Page 115 of The Last Session

“I need to go to the airport today.” I wasn’t going to mention Catherine, not yet. Not until the last minute, when Jonah and I would ferry her into the SUV. They weren’t going to physically restrain us. There was nothing they could do.

“Oh. Are you sure? The visions—”

“I know, but even with the visions, I think… I don’t know, maybe thisis a group belief system, a kind of mythology, that I’ve been tapping into.” I shrugged. “That kind of thing can happen, you know.”

Her face was blank; all warmth was gone. “And you just want to leave?”

“Yes.” It was a relief to say. “Jonah and I would like to head back today.”

“Oh. Okay.” She looked down, her face twisted by a frown. “Well, if that’s how you feel, then we have to respect that. We’ll just have to wait for Steven to get back. Then he or Grace can drive you to the airport.”

“Steven’s gone?”

“Yeah, he went to get supplies.” She continued staring at the ground.

“What about the second car? Can’t we take that? Maybe Grace—”

“Grace is preparing for tonight.” Moon’s voice rang out in the silence. She cleared her throat. “And anyways, that car is broken down. It doesn’t work.”

“Oh.” The reality of the situation descended, heavy as a weighted blanket. For now, at least, there was no getting away from the Center. “When is Steven getting back?”

“I don’t know exactly, but I’d guess around dinnertime?”

That was hours away.

“And when he gets back—” I started.

“Yes. He will turn around and drive you out.” Moon patted my hand, smiled again. The stormy look was gone. “Don’t worry, sweetie. We’re not going to kidnap you.”

46

Jonah didn’t respond when I knocked at the door of his yurt. So I took my dead phone to the lobby and plugged it in. It lit up. God, it was after two in the afternoon. Had I really slept that long?

Still no Wi-Fi.

I went to Catherine’s room; finally I was getting the layout of this place down a little more. But no matter how much I knocked and called to her, she didn’t answer.

When my phone was charged, I headed to the dining room. My stomach was still rumbling, but maybe I could settle it with some toast. My mind whirred. Where was Jonah? Why wasn’t Catherine letting me in? Was she furious? Sleeping?

This was the second time I’d failed her. The memory arose:She asked for you.The night before she’d left the hospital, I’d also dropped the ball after drinking.

As I crossed the veranda, I felt more than unsettled, like I wanted to crawl out of my skin.

The lack of Wi-Fi, the disappearance of the SUV, the other car not working… Were Moon and Sol trapping us here? I hadn’t thought they were dangerous, just unethical and overconfident. But maybe I’d been willfully ignorant. After all, Catherine had refused to leave unless she could sneak away. She knew a lot more about this place and its inhabitants than me.

The dining room was empty, and as I neared the kitchen I heard voices behind the door. I slowed and crept closer.

“I just don’t know if I can do it.” Grace’s voice was low. A hiccup: it sounded like she was crying.

“Oh, it’s okay.” Sol crooned the words. “Come here, baby.”

Nothing for a minute. Then Sol: “You’re so strong, Gracie. You’re stronger than you know.”

“But I’m afraid.”

“Don’t listen to your fear. It comes from the primitive self. What does your higher self believe?”

“That… I don’t know.” She paused. “Do you think I should do it?”

---