“This is Del,” I said, trying to control my voice. “Del Pierce.” Stupid: How many Dels could she know? How many had she just taken to the hospital? “I need to reach Mother Mariette. Can you tell her to call me at the hospital as soon you see her? Hello?”


The phone had gone silent. I thought she’d hung up, and then O’Connell came on the line. “What is it? What’s happened?”

I cleared my throat, ran the back of my hand over my eyes. “You knew, didn’t you? You knew before the commander showed up.”

“Knew what, Del?”

“I shouldn’t remember them reading to me. I shouldn’t remember being the Hellion.”

“No. Probably not.”

“When I took Lew, I could feel him, feel him fighting me. Fighting me just like—”

“Del, I’m coming over there. Don’t do anything. I’m giving the phone to Louise for a minute, so please stay on the phone . . .”

Oh God. The Hellion was still inside me, clawing at my skull. Kicking out the posts. And the walls were coming down.


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