I really didn’t want Mom knowing how Sini and the others treat me. It’ll only make things worse if Mom gets involved, and now she definitely will. I scrub a hand over my face, tugging at the dangling points of my bangs as if I could hide behind them.

Maybe Emmi was right and what I saw was some lingering effect of being punched in Thaumaturgy. Maybe I imagined hearing the voice, but I didn’t imagine finding Natalie’s phone or those threads snagged on the branches. There’s more to this, I know it.

“Not sure why I thought she’d help.” I’m surprised by the bitterness in my words.

“Because she’s your mom and it’s supposed to be her job,” Morgan says. “But adults tend to suck and never listen when they should.”

I’m not entirely sure we’re talking about my mom and Natalie anymore, but I’m too upset to get into whatever he’s got going on right now.

With frustration roiling in my belly, I stomp away from the offices and slam into Sini. She clutches a bunch of Sigils and Systems worksheets in her hands and must’ve been making copies for Miss Kaneda next door, which means she probably heard everything.

“Did you—”

“Oh yeah, I heard.” Sini folds her arms, awkwardly because of all the papers.

“Unless it was you who hurt me, you’ve got nothing to worry about.”

“Well, it wasn’t.” Sini’s gaze flicks to Morgan. She straightens and tries to brush a lank strand of yellow hair behind her ear. She only succeeds in giving her cheek a papercut.

“That’s malfeasance. Not how I roll.” She clears her throat. “And that’s—I mean—I heard what you said about the liekkiö, and Natalie.” The papers spill from her trembling hands, the worksheets spreading out like a tsunami across the scuffed linoleum.

Morgan immediately crouches down to pick them up.

Sini doesn’t move. She holds my gaze and smooths her hands down the frothy skirts she’s wearing over stripy tights. When she speaks, her voice is a gossamer-thin whisper.

“We haven’t seen her since Thaumaturgy. I don’t know why it took me so long to realize it. I mean, what I said to you after Journalism Club. I’m sorry—I just…” She hooks a finger under the blue elastic bracelet at her wrist, letting it snap against her skin three times before she clears her throat. “It’s like I didn’t notice she wasn’t around, or something. I don’t know, it’s been weird. But you’re right. I think

Nat’s missing.”

“She’s probably in the infirmary, just like Emmi said.” I want it to be true. I rub at my wrists, wishing I could reassure Sini so she’d stop hurting herself, but it’s not my place.