What you think does matter

I couldn’t sleep. Not that I didn’t try—I buried myself in the threadbare blankets Evelyn handed us, curled up on the creaky couch, and squeezed my eyes shut. But every time I did, I saw glowing eyes, claws, and teeth. I kept hearing that horrible howl. Mia was on the other end of the couch, just as restless. Every few minutes, she shifted or sighed. Finally, she sat up, her face pale in the dim light of the fireplace. "Sam, are you awake?" she whispered. "Yeah." My voice cracked, betraying how freaked out I was. Mia hugged her knees. "Do you think it’s true? What Evelyn said? That this...weapon...is connected to us?" I shrugged, though she probably couldn’t see it. "I don’t know. None of this makes any sense. Maybe it’s all some big mistake." "Does it feel like a mistake to you?" she asked, her voice quiet but sharp. I didn’t answer. By morning, Evelyn had transformed the cabin into a battlefield prep zone. Weapons were laid out on the...