Chapter 19 · Save One. Lose One.

The footage ends and I'm still staring at the frozen frame. My sister's hand on the door. Her face calm. Like she knew exactly where she was going.

Nina's been quiet for three minutes. That's not like her. She usually fills silence with theories or snacks or both.

"She walked in," I say. My voice sounds flat. "She wasn't dragged. She wasn't running."

"Mara—"

"She chose it." I stand up so fast the chair scrapes. "She walked into that hotel like it was a grocery store."

Nina reaches for my wrist but I pull back. I need to move. I need to not be in this break room with its burnt coffee smell and flickering light that's making my head pound.

My phone buzzes. Once. Twice. Three times in a row.

I don't want to look but I do anyway.

Elias: Where are you

Elias: Mara answer me

Elias: You need to come back now

I shove the phone in my pocket. Nina's watching me with that careful paramedic face she uses on people about to do something stupid.

"Don't," I say.

"Don't what."

"Don't try to calm me down. Don't tell me there's an explanation." I'm pacing now.