Whitney's face went blank the second she read the words on the fogged glass. All the color drained from her skin, like someone had pulled a plug.
Her eyes stayed wide, stuck on my writing like it might change if she blinked.
"How can this be?" she whispered. "I saw Elena… I saw her "
I touched my throat to show her the truth.
No voice.
No sound.
Then I lifted my finger and wrote again on the foggy mirror, slow so she wouldn't misunderstand.
I have been reborn.
Whitney's brows pulled together. I watched the thoughts click into place one by one, like a door unlocking in her head.
"…Are you Riley?"
I nodded.
Just once.
That was all it took.
Whitney grabbed me and held on like she was afraid I would disappear if she loosened her arms. Her body shook against mine.
"Elena," she cried into my shoulder, her words breaking, "I'm so sorry. I couldn't protect you. I had to watch those monsters… I had to watch what they did to your body…"
