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As they neared the edge of the wood, when the way was nearly clear, Evie felt newly afraid. Mabel and her retinue of the dead stood between Theta and Evie and the way out. What if Mabel changed her mind? What if she couldn’t let go of her fury at Evie after all? What if this hope that Evie was clinging to, that there was still a spark of humanity left in Mabel’s heart, was but one more illusion?
They’d reached the end of the woods. Mabel stepped to the side to let them pass. The dead followed suit, and as much as Evie wanted to run back to Sam, she was also sad to say good-bye.
“Evie?” Mabel said, almost sweetly.
“Yes, Pie Face?”
“I’m so tired. I want to rest now. Can you help me rest?”
Mabel and James had been Evie’s ghosts in more ways than one. It was time to let Mabel Rose, all of her, rest in peace.
“Do you remember how we used to lie in your bed and talk half the night until we finally fell asleep, Mabesie?”
Mabel nodded slowly. Evie could see that she was trying to remember.
“It’s just like that.”
“Okay.”
“We’ll just… talk.”
“Okay.” Mabel nodded. “Okay.”
“Do you remember the time we sneaked out through the window to go see Theta in the Follies and you got so drunk, Mabel? Pos-i-tutely blotto. I had to help peel that terrible boy off of you, and you threw up all over Washington Square Park! You
r mother had absolute kittens. She forbade you from seeing me. But we got around her. We always did.”
A tiny smile played at Mabel’s lips. “Yes. Yes, I remember.…”
“We remember,” the dead echoed.
“How about when you almost bobbed your hair? Theta and I made a bet about it. You sat in the barber’s chair, and oh, I could feel your terror when he brought out those scissors and you said, ‘Nope!’ and ran out to us on the sidewalk and we laughed and laughed about it afterward. I lost that bet, by the way. I really thought you’d go through with it.”
Mabel was growing fainter by degrees. “So many stories.”
“Yes.” Evie swallowed hard. “And do you remember when I went to Naughty John’s house? Who went with me? You. You were so brave. I never would’ve been able to do that without you, Mabesie.”
“That’s all we are in the end. Stories.” Fainter and fainter. “Will you remember me fondly?”
“Always.”
“Evie. I’m tired.” Fainter still.
“Then rest, Mabel Rose.”
And then, like a firefly realizing morning has come, Mabel Rose winked out of existence and became a memory.
ONE CHANGE
“Sam!” Evie shouted, running toward him with Theta just behind.
“Did you find her?”
“Yes, and Mabel, too,” Evie said.
“Miss Addie said if we can take out the King of Crows, we can get rid of his dead. Seems Sarah Beth was right about that,” Theta said.
On the horizon, the breach gave another birthing moan.
