Meggie manages to get out, “Lacy? It’s one thirty in the morning. What’s?—”
Everything goes black again before I wake up back in my body, ass on the ground on the porch, just in time to see a mass of yellow smoke entering my sister.
I stand on quaking legs and see a flash of black in her eyes before they become Kit’s. He pulls me into a tight hug, and I let him. I sob into his shoulder as he rubs my back slowly, letting me cry, whispering that I’m okay. He’s here. The arms around me are familiar and comfortable, and I honestly don’t know if the comfort is coming from my sister’s body or Kit.
When he thinks I can move, he pulls me into Meggie’s house and leads me to the couch. He sits me down before bringing me a glass of water and forcing me to take a few sips. The water soothes my raw throat.
When I can, I manage to utter, “I didn’t like that.”
He frowns. “I’m sorry. That was really scary, wasn’t it? I didn’t think. I just thought it would be cool footage.” His fingers graze my neck. “Are you all right?”
I shrug, because I don’t know. I tap my pointer finger to his skull. “Is she awake?”
He shakes his head.
I lean forward and press my lips to his cheek. “Get out of her, please.”
“Are you sure? I can give you a longer break if you need?—”
I cut him off. “No. Get out of her.”
He nods. I see the yellow smoke for a flash as it barrels out of her chest and slams into me.
And here I am, back in the void.
Meggie blinks back to consciousness. She squints at me. “Lace? What are you…? What happened?”
Kit laughs his laugh, not mine, in my voice. “You all right?”
“I…sorry. I literally don’t remember letting you in.”
He cocks his head to the side. “Oh. Well, you let me in. You got me water.” He holds up the glass as evidence. “And then you sat next to me and got really confused. You feeling okay?”
“Yeah, sorry. Stress brain, I guess. Areyouokay? You look like you’ve been crying.”
He wipes at his wet eyes. “Yeah, yeah. I’m fine. Was investigating this place and got spooked. I just needed to get out of there and, well, here I am.”
Meggie nods, lips pursed. I know it’s because she wants to ask if I was breaking and entering again, but she is refraining because I’m upset. “Okay. I’m glad you’re here, then. You should spend the night. I’m wide awake if you want to watch a Pixar movie. Those always make you feel better.”
“Yes, please,” I say, and Kit echoes.
Meggie grabs the TV remote and settles into the couch.
“Which one?”
Kit gently echoes in my head, “Which one, Lace?” whilemaking a, “hmm,” with his mouth.
“Can we doMonster’s, Inc.? I love that one.”
“Ah, a fine choice. Not all monsters are bad.”
Kit repeats my choice aloud and relaxes into the couch beside my sister. Without thinking, I reach out to take my sister’s hand, lacing my fingers through hers. I can feel her palm in mine.
“Uh…?” Kit says in my head.
“Uh?” I repeat back at him.
“Nothing. Just. Okay. I didn’tletyou do that.”
