Chapter 7 · Silence the Refuser

The emergency department vanished behind the mirror before Maeve could reach Jonah.

One second, she was staring at the blood-slick reflection of her own hand, a knife buried beneath Jonah’s ribs. The next, the glass folded inward with a sound like a breath being swallowed, and the room beyond it became black velvet, red curtains, and rows of empty seats.

Maeve stumbled onto the stage.

Her shoes struck polished wood. The impact jarred her teeth. Behind her, the mirror snapped shut, leaving only a tall silver frame hanging in the air. Inside it, the emergency room continued without her. Jonah lay beneath fluorescent lights. Machines screamed. Her reflected self leaned over him, one hand gripping a surgical knife.

No. Not reflected. Predicted.

Maeve’s stomach clenched.

“Jonah!” she shouted.

The mirror gave no answer. Its image trembled, then blurred under a wash of darkness.

Eli came through after her, catching himself on one knee. His coat was torn open at the side, and blood had soaked through the makeshift bandage Orla had pressed against his wound. He looked paler than he had in the mirror hall, but his eyes were different now—