Page 95 of The Last Session

“What’s going on?” She could tell I was holding back.

“I’m just trying to figure out how to get Catherine to come with us this afternoon.” I bit my lip. “I think she needs help.”

Mikki picked up her coffee mug. “She seemed… not-okay to you?”

“Yep. Like… scared and brainwashed at the same time?”

“Yