HANNA

“HELLO? MOMMY? DADDY? Hello?”

“Did you lose them, little bear?” Brown Teeth asked, taking the receiver from her hand.

Hanna nodded, unblinking. Stunned. She’d been certain her voice would be enough. Her insides ignited and she melted to the floor. Their hesitation was unmistakable. Even Daddy didn’t want her anymore.

Mommy proved herself to be the strongest witch after all: she set Hanna on fire, even from afar.

Tears came like lava. She slumped against the cold metal of the desk, pressing her cheek and palms to it to soothe her molten despair. Brown Teeth got on her knees, always ready to console her.

“There, there, little bear. You’ll get another chance, don’t worry.”

Brown Teeth’s cool knuckles felt good against her hot, wet cheek. Sniffling, smearing her tears against her shoulder, she let Brown Teeth take her hand and lead her back to her room. Where Skog waited.

Delicate little Skog. Her bestest and only friend in a cruel and mangled world.

Stupid stupid, she raged at her own stupidity. Getting her out of the house forever had probably been Mommy’s plan all along. Of course hearing her voice wouldn’t persuade bewitched Daddy to let her come home. Daddy was an island that seemed like paradise in her desire, but was nothing more than a rocky crag that couldn’t save her from drowning. Not with Mommy beside him. Hanna wiped her eyes and settled into bed. Skog climbed up on her chest to comfort her.

“I’m sure you made Mommy and Daddy very happy tonight. That is such a big step, to use your voice.” Brown Teeth tucked her in. “You keep being so brave and learning so much and you’ll get to go home before you know it.”

Is that what it took to go home? Bravery? Learning?

Brown Teeth shut the door, leaving them in the dark.

“They can’t keep us here forever,” Hanna whispered.

“We have this time to plan,” said Skog.

She’d be a good student—just like everyone wanted—and learn ever so much. She’d build up her strength and resolve; she’d be ready for Mommy on her first day back. Daddy shouldn’t have betrayed her, but with Hanna out of the way, Mommy’s magic was too powerful. Daddy couldn’t even choose his own words anymore. Hanna couldn’t let Mommy win, not when all of Daddy’s goodness was at stake.

“I’ve been so selfish,” she said. “Daddy needs me.”

“He’s waiting for you—”

“I know.”

“—to take care of Mommy.”

“We have to save him, Skog.”

“We will.”

“I have to be very very good now. So I can go home.”

Skog fell asleep with one soft hand on her cheek. But Hanna stayed awake. She’d conjured so many ways to be a bad girl, but maybe that strategy had made her too visible. Mommy caught on to all of her tricks; so did all the teachers. Hanna needed a sneakier approach—for school, and home. It might take some time—she couldn’t unleash her new plan all at once or it wouldn’t seem convincing. But she knew what she needed to do, and who she needed to become.

The best girl ever.