Page 12 of Mate Night Snack
She stared at him. “How do you know that?”
His jaw tensed. “Because this isn’t the first time this place has done that.”
“Done what? Make people collapse?”
“Make themsee.”
Katniss shivered. Not from cold. From the way his voice dropped on that word. Like it meant something more. Something dangerous.
“You think I’m hallucinating?”
“I think you need to stop poking things that don’t belong to you.”
“Helpful.” She tried to shake his hand off. He didn’t let go.
“I found you unconscious, pale as snow, with your pulse thready and your eyes fluttering like you were caught between worlds.” His voice was low and edged. “You think that’s nothing?”
Katniss snapped, “I think I’d like my arm back.”
He released her. Slowly. She didn’t miss the way his fingers lingered half a beat too long.
Katniss pushed herself upright and leaned back against a tree. Her head throbbed like she’d been drop-kicked by a mule. Her hands still trembled.
“You said this placeshowspeople things,” she said. “What does that mean?”
“Exactly what it sounds like.”
“Visions?”
He didn’t answer. Just looked off toward the trees like the branches might come down and end the conversation for him.
She pressed her palms to her eyes. “It was a girl. Red coat. She was running.”
Silence.
When she peeked, Emmett’s face was unreadable.
“Mabel,” she said quietly. “Was she wearing a red coat when she disappeared?”
His expression didn’t change, but the shift in his body was immediate. Shoulders locked. Hands fisted. Like a switch flipped deep inside him.
“I don’t know what you think you’re chasing,” he said, “but you need to stop.”
Katniss stared at him. “I’m not making this up.”
“I didn’t say you were.”
“Then why are you looking at me like I’m the problem?”
“Because youare.”
Her breath caught. She blinked. “Wow. That’s blunt. Even for you.”
“You walk into sacred ground like it’s your playground. You poke at wounds that haven’t scabbed over. You don’t ask, youtake. That gets people hurt.”
“I didn’t take anything.”
He pointed toward the tree behind her. “That’s the edge.”
