“No way we’re getting a better look in that place without Rose, or some sort of sleep bomb or something,” Imogen said.
“Rose?” Levi asked.
“She has the strength of a superhero,” Imogen said.
“That would help,” Levi said.
I tried to figure out what his expression indicated. Thoughtfulness, maybe. Disappointment was also a strong possibility.
I felt that last one. I’d really hoped we would find the rest of Nie.
“I grabbed this.” Levi held out his hand. In his palm…was the foot.
“Is that your friend’s foot?” Imogen asked Levi.
I stared at the tattoo on the ankle—a moon and stars and a raven.
I knew that tattoo. There was a matching one on my own ankle.
The foot in Levi’s hand belonged to Nie.
I looked up to his face, to the bright green eyes hiding behind rogue strands of golden hair. He cracked a small smile.
He knew.
When he’d run into the cave filled with people-eating monsters, he’d known exactly what he was doing. And he’d been doing it for me.
“It’s my foot,” I told Imogen.
“Oh wow,” she said. “So are you going to touch it? Do you think it’ll open up more of Nie’s memories for you?”
“I will.” I hoped it brought clarity. I desperately needed more information.
“When this is done, we should celebrate by going to that little general store I saw earlier and grabbing some candy corn. It’s Halloween after all, and this”—she gestured between us—“is a pretty sad party so far.”
“Made better withcandy corn?”I shook my head before looking at Levi. “Candy corn is for perverts.”
“What? No way,” Imogen said.
“She’s thinking of butterscotch,” Levi told Imogen.
Imogen wrinkled her nose. “I like butterscotch, too.”
“Lollipop?” Levi held his free hand out to Imogen. A lollipop appeared from his sleeve.
“If any candy is preferred lure of the creepy pervert, it’s the lollipop,” Imogen said.
I chuckled.
Levi grinned and shrugged. “Suit yourself.”
“I still want it.” Imogen snatched it out of his palm. “Call me a pervert. I don’t care. I need sugar after what I just went through.”
I took a breath. We all could use a break after this. I still had one major task to survive first.
Without another moment of hesitation, I reached down and grabbed Nie’s foot.
A flood of memories struck, hard and fast.