“I know, kiddo,” he said. “Monty was a bad influence, and you got caught up. We understand. So does the Consort.”
I drew back. “The Consort?”
“They’re willing to reduce your sentence,” he said. “Maybe even grant you immunity.”
“You cut a deal for me?” I asked. “You think I’m here to turn myself in?”
They looked at each other uncertainly.
“It’s a generous offer,” my dad said finally. “They’ll let you come home in no time.”
“Come home?” Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my mom pull out her phone. They hadn’t listened to me at all. “Who are you calling?”
“Someone who can get you help,” my mom said.
“You’re turning me in? I’m not coming home,” I snarled, twisting out of my father’s arms. “I was trying to keep anyone else from dying!”
“Nobody’s going to die.” My dad stepped toward me, hands extended. “The Consort isn’t killing anyone.”
“They’ll kill me.” I edged around the corner of the kitchen island. Amelia had made pivots all over this house. I needed to find one. “If you turn me in, Lattimer will torture me, same as he did Grandpa, and then he’ll kill me.”
“Del,” my mom said, desperate and raw. “We’re trying to help you. To keep you safe.”
“Then don’t call the Consort,” I begged, feeling blindly behind me. “If you love me, don’t make the call.”
“But—”
I didn’t hear the rest of the sentence, because I was already gone.
• • •
Simon was waiting on the other side of the pivot, eyes nearly black with fury. “You are a goddamn idiot,” he snarled as we tore through backyards and Echo houses. I heard my dad come through the pivot, but we were younger, and used to running, and had desperation on our side.
“The Tacet,” I panted. “They’ve started.”
He cursed. “Rose won’t let that stand.”
He dragged me inside a garden shed. “We need to head to the Key World. They can’t follow your signal once we cross back, and I don’t want the trail leading to my mom’s.”
He was right, and a few steps later we were standing in the Key World, on the outskirts of Simon’s neighborhood. He grabbed my arm, slowing me down. Running would only draw attention.
“Of all the half-assed things to do—” Simon started to say.
“I thought they’d help!” I said, horrified by the crack in my voice.
“Why? Because they’re family? The only person family has ever mattered to is Amelia. Walkers don’t give a damn. Family’s just another idea sacrificed on the altar of the Key World, no matter which side they’re on.”
I didn’t reply, afraid I might agree.
Simon and Amelia were sitting on the living room couch when we arrived at Simon’s house, his hands clasped with hers. The coffee table was littered with wadded-up tissues, and Amelia’s eyes were glassy and red, but there was no time left for sentiment.
“What’s wrong?” Simon sprang up.
“The Tacet’s started,” I said. Amelia pressed her hands to her face.
“How do you know?” he asked.
“My parents,” I spat. “I went to ask for their help. I thought I could make them see reason.”
“I’m sure they were worried about you,” Amelia said, but Simon was already throwing on his coat.
“Sure. Worried enough to turn me in. They wouldn’t listen to a thing I said.”
“Can they track you here?” My Simon asked.
“Doubtful.” Original Simon stuck to the far end of the kitchen, keeping as much distance as possible between himself and my Simon. Carefully I reached into the strings, searching for any sign of stress on the Key World’s fabric. But the threads resonated against my fingertips, smooth and true. Rose was right: Since their signals matched, the Simons could coexist.
“If the Consort guards come here, all they’ll find is the guy who dumped you and sent you into a tailspin,” he continued. “There’s nothing wrong with my frequency, so they won’t suspect anything. In the meantime, you’ll get back to the Free Walkers, where you should have stayed.” He scowled. “No wonder Rose drugged you.”
“She what?” Amelia said, startled.
“I’m fine,” I assured her. “But he’s right. We need to leave.”
My Simon bent and kissed Amelia’s cheek. She hugged him tightly, and then pushed away, resolute. “Go. If they come, we’ll stall them.”
“Don’t stall,” I ordered. “Don’t do anything that might make them pay attention to you.”
Iggy whined, and Simon tousled his ears. “Be good,” he ordered, and looked up at Amelia again. “I don’t want to leave you.”