Page 82 of Death and Do-Overs

Guy’s head flopped to the side, his eyes closed, his mouth open. A snore came out of him.

Imogen stirred, grabbed her head, and moaned.

“That was too much,” she said.

Caspian scrambled over to his friend or partner or whatever they were to each other. He looked at us like we were monsters.

“Give me your phone,” I told Imogen.

She handed it over. I downloaded the black light app, then shined it on Caspian and Guy. Neither of them had the Anchorbriar Chains curse.

We really needed to go.

I helped Imogen to her feet, gave her phone back, and steadied her as we headed down the stairs.

“Sorry,” I called back up after we reached the bottom.

I’d thought diving into the mystery would distract me and make me feel better. I guessed it had worked for a little while. But I wasn’t feeling any of that positivity anymore.

Imogen’s phone started ringing in her pocket, so she pulled it out and answered.

She mouthed to meit’s Rose.Then she nodded a couple of times. “Uh-huh, uh-huh. Aww fiddlesticks, that’s too bad. Thanks for calling. You, too. Toodles.”

That didn’t sound like our day was about to get any better.

Imogen stuck her phone back into her pocket and swayed on her feet as she snatched her bag from the counter. “Rose says there aren’t any trains coming to or out of Nevermore at all.”

“How is that possible?”

“The Nevermore station is closed down. I don’t know.”

“Did she find anything else in the security footage?”

“Nope.” Imogen frowned.

Another dead end. I sighed.

“Are we going back to Birdie’s next?” Imogen asked.

“Yes.”

“I don’t think I can make it. You might have to leave me behind.”

I sighed again. “I’m useless without you, Imogen. Leaving you behind is not an option.”

“Aww, you’re not useless. But that is super sweet.”

I frowned at her.

“Okay, carry me,” she said.

“No.”

“It’s the only way. I’m so tired, Greta. Bodysnatching takes all the energy out of me. It used to make me fall asleep for days. And even though that’s not going to happen now, if you want me to be able to control Birdie when we get there, I’m going to need to conserve what little strength I have left.”

Her expression was entirely earnest.

I had no choice.

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