Chapter 2

Riley

I stand in the kitchen doorway and pick at the cracked edges of my bright pink nail polish. The chips flake off under my thumb. “Hey, Finn. Mom called. She wants you to unload the dishwasher.” My voice comes out louder than I mean it to. School sits locked until someone decides otherwise. Teachers never even handed out the extra work Mom keeps pushing on us. Two weeks, they said. Then maybe open again.

Mom cleans when her nerves get tight. When she cannot scrub the floors herself she makes us do it and send pictures. The phone in my hand feels heavy with her absence. She should have landed days ago. A cold should not cancel a whole flight.

“Finn, did you hear me?” The words carry an edge now. Heat crawls up the sides of my neck. “Finn!”

He jumps when he steps into the room. His throat moves as he swallows. Guilt hits me right away. Yelling at him is not the same as yelling at anyone else. His feelings run hotter and deeper. I am only fifteen. He is twenty-two. Still I end up the one holding the line, working twice as hard for the same soft look Mom gives him without thinking. Most days he acts like any other brother. Other days he grates on every last nerve and walks away clean.

“Sorry.” I press my fingers hard against my temples. “Sorry. What are you even looking at?” I lean over his shoulder. The Twitter feed fills the screen.

My hand flies up to cover my mouth. Police cars ring a man in the street. Regular people push closer, phones out. The video shakes. Night bleeds into gray morning light. Two officers grab the man. Blood runs from the corners of his mouth. He twists free and sinks his teeth into an officer’s shoulder. Cloth and skin tear the same way. A tear slides down my cheek. A soft sound escapes before I can stop it. I force my face still so Finn will not tip over into panic and so I will not either. The images keep looping behind my eyes like a video that will not end.

“I don’t know. I was just scrolling and it showed up trending.” His hands shove through his hair. Tears track down his face too. The same tight worry sits in both of us.

“Is this even real?” I open a new tab and type the words. News sites spit the same nightmare back at me. “We have to call Mom.” He nods. I hit her number. The rings stretch. Then her voice comes through, already sharp with fear.

“Riley, are you alright? Finn?”

“Yeah. We’re fine. Are you? Did you see the news?” My fingers clamp the phone. Finn grabs it and switches on speaker.

“Yes, but the CDC says it is nothing to fear. Keep doing normal things. Just be careful.” Her voice stays soft, almost like she is talking herself down. I wonder if the same videos reached her screen. I drop onto the teal couch. The cushions sigh under me. Finn rolls his eyes and sits beside me.

“I just want to know when you’ll be home.”

“Patricia will stop by in a couple of days. Groceries and a check that you two are still breathing. No one knows about new flights yet.” Stress cracks through her sigh. “Just don’t kill each other while I’m gone. And wash your hands. Flu season isn’t finished. I don’t want my babies sick.”

“Alright, Mom. I love you.”

“I love you too. Bye.” The line goes dead. A siren wails outside. I pull the curtain aside. A police car races down the street, lights cutting the dark.

“Do you think that was because of the video?” Finn’s eyes stay on me a second longer than usual.

“No. No way. One freak thing. Nothing to worry about.” I keep my face smooth and nod. Inside, the worry digs deeper. I cannot say it out loud. He would spiral. “Let’s unload the dishwasher.” We move to the kitchen. He stops, walks to the television, and turns on the news.

“Would you cut that off? It isn’t going to help.” I reach for the remote. His height keeps it out of reach. He points the remote at the screen instead.

“Mass hysteria has overtaken inner-city regions after a shootout that left an unidentified man dead. Investigators are examining the case as details surface about the man’s death and injuries to two officers. Warning: this video may disturb some viewers.” The reporter’s voice stays flat and heavy. Neither of us looks away. The footage is clearer this time, phone camera steady enough to show every detail. Officers form a circle, guns raised.

“Sir, I’m going to need you to step back,” someone off-screen says. The person holding the phone grunts and moves. Car horns blast. Voices shout. The man lunges straight at the camera. Officers open fire. The shots come fast and wild. Acid rises in my throat. I cover my mouth.

“That is horrific.” The words come out thin.

