Page 109 of The Unknown

I glance over at Violet and see that, so far, my performance has merited a pleased nod.

“Well, let’s hope this does the trick,” she says. “Shall we begin?”

Violet snuffs out the lamps Ronan and I brought in before taking a seat at the table, right behind the letterA. Ronan moves to take the chair at theS, but I rush to beat him to it, mindful of the camera inside the box. Having no choice, he takes his spot behind theI.

We each place two fingers atop the overturned glass as Violet says, “I guess you should start things, Marin. Seeing how you’re the one who did it the other night.”

I nod and lift my face to the darkness swirling above the table, my pulse quickening. Even though I’d known all day that we’d be doing this, the stakes don’t hit me until right now.

This is it.

Likely our only chance to get Ronan to confess to ruining Elise’s life—and to stop him from doing the same to others.

Violet had every right to doubt my abilities earlier in the day. I now doubt them myself. I think back to Ronan’s advice our first afternoon here. Take what I’m feeling and use it. And since right now I’m jittery as fuck, I allow those jitters to seep into my voice as I say, “Is there a spirit present?”

We wait, eyes on the glass that Violet and I know isn’t going to move. Not quite yet.

I hope.

In the back of my brain lurks the unsavory idea that we could indeed accidentally contact something. Azra, maybe. Or whatever’s been raising a ruckus in my cottage. While not large, the notion’s enough to put me further on edge. When a crash of thunder sounds outside, quickly followed by a blinding lightning flash, I jolt in my seat. The timing is soperfect that, if I didn’t know better, I would assume Brad had created a machine to control the weather.

As rain begins to spatter the wall of windows behind us, I make another attempt. “Is there a spirit present? If so, please give us a sign that you’re here.”

This time, the glass moves an inch. Our doing. Not a spirit, although it prompts a gasp from Ronan. Holy shit, he might be falling for it.

“Was that a yes, spirit?” I say.

Violet and I nudge the glass another inch. Then another. Then, both of us sensing that now is the time, we slide it toward the square markedYES. Julianne was right. The glass is easy to move without being noticed. In the darkness, I hear Ronan let out a small, awed “Whoa.”

“Welcome, spirit,” I say. “We have gathered here tonight with the goal of contacting three specific people who now exist beyond the veil.”

Across the table, Violet narrows her eyes at me. I’m laying it on too thick.

“Spirit,” she says, taking over, “please identify yourself.”

I take a deep breath. It’s time for Molly’s entrance. A queasy, guilty feeling grips me as I prepare to move the glass to theM. Pretending to contact my sister feels wrong, even if it’s for the right reasons. It makes me keep my fingers still against the glass as Violet attempts to slide it. An almost imperceptible push that I hope Ronan hasn’t noticed.

Under the table, Violet kicks my shin. The message is clear:Quit stalling.

I join her in moving the glass, both of us aiming for theMthat sits directly across the table from Violet.

But that’s not where it goes.

Instead, the glass curves upward, sweeping toward the letters placed between Ronan and Violet. Panic fills my chest. Like I’m an actor shoved onstage without knowing my lines. I look to Violet, and we converse using only our eyes.

Me:What are you doing?

Violet:I’m not doing anything! You are!

Me:But I’m not!

We keep this up until the glass pauses at a letter to the left of Violet.

D

“Do the rest of you feel that?” she says.

I stare at her from across the table. “Feel what?”