood darkening the side of his shirt again. “Nora, listen to me.”

“No.” I shoved him back. “You don’t get to tell me to listen. Not after what I saw.”

Vera stood three feet away with her silver knife down at her side. For once, she had nothing smug to say.