“Good!” And then she did something she never had done in Everlost. She kissed him. She kissed him so long and so hard that he had to back away to catch his breath. She knew it was partially the weakness of her flesh that made her do it, but she also knew it was necessary to seal the bond between them. He had come back for her. He didn’t have to, he didn’t need to—he could have chosen to rule her children alone, yet he didn’t. Mary knew what he wanted; he wanted to take Nick’s place in her heart. The least she could do was make him think that he had achieved that goal—and who knows, maybe someday he would. But for now, she would do him the service of telling him what he wanted to hear.

“You are very special to me, Milos,” she told him. “You are every bit my equal, and I’m glad we found each other.”

Even in the stark slanted light, she could see that he was blushing. “So then … shall I spend some time with you in this body?”

“No,” Mary told him. “I’ve spent enough time in this body.” In fact, she realized, it had been more than enough. She did not want to endure another day in the dread place called the living world. This week had been horrible—but in a way, it had been a gift to her. It made her realize just how desperately all the people who suffered from life needed to be freed from it. She would free every single one of them if she could—and maybe someday soon she’d be in a position to do it. Not just a hundred, or a thousand, but all of them! She would not rest until no one on earth was left alive.

Of course, just as with bringing down the bridge, it would take planning and precision to bring an end to the world of flesh once and for all, and allow Everlost to take its place … but if it was ever to happen, then it had to start today. Not with a thousand souls, but with one.

“I want you to do something for me, Milos,” Mary said. “There’s a switchblade in your pocket… .”

Milos reached into Beto’s pocket, pulled it out, and opened it. The blade caught the glare of the streetlight at the end of the alley, casting a long, sharp shadow against the brick wall.

“I don’t belong in the living world, Milos. I belong in Everlost. I belong with you.”

When Milos realized what she was suggesting, his hand began to shake, and she gently touched it to steady it.

“Are you … sure about this?”

“More sure than anything.”

“But you will go into the light.”

“No—because you’ll catch me, and stop me.”