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“Hey,“ I say, side-eyeing her. “This is more art than science, and we intend to help you. You have three of the most expert people in the world at this and we're all going to do whatever we can for you.“
She shakes her head, tucking a strand of wavy blonde hair behind her ear. I want to touch her. I want to trace the outline of her neck under my thumb, feel the warmth of her skin on mine.
I take a deep, shaky breath. “But if this happened to my mom, I mean, surely you had precursors. She could've called them.“
I nod. This is the part I want to talk the least about. I don't think she'll be happy to hear this. “There's every chance that she did,“ I tell her. “And there's also every chance that they, you know, didn't help.“
“What?“
“There's one thing we haven't told you,“ I say. A van pulls out in front of me without looking, and I'm too absorbed in the conversation to notice it until it's on the road. I slam hard on the breaks, the car squealing as we practically come to a full stop. I extend my arm so that I can protect Trine from the sudden momentum, but the seatbelt does its job.
I'm pretty sure we're both unscathed, if a little winded.
“You okay?“ I ask.
“Jesus, what a fucking idiot,“ she says, straightening up. “Wait, can I say that?“
I laugh. “You can say whatever you want. Are you okay, though, really?“
“Yes. I'm fine. That was freaky, though. And so dramatic.“
“They'll give a license to any idiot,“ I reply. “Clearly.“
She raises her eyebrows. “Especially in Florida,“ she says. “So what was it that you didn't want to tell me?“
“Well, so we're not really sure how it works, but we're like...I don't know. Ninety-five percent convinced that possession is infectious.“
“Right,“ she says. “Rei said that. Like an infection that spreads and once it's in your blood, it needs to be treated.“
I shake my head. “No, you don't get it,“ I say. “Like a transmittable infection. Like a cold or an STD or something like that.“
“Sorry, what?“
“Well, we're not sure how it works, exactly. We think that it makes the people around the person possessed more vulnerable to being infected themselves, and if the demonic entities are interested in them, then...well, then they seize their chance, unless the person they're interested in is protected.“
“Right,“ she says, a slight tremor in her voice. I really, really just want her to feel better. Ever since we drove up from Orlando, she's sounded like she's on the verge of tears so many times. And when we met up with her again, she seemed so happy. Then again, she had absolutely no fucking idea what she was dealing with. “So like...I couldn't give it to you, right? Because you're a priest?“
I shrug. “I don't know,“ I say. I really don't know, so that makes me feel a little better. “I guess you could, if we spend a lot of time around each other.“
“Is that why my mom left?“
“I don't know, Trine,“ I say.
She buries her face in her hands, her voice muffled when she speaks again. “Oh my God,“ she says. “Jesus Christ.“
I wonder if that counts as praying.
“Talk to me,“ I say. “Tell me what you're thinking.“
“I'm going to have to do the same thing,“ she says. “I'm going to have to leave everyone behind.“
“No, Trine, you have us, remember? We're here to help.“
“Right. While I fucking destroy the three of you.“
“I wouldn't say that.“
“Of course you wouldn't fucking say that. You're a priest. You're professionally inclined to be kind,“ she says. It sounds like she's holding back the urge to scream.
