Slowly, I unclench my fists, prying each finger individually from my palm. Gradually, the buzzing in my head fades into a dull tinnitus.

“Your dad is on his way. Everything will be okay now.” She pulls me into a hug I’m not sure I’m ready for. I stiffen at first, then relax and wrap my arms around Mom too. I think we’re only standing because we’re holding each other up.

Taika, hurry! Natalie calls from above, where the liekkiöt still dart through the air. They disappear through the trees, and I pull away from my mom to follow.

“Natalie and the others. This way.” I force my feet through the snow.

The trees part for me, showing me a cleared site where a tent like the one Emmi uses every year on the camping trip has been pitched.

The liekkiöt flash and flicker above the tent before flitting inside.

I scrabble with the zip, ripping it open as fast as my frost-nipped fingers will let me.

Natalie and the others are laid out side by side, their faces all covered with a sheen of deathly gray, their eyes closed in dark hollows. None of them appear to be breathing. I kneel beside Natalie and take her hand, pressing my fingers to her papery skin in search of a pulse. I can’t find one.

Mom nudges me aside, checking each kid. She stops beside Natalie.

“Is she—?” I can’t say it. I don’t even want to think it.

Mom bows her head, shoulders sagging. I’ve never seen my mom so depleted before. She used up everything she had in the fight against Emmi.

“If you use my energy, can you save her?” I ask as I offer her my hand.

“Oh Taika.” Tears spill down Mom’s cheeks. “I’m so sorry. I was so wrong about you. About everything.”

Raised voices prevent me from asking what she means. Dad and Aleksi stick their heads into the tent

“Quick. We need to get them out of here as soon as possible if we want to save them,” Mom says.

“Come on, kulta.” Dad takes my arm and gently pulls me out of the way.

I don’t want to leave Natalie. I don’t want this to be the last time I ever get to see her. There’s so much I want to say to her.

But I have no more strength to fight against my dad as he guides me back to the others. Everyone sits huddled together under rescue blankets. Morgan wraps one of the blankets around my shoulders and I lean up against him. Dad heads back toward the tent. There are so many people in the clearing now. At least a dozen teachers and parents, only some of whom I recognize.

“Where’s Emmi?” Caitlin O’Connor asks as her husband fusses over Hannah, drawing healing sigils in the air above her.

“Gone,” Aoife says.