Every bone in her body was begging her to stay in the light, but she turned and followed Cal as he headed toward the unlit passage.

CHAPTER 16

PUSHING THROUGH THE house’s reflective surfaces, Connie brought Jason to the nursery room, where the boy and the girl were still butting heads.

Apparently, the girl, whose name was Nina, did not appreciate the boy’s tone when he’d suggested they search for a way out. His name was Rufus. Nina wanted him to leave her alone. But Rufus claimed to have seen some spooky things while wandering the hallways and didn’t think it was a good idea for either of them to head off by themselves. Nina didn’t believe him.

“I don’t know how many more times I can apologize to you,” Rufus said to Nina. He was several inches taller than her, but he stooped to make himself seem smaller. “We need to get out of here. Now.”

Jason glanced silently at Connie. How would he get their attention without frightening them like he had Louise?

Nina sighed and cupped her hands, calling out through them, “Mama! Auntie Kerani! Where are you?”

Jason waved his hands, trying to catch her attention through the reflection in the window, but she didn’t notice.

Rufus plopped down into a wide, cushiony chair and threw his head into his hands. “You’re just like all the girls at my school. Too pretty. You don’t want to be seen with the ‘big’ kid.”

“That’s not true,” Nina spat. “I mean, yes, I’m pretty, but not the other part.”

“Riiight.” He rolled his eyes. “Because you’re just so unique.”

Her skin reddened. “I’m like me. And me alone.” After a moment, she took in his defeated posture, and then seemed to deflate a bit herself. “And you’re wrong. I would never judge anyone for how they looked.” She sauntered over to a chair near Rufus and perched on its wide armrest. “Tell me again about what scared you so badly.”

“Why? So you can make fun of me?”

“I said I don’t do that.” She tugged at the hem of his black cowboy shirt. “Besides, I think your shirt is pretty cool. Though maybe not with shorts. There’s an amazing vintage shop right around the corner from my house. I would suggest we head there right now, but somehow, I don’t think we’re in Florida anymore.”

“Last I checked, I live in Kansas.”

“And the last I checked, I’m not crazy.”

“Either way, now isn’t the time to think about shopping.” He reached out and plucked at the shoulder of her dress. “Don’t you worry about creepy-crawlies in those old secondhand stores?” he asked, holding up what looked like a thick white thread. “Bedbugs and stuff like that.”