The dog suddenly charged Del, leaping high. Del vanished before the jaws could close on his throat. The dog’s trajectory carried it toward the open door of the house, but the door slammed shut before the dog could reach it. The dog banged into the wooden slats and fell to the porch, off-balance. It was on its feet almost immediately, turning this way and that, searching for Del.

As soon as it realized it was alone on the porch, it returned its attention to the door. Standing on its hind legs, the dog tried to work the doorknob, its claws sliding from the smooth metal.

When it turned back to them, Lizzie and Mattie both took a step back.

Can one of you open this?

The voice rang in Lizzie’s head—a weird and awful intrusion. It took her a long moment to realize that it had come from the dog.

Mattie was quicker on the uptake. Not bothering to reply, she turned and bolted back into the fields behind them. Lizzie tracked her as she fled through the tall weeds, then her gaze went up to the second-floor windows. In the one where she thought she’d seen Geordie earlier, Del was framed, looking down at them. It was hard to tell—what with the distance and the dirty windowpane—but he didn’t seem scared anymore. He just looked mad.

Girl, the voice said in Lizzie’s head, bringing her attention back to the dog. I asked if you can open this door for me.

You . . . you can talk? Lizzie thought, trying to focus the question and send it to the animal. In my head?

She thought that if the dog could speak in her head, maybe it could read minds, too.

In a fashion. Why do you look so surprised? You should know. Without a mouth, how else do you speak?

Del stole my mouth.

Ah.

Why couldn’t he hurt you? Lizzie asked.

He doesn’t have power over me.

But why not?

No one will ever have that kind of power over me again, the dog replied.

There was something dark and dangerous in its voice that told Lizzie this wasn’t an area she should be trying to explore any further, and at any other time, she might have respected the dog’s privacy. But if it knew a way to get around Del’s control, she needed to know it.

Yeah, but how does it work? she asked. I thought he was like . . . I don’t know, God. At least until Jilly stops believing in him.

Jilly is here?

You know her?

I’ve come to find her, the dog said.

It figured, Lizzie thought. There weren’t all those magical stories about Jilly Coppercom for nothing.

Have you seen her? the dog went on. Do you know where she is?

Lizzie pointed to the house behind the dog.

She’s in there.

The dog didn’t turn around.