Page 58 of Pyre

The girl shook her head.

“It’s a city, with tall, glass buildings and—”

“Like a skyscraper?” Ellie interrupted, hands waving, eyes wide.

Ruby laughed. “Not quite that big.” The girl’s shoulders slumped. “But still pretty big. And we have mountains.”

Ellie grew silent, watching the sun as it fell below the fields. “I’ve never seen a mountain before.”

“I can take you to see one, if you want?”

“I would have to check with my mom and dad first.”

Ruby winced. At least the kid hadn’t seen what happened to her parents. “That’s a good idea. But first, we have to get down. Are you ready?”

Ellie glanced toward the ground. “Will it hurt?”

“Nope,” Ruby stood, offering her hand and pulling Ellie to her feet. She turned. “Hop on my back.”

The girl jumped and Ruby caught her legs. Small arms wrapped around her neck, choking her. After making her way to the edge of the roof, she hopped down, landing in front of the porch where Jonah and Kavya waited. Ellie released her grip but ducked behind Ruby, clutching her right leg.

“Ellie, these are my friends Jonah and Kavya. We were sent to check up on you.”

“Hi,” Ellie whispered, peeking out from Ruby’s thighs.

“Hi, Ellie.” Jonah crouched, bringing himself to her eye level. “I’m sorry about earlier kiddo. I didn’t mean to scare you. I was trying to make sure there were no bad guys in the house.”

“Ruby called you a wimp.” Ellie giggled as Jonah’s jaw dropped dramatically.

“Did she now?”

Ellie nodded enthusiastically.

Ruby gasped. “Traitor. I’ll get you for that.”

The little girl laughed harder, skirting around Ruby’s outstretched hands. Her movements were fast, unnatural, matching Ruby’s own reflexes.

Warmth flooded Ruby’s chest, followed by a familiar tug. The hair stood on her arms.

Ruby reached out, gesturing to Ellie’s sunglasses. “I love your shades. Can I see them?”

Immediately, Ellie’s hand shot up, clutching the sunglasses to her face. Her small body pressed back against the wall, her fingers wrapped protectively around the frames. “I have to keep them on, or the bad people will come get me,” she whispered.

A chill ran through Ruby’s spine. She steadied herself, maintaining a gentle smile. “Who told you that?”

“Ed.”

Bile rose in her throat. She forced herself to swallow it down. “Don’t worry, Ellie,” she said softly, fighting the lump in her throat. “I’m friends with Ed too.”

With a slight tremor in her hand, Ruby pulled off her own sunglasses, revealing the faint green markings around her eyes. Ellie gasped, her face lighting up with amazement and recognition. She slowly removed her own sunglasses, revealing delicate purple marks around her eyes that mirrored Ruby’s.

Jonah’s face paled and he took a quick step back.

“Thank you for showing me, Ellie.” Ruby gestured toward the house. “I have to talk to Jonah for a minute or two about boring, grownup stuff. Why don’t you head back inside and watch cartoons with Kavya?”

Kavya gave her a weary look but the girl nodded, skipped forward, grabbed Kavya’s hand, and tugged her inside.

“How did Lucas even find these people?” Ruby asked as the door banged shut.

---