“I heard Miss Chloe yesterday too.

She said grief is only useful if someone photographs it.” Elena swallowed.

“People like me get paid to pretend we don’t hear things.” She moved closer.

“But what she said just now wasn’t grief.

That was a countdown.

I think they’re planning to finish what the crash didn’t.”

Chapter 7 — Lock the Door

Her fingers brushed mine beneath the blanket, and in that moment, for the first time in five days, I made a choice to reveal myself to another living person.