New Orleans, Louisiana. 1:47 AM. Miri’s apartment.
Miri hadn’t slept since Umi’s text.
Theo was staying on her couch. "I’m not leaving you alone."
The book piece was on the table. Cold.
Then it got hot.
Her phone buzzed. Unknown number.
Just a photo.
The same table. 4 chairs.
Seat 2: A shadow. Looked like Miri. But eyes were empty.
Caption: You forgot her eye color.
Miri gasped. "My mom... I forgot my mom’s eye color."
Theo grabbed her hand. "Hey. It’s okay. It was hazel. I remember you telling me."
knock knock
From the hallway.
Miri opened the door.
No one.
Just a plate. White. Blue rim.
And carved: Miri
From the living room: click
A chair.
They ran in.
Seat 2 was filled.
The shadow-Miri sat there, wearing the same sweater Miri wore today.
It smiled. Sad.
_"You forgot what her laugh sounded like yesterday.
I ate it. It was sweet."_
Miri started crying. "Stop it."
The shadow-Miri tilted her head. _"You’re so kind, Miri.
That’s why it hurts more when you forget.
Kindness tastes like sugar. And we’re starving."_
Theo stood in front of Miri. "Leave her alone."
The shadow laughed. Sounded like wind.
"She left herself alone first. Every time she said ‘I’m fine’ when she wasn’t."
The book burned.
New writing:
_Author 2: Miri. Status: Being remembered.
2/4 bitten._
Miri wiped her face. Stood up.
"No," she said. Voice shaking. "You don’t get to eat me."
She walked to the piano. Started playing.
Bad. Off-key. The same song she sang with Theo.
"My mom’s eyes were hazel," she said while playing. "And she laughed loud.
And she hated onions. And she called me 'little bird'.
And I remember."
Theo joined in. Singing with her. Loud.
The shadow flinched. Like the sound hurt it.
"This doesn’t stop us," it hissed. "We’ll just wait until you’re tired."
Miri kept playing. "Then I won’t get tired."
The shadow flickered. Then faded.
The plate cracked.
Silence.
Theo hugged Miri. "You did it."
Miri looked at the book:
2/4 bitten. Hunger: growing.
Her phone buzzed.
Umi: You okay?
Miri: I think so.
Alex: Nashville is quiet. Too quiet.
Fritz: Chicago... something’s here. In my room.
All 4 book pieces turned to page 53 at the same time.
New sentence:
The table is almost full again.