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HARDCASTLE: That’s what we were going to do.

KAPOOR: That’s what we did.

NOVAK: You still haven’t explained where you got the gun.

HARDCASTLE: I don’t know. I don’t remember. We were down by the beach and we saw Carolyn. She attacked us. Maybe she had the gun?

KAPOOR: No, you picked it up— Where did you pick it up? It was...

She frowns and walks toward the doorway leading to the control room of the bunker.

KAPOOR: We were here.

HARDCASTLE: That doesn’t make any sense.

KAPOOR: Something is messing with our memory.

BAKER: It’s them. It’s their fault. It’s all going wrong because of them. What are you? Why won’t you listen? Justlisten to him, little devil, little rebel, little sneak, little thief, little—lit—lit—tell—tell me—

Her jaw works side to side in abrupt movements. She chokes, coughs.

BAKER: No nonono. This one’s not lasting. Oh, God— What’s wrong with me?

KAPOOR: Oh, my God. She’s...

NOVAK: No. She can’t be. That would mean— But I—

Baker’s head lolls forward, then snaps up.

BAKER: No, I’m fine. Fine. Fine fellow. Fellows. Fellowship. Ships. Ships on the ocean, all of us drifting. Listen. Listen.

She laughs again—and then lunges for Hardcastle with a shriek. She claws at his chest while Kapoor and Novak try to pull her off.

The newly arrived Sophia looks at the other girl and tugs her hand.

SOPHIA [2]: Come on.

She tugs Sophia toward the open door on the left. With a toddler’s impulsiveness, Sophia grabs the camera, hugging it against her chest as the two girls scurry away from the violent scene playing out before them.

23

I STARED ATDr. Kapoor, thoughts wheeling through my head, my careful emotional remove fracturing. Footsteps came up the walk. Dr. Kapoor stepped closer and dropped her voice to an angry hiss. “Go home, Ms. Novak. Go home, and never think of this place again.”

The front door opened, and William Hardcastle stepped in. Dr. Kapoor gave me a look—a warning look. And a frightened one.Don’t, she mouthed.

William Hardcastle smiled. “Sophia,” he said in surprise. “I didn’t expect to see you here. Ms. Hayes, I’m sorry for everything that’s happening.”

His voice echoed in my mind. In my memory.I’m sorry.

My eyes dropped to his hands, hanging easily by his sides. They were large hands.Spade-like, I thought. Strong hands with blunt fingers and light brown freckling across the backs. I knew those hands. I was sure of it now.

I’m sorry, he’d said.

They’d been holding me under the water, the day I drowned.

He was still talking, but all I heard were those two words. Those words, and the hollow sound of water closing over my head. He was sorry. He was so sorry for all of this. His regret was suffocating, and I could only pray that the emptiness of my eyes, my inability to speak, could be excused by the circumstances. Two people missing. Maybe dead.

“I know that this is a difficult situation, but we’re going to do everything we can to find Lily and Ms. Ryder,” he said.