I pull out the maps he gave me. I could use them to heal the Sisters and play the hero. But that’s not really what I want anymore.
I look at the X marked on each of the Sisters and then fold the maps. Chilled wetness curls its way up the legs of my pants.
What I want now is to twist the knife and make the Sisters hurt even more.
Chapter Forty
February 15, 1943
I’d almost forgotten the weight of Mother’s ring around my neck. I find myself reaching to touch it, the smooth glass of it behind my clothes. I do not take it off even to shower. I tell Mrs. Cliffton that I found it buried at the bottom of my schoolbag, and for the moment it’s even restored the precarious balance between Miles and me. Other than no word from Father, everything feels almost right again.
The feeling lasts for barely a week.
After school and Stars practice I join everyone for dinner. The sun is just starting to set. When I take my seat, Mother’s ring slips out from behind my dress.
“Aila!” Dr. Cliffton says. He places his napkin in his lap. “You’ve found your necklace!”
My eyes flicker to Miles. He stares down at his plate.
“I found it in my schoolbag—” I start to say, but then Mrs. Cliffton’s face blanches. “Mrs. Cliffton,” I pause. “Are you all right?”
“Malcolm—” she says, her voice trembling. Her face is ghastly white. “I can’t hear you.”
“What?” Will’s hand freezes on the serving spoon. “What do you mean?”
“Matilda?” Malcolm says, blinking at her. He gestures to his ears. “I can’t hear your voice. But—?I can hear the others.”
Will looks between them. “You can’t hear each other?”
“I don’t understand.” Mrs. Cliffton’s breathing starts coming faster, her face flushing with color again as she bunches her napkin on the table. “What does this mean?”
“Can you hear me?” Will asks, and at the same time they both answer, “Yes.”
“And me?” I ask.
“And me?” Miles asks.
They both nod. Dr. Cliffton is still clutching his silverware in his hands.
I can hear everyone.
Then Mrs. Cliffton whispers, “Me?” and Dr. Cliffton pales and shakes his head.
“What about me?” he asks. His voice rings clear to me, but Mrs. Cliffton’s eyes fill with tears.
The phone shrills from the library, and Dr. Cliffton stumbles toward it, his foot dragging in his haste. We hurry after him. Miles steps on my heel.
“Hello?” The crease in Dr. Cliffton’s brow sharpens as he listens. “It’s happened to the Parkers,” he informs us. “They can hear everyone but each other.” As soon as he replaces the receiver, it rings again. He picks it up.
“And the Silvermans,” he confirms. He hurries for his coat and his cane, and then he stops. Strides toward Mrs. Cliffton and pulls her into an embrace. She lays her head on his chest and he kisses her forehead, then turns her so that she can see his face. His lips. “We’ll find the answer,” he says to her, and her eyes fill with tears.
“But we just had a Disappearance,” she says.
“It can’t be that,” Will insists. “We’re not due for another seven years.” His voice falters. “Right, Father?”
The phone rings again, shrilly, making us all jump. Mrs. Cliffton quickly takes it off the hook.
“Stay with your mother,” Dr. Cliffton says to Will, me, and Miles. Miles’s eyes are wide as he leans against the doorjamb.
