Chapter 21 · The Walking Circle

"Rafe!" I grabbed his arm the second we hit the street. "They're already moving."

Mrs. Pak from the corner store shuffled past us, eyes fixed on the red tower at the end of the road. The kid who tagged the dumpsters followed her. So did the man who slept under the fire escape with his dog.

Nobody spoke. Nobody even looked around. They just walked.

"I see them," Rafe said. His gaze swept over the crowd. "How many did Celia mark?"

"I don't know." I caught Mrs. Pak by the sleeve. "Hey. Look at me."

Her head turned, but her eyes slid right past mine.

"Mrs. Pak? It's Nia. From the shop. You yelled at me last week for leaving the back door unlocked. Remember?"

Nothing.

Her feet kept dragging toward the tower.

"Nia, let her go."

"She's still in there."

"Maybe. But you won't pull her out by standing in front of her."

I released her sleeve. She kept walking, one slow step after another.

More people joined the stream. The baker. A transit driver still wearing his uniform. Two teenagers holding hands, their faces empty.

"God," I whispered. "How many are there?"

"Too many.