Chapter 12: Count

"Last time," I said.

Nobody in the shop moved.

I crossed the concrete until I was close enough to see the gray in Hollis's face.

"You said it the first time in my hall, and then yesterday, and now," I said. "Last time what?"

"Greta."

"You remember it too."

He shut his eyes.

"Yes," he said.

I had been waiting five days to hear it.

Now that I had, my knees felt weak, and my hands were cold.

"You remember the ring," I said. "The grid. The doors."

"I remember all of it."

"And me?"

He opened his eyes.

"I remember you," he said.

"What did I do?"

"Greta, I..."

"What did I do, Hollis?"

Behind me Emmett whispered, "Is anyone else lost?" and Abel whispered, "Shh."

Hollis looked at the others, and then at me.

"After the eighth," he said. "You told me to wait until after the eighth."

"That was before," I said. "The doors close tomorrow."

"I know."

"I'm not going to ask you twice."

His hands were shaking.

I had never seen them shake.

"I can't tell you in front of them," he said. "Not yet. It isn't just mine to tell."

"Then whose is it?"

The lights went out.

Not just the lights in the shop.

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