“Why do you sound like that?”
I hadn’t even noticed the change in my voice, but between this question and Noah’s confusion it suddenlyoccurs to me just how ragged my throat is. All the screaming this evening has taken its toll on my speech, not to mention the new dimensions of my left cheek and my plugged-up sinuses.
“It’s been a long night,” I reply, reaching into my pocket and pulling out two of the nose clips.
I hand one of the clips to Noah, then crouch down before Marlo. I’m still turning my head awkwardly to the side, unable to face my daughter directly, but I catch a glimpse of her eyes widening. She offers no words, but her terrified expression says it all as she takes me in.
“Put this on your nose and don’t take it off for anything,” I instruct, loud enough for them both to hear me. “Do you understand?”
Marlo nods, still gobsmacked by my appearance but somehow willing to roll with it. She places the nose clip snugly over her bridge.
“I’m … I’m so glad you had these,” I tell her, my voice wavering as I struggle to keep my emotions in check. “I’m sorry I told you to stop using them.”
Noah steps up behind me. “Poppy, I think we should call the police. You’re really hurt.”
I stand, turning to face him. “I’m fine—I mean, I’m not fine, but—you just need to listen to me, okay?” I stammer. “Eddie Michaels … he’s a zombie.”
“The singer?” Noah clarifies.
I nod.
“A zombie,” he repeats back to me, a devastating flatness to his tone.
“Well, he’s actually a giant bug,” I sputter. “Like, a parasite or something, and he’s been around for hundreds of years—almost two thousand, actually—just working his way through my family tree. His species has these pheromones, right? Like, mind control.”
“Right,” Noah replies.
Marlo chimes in from behind me. “Mom, I’m scared.”
“Don’t be scared, sweetie,” I shout, a little too loud.
Noah is backing away, one hand raised like he’s trying to calm a bucking horse. I notice now that the clip isn’t on his nose.
“Hey!” I snap, growling with enough ferocity to stop Noah in his tracks. “If you don’t put on that clip then he’ll control you, and if he controls you, then you’re a danger to Marlo. So how about you put that on, or I’llcut your nose off of your fucking face.”
Finally, Noah places the clip over his nose.
“Adorbs,” I say, nodding. “Now let’s get—”
My words cut short as I notice something floating through the air, a single rosy speck lilting through my office, barely visible in the dim light. My gaze follows this fuchsia particle on its haphazard journey, watching as it bobs and weaves.
“What is it?” Noah asks, noting the solemn change in my hacked-up expression.
As the particle drifts past me my eyes catch sight of a few more, the flock expanding.
“He’s here,” I murmur. “Go. Now.”
I push past Noah, returning to the kitchen and denarea to find that the whole place is swamped with a horrible pink haze, shimmering flecks of bubblegum dust overwhelming everything.
I keep moving, focused on the door ahead, but halfway through the room I suddenly realize Noah and Marlo aren’t following me. When I turn back around, I find them right where I left them, awestruck by the rosy mist.
“What is it?” Marlo asks.
“Sweetie, donottake off your clip!” I snap.
My words erupt with such ferocity that Marlo steps back.
“I’m so sorry,” I quickly add, struggling to course correct. “It’s just … this is really important. I don’t wanna frighten you, but I need you to stay focused, okay? Someone is coming to hurt us. This cloud is part of it, so whatever you do, keep the clips on.”
