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The ghost opened her eyes, and they were as black as eternity. The blank unknown of those eyes startled Evie into taking another step backward. She was afraid again. Out here in this field alone, surrounded by stars and the dead. What had she been thinking? What had she promised?
The ghost locked her bottomless gaze on Evie. “I have heard from your friend. From Mabel.” There was a moment’s hesitation, as if the ghost were weighing whether to speak further.
“What did she say?”
The ghost did not answer. Evie grew impatient.
“Please. Please tell me!”
“You should not disturb her rest.”
Evie blinked back tears. For as long as Evie could remember, Mabel had been there, her North Star. They’d traded letters furiously, Evie less frequently as she got interested in boys and petting parties. She regretted that now, regretted not paying more attention. How she wished she could race down the stairs to Mabel’s apartment and tell her everything. She just wanted the chance to apologize for all the wrongs.
“Could you give her a message from me?”
“If she wished to speak with you, she would. She is at rest.”
Evie was angry at this ghost. “Mabel would never say that. I was her best friend.”
“It is not the dead who are so restless, but the living. You must let her go. Your promise now.”
“Well, I can’t! I won’t.” Tears raced down Evie’s cheeks, hot against the cool of her skin. She brushed them away angrily. Why wasn’t Mabel speaking to her? Was she still mad at Evie for telling her that Arthur was a bad influence? “Mabel? Mabesie! It’s me, Evie!” Evie cried. She was met with silence. “Mabel! Talk to me. Talk to me!”
“Your promise now,” the ghost said, getting closer.
“I need to know—”
“Your promise now!”
“Why won’t you talk to me!” Evie screamed. Furious, she pushed the ghost. Her hand went inside the dead girl’s chest as if passing into a wall of jelly and stuck fast. The ghost let out a tiny sigh. Evie could feel the raw hunger that gnawed inside the girl, a constant, sharp pain that was nearly alive in its driving need. Evie would do anything to make it stop.
“Let go…” Evie rasped. “Let… go.…”
The ghost had her tight. Evie could feel herself joined to so many dead.
There it was. A brief glimpse. Mabel. Mabel. The name swam inside Evie’s head. Mabel, it’s me. It’s Evie. I’m here. Talk to me. Talk to me!
She thought she could feel it, a slight stirring. Mabel’s lips parted in a gasp, as if she might speak.
The ghost had its mouth open. Its teeth had come in, razor sharp. Evie screamed as she saw those teeth coming for her neck. With her free hand, Evie grabbed hold of the stylish brooch, and its memories, undimmed by the grave, rushed into her.
She could see this girl when she was alive, and oh, how alive she had been! There she was laughing and smiling with her friends. Marching with the suffragettes, a banner, VOTES FOR WOMEN, shining across her chest. She was proud, this one. Defiant. The brooch had been given to her by her sister. No. A friend. Her best friend. One she’d loved as dearly as Evie had Mabel. They were not so different, Evie and this ghost. It was the pills. The girl had swallowed them all. There it was, under all that life, the dreadful loneliness. I am drowning in emptiness. No one sees. I will go out without a sound. But now the girl was in her head. They were connected. You understand loneliness, don’t you? I know you. I see you. You court death all the time. Sometimes, you wish you’d gone instead of him. Instead of her.
Yes, Evie thought. Yes, I do.
Let go. So easy to do.
“Yes,” Evie whispered.
Give me what you have and I will bring you over. Over to Mabel. And James.
“Evie! Evie!”
Theta was running toward her, with Sam close behind. It startled Evie from her dreamy state. She let go of the brooch, severing the connection, and pulled her hand from the ghost’s chest, wiping it furiously against her dress.
Theta pulled Evie back to safety. The ghost pointed a bony finger at Evie. “You’ll be sorry. You’ll be sorry.”
“You’re the one who’ll be sorry,” Sam barked. He joined hands with Theta and Evie.
