Bisabuela gestured for her to take the bowl, for her to drink the reddish water. The copper penny smell, this was where it had come from. Calliope closed her eyes and drank. The liquid was cold, tasted like river. Bisabuela cupped Calliope’s face in her hands. Eres muy fuerte, mija, mi corazón. You’re much stronger than you believe. And you’re not alone.

“You mean him? Chance? How does he know you?”

Es una guía—he’ll guide you. Confía en él.

Calliope glanced back to see if he’d heard, if he’d understood Calliope’s vision or delusion or whatever it was. His hands were folded in front of him, as if in prayer. His face, solemn. He nodded at Calliope, and she nodded back. Then she turned to Bisabuela.

But she was gone.

The bowl remained in Calliope’s hands, and she handed it to Chance. “Will you hold this? Prove to me it’s a concrete thing, not my imagination.”

Chance took the bowl, knocked it lightly with his knuckles, pressed his fingers into the opening, wiped the bottom. Lifted his fingers back up to show Calliope they were covered in clay-colored silt. “As real as you and me.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of.” She took the bowl, trying to catch her breath, trying not to hyperventilate. How could any of this be happening? “She said I’d find a path. I’ve been taking too long, following wrong turns. I need to get to my tía’s right away.”

“Did she say to find your tía?”

Calliope stared into this face, hesitant. What was he getting at? “It’s what she meant.”

He raised his eyebrows then sighed deeply. “Fine. Where is your tía?”

“Silver City.”

He cleared his throat, seemed to debate the location in his mind. After a moment, he said, “Bueno. That’s where we’ll go.”

She looked at him closely. Why would he detour with her rather than returning to his own family in Zuni as quickly as possible?

He must’ve seen the skeptical look on her face because he said, “I’m your guide, right? Your bisabuela said so. And we know better than to disobey Bisabuela.” He cracked a grin, and Calliope noticed he had a dimple in his left cheek. A little button on his face.

She lifted her hand to his chest, looked him in the eyes. “Thank you.”

His smile unraveled a bit, got crooked, and his jaw tensed. Just a moment. Then he was smiling wide again. “De nada.”

* * * *

“Oh my God, I thought you guys had died in there.” Amy rushed over and hugged Calliope. “That weird light’s gone. Did you turn it off?”