“The news lady did say it was disturbing.” Finn switches the television off and finishes the last dishes. I stare at him. His calm feels like armor he puts on so the pictures cannot reach him.

“I’m going to my room.” I take my phone and leave the kitchen fast. The two scenes braid together in my head until the hallway tilts. I reach the bathroom, drop to my knees, and empty my stomach into the toilet. Light brown liquid hits the water. When the heaving stops I rinse my mouth, scrub my teeth, and feel the worst of it ease. I fall face-down on my bed. Instagram opens. I like a few posts. One profile refuses to load. The main page freezes. I restart the phone. Still no signal. A low growl leaves my throat. I open FaceTime and call Leo.

“Hey, Leo. What’s up?” I roll onto my back and rub my face. The day sits heavy on my eyelids.

“You look like shit.” He laughs. His thick eyebrows pull together.

“Yeah. I feel like it too.” A yawn forces its way out. “I yelled at my brother earlier. Didn’t think. I shouldn’t have.” My eyes start to close.

“Sometimes he needs it. The world won’t go easy on him. His brain just runs hotter. That’s the only difference.” He shrugs and taps his fingers against the desk.

“Your mom back?”

“No.” Another yawn breaks the word. “Flight canceled.” I pull the comforter up and turn on my side. Sleep takes me while the call stays open. When my eyes open again the phone screen glares. The room is dark. Another siren drifts past the house. Leo’s face is still on the screen, mouth open, a thin line of drool at the corner.

“Leo? Hey. Leo!” His eyelids twitch. Dark brown eyes appear.

“What? What time is it?” His voice is rough. “Shit. Three in the morning. How long was I out?” He studies my face. “You okay? You look worried.” Another siren cuts the quiet.

“That’s the third emergency car past my house.” I sit up and wrap the comforter tighter. My stomach still feels loose. I do not want to be sick again.

“I’ve heard a few too. Freaky as hell. You know what… I’m coming over.” He stands and stretches. Tan arms lift over his head. He pulls on a t-shirt. I watch without meaning to. He picks up the phone and gives a small sideways smile. I start to tell him to stay home. Parents will lose it. The words bounce off him. By the time his car door shuts I stop trying.

Headlights sweep across my window. I unlock the front door. Mom would end me if she knew. His dad would do the same, especially since the license is only two weeks old. He steps inside. I lock the door behind him. He runs a hand through his hair, then pulls me into a tight hug. He breathes in and holds on. I lean into the solid warmth before I step back. Please let Finn stay quiet.

“You really shouldn’t be here. Your parents would kill you.”

“Then I guess I’ll be dead.” He shrugs and drops onto my bed beside me. I give him a flat look. “Come on, bestie.” He tickles my side. “You usually love my jokes.” My face stays tight. His arms fall. He leans closer. My eyes flick to his mouth for half a second and jump back. His gaze does the same. My heart kicks hard.

“Sorry. I’m just scared. All this crazy stuff and my mom stuck—”

His mouth meets mine. Warm. Soft. I kiss him back. One of his hands settles where my jaw meets my neck. My fingers curl in his shirt. The room tilts. I pull away and find his eyes again. The worry drains out of my head like water.

“Oh.” He watches me, still careful. I press a quick kiss to the corner of his mouth. A smile starts on my face. His follows. “Do you feel any better?” The grin is pure goofy. Mine stretches wider. Confusion floats somewhere far off.

“How long? Why—”

“Since the summer before school started.” He looks down, links his fingers with mine. His eyes shine.

“I’m glad. I’ve felt this way for ages.” The words come light, like something heavy finally left my chest. The door creaks open. Both of us whip our heads around so fast the room spins.

“Woah. Sorry. I saw the ambulance and just wanted to check you were okay. Looks like Leo already did. So I’ll just…” Finn points at the hallway, makes a soft click with his tongue. “Awkward,” he mutters, and turns on his heel.

“We should pack a bag. Just in case you two need to leave. My dad watches this show, Doomsday Preppers.” Leo shifts the subject clean.

“That’s ridiculous. Everything is going to blow over. I promise.” My eyebrows pull down. He kisses my cheek before I can finish the thought. The surprise softens me. “Alright,” I say, voice steady this time. “Just in case.”