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The light flickers, dropping us back into darkness for the space of a heartbeat and then creeping back to life again I turn, searching again for the switch--but she’s found it first She stands to one side of the hallway, staring at the switch as I cross to her side

"It’s off," she whispers, glancing at ht

"But how…"

She suddenly straightens, staring upward at the light I know that look--itBut this isn’t Lilac It’s a copy Not real

"If you can hear us," she says slowly, "blink the light three tiht cuts out once, twice--ait, silent I’hts click out a third time, and the bottom drops out of my stomach

"Once for yes, twice for no" I s, hts flicker twice No

"Warn us?"

A brief pause, then three flickers Is that aelse?"

YES

"Where are you? Why won’t you come out and talk to us?" I don’t trust anyone who refuses to show thehts remain even--there’s no answer to that question I lift both hands to scrub at my face "Are you able to co Lilac’s eye She looks back at me, face drained of all color Then she takes over, her voice quieter thandown the corridor

"Are you what’s been sending us visions? Leading us here?"

Yes

"Did you bring the flower back?"

Pause Yes No

Flower? What flower? I want to ask, but Lilac’s riveted, her eyes on the lights, scanning the