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I heard her. I felt her hand.

I tried to tell her I was fine. Nothing came out.

Sadie’s face changed. “Hazel?”

I looked back at the drain. I didn’t mean to. I just—

Needed to hear.

His voice. Even—

Wait.

Who is he?

I didn’t know.

I only knew I needed to listen.

The opening seemed farther away than it had a second ago. No. Closer.

Sound lied about distance.

I knew that too.

He taught me that.

Reality shifted.

Wait.

Who?

Snap.

Static. The world slipped out of alignment.

A dark opening in the earth. Roots hanging across it. Dirt ground into my palms. Something moved below me.

Closer.

The stadium slammed back around me. Someone bumped my shoulder and apologized.

I stepped toward the drain.

Sadie caught my arm harder. “Nope,” she said immediately. “Where are you going?”

I wanted to answer. I couldn’t.

I took another step.

She moved with me. “Hazel, stop.”

Keep moving. My body did.

Sadie planted herself in front of me.

I moved around her.