Page 126 of Flickerstate

“They told me you were bitten,” she says.

That’s ambiguous, of course. She could mean the hospital staff warned them when they came to visit—though surely it’s illegal forthe hospital to hand out my medical information like lollipops to random fellow students? Or she could mean that Vik and Candace told her about my bite, the true story.

I’ve hesitated too long. Mirabel must have inferred by now that I’m uncomfortable with her having this information about me. She doesn’t reassure me, but she doesn’t make any smug, narrow-eyed microexpressions to lord it over me either.

“They told me about leaguing too,” she says.

Right.

“I, uh, haven’t thanked you,” I say. “For trying to stop Dr. Langmore.”

She shrugs tightly. “Don’t. I had to. It was the right thing to do.”

“And…is that why you’re here now? Why you’re helping with my…ongoing issue?”

An awkward silence descends on our group. We all want to know, I think, why Mirabel helped us and keeps helping us.

“I thought we were playing a fair game at the Academy,” Mirabel says slowly. “I thought, by playing the Academy’s game, I would learn something important about life. And become…better. That’s what my brother said.” When she mentions her brother, emotions crack through her blank expression: hatred, respect, disappointment, fear. “But the game was rigged—Dr. Langmore rigged it. And Griffin helped her. And the whole time,youguys were learning something real and powerful. That’s what I want to learn too. That’s why I’m here.”

There’s something pure logical, and utterly self-centered about Mirabel’s motives. It lends her a cool glow, like a marble statue nomuseumgoers are allowed to touch.

She ruins the effect when she mumbles, “Plus Candace asked me to come.”

I recall what Candace told me about Mirabel that first day at orientation: They used to talk, used to text. I recall how Mirabel disliked me for showily defending Candace when Mirabel had been trying to defend Candace too, in a subtler, less in-your-face fashion.

Maybe Mirabel never resented me for “stealing” her ex—despite Candace’s speculations, she never really seemed that hung up on Griffin. Maybe she resented me because she felt like I’d stolen her friend.

I keep my thoughts off my face. I’m curious about Mirabel’s inner workings, sure, but right now my life depends onwhatshe does, notwhyshe’s doing it.

“I’m grateful for all your guys’ help,” I say. “Seriously.”

Bree smiles. “You’re welcome.”

Mirabel rolls her eyes. “Don’t thank us till we’ve actually done it.”

“I’m grateful you agreed totry,” I say.

She looks thrown, like I’ve wrong-footed her by acting less than bitchy.

“This is going to take serious energy,” Candace says. “Shall we load up on snacks, rest, and reconvene in an hour?”

The group breaks apart. I trudge into my single, close the door, and flop onto my bed.

My phone rings.

It’s Griffin.

***

I hesitate.

But I hit accept.

“Am I seriously your one phone call?” I ask.

Griffin snorts, the sound distant and crackling. “I’m in federal custody, but they’re mostly worried about keeping me from navigating. They let me call whoever I want.”

I stare at my ceiling. “Then stop screwing around. Talk to your sister.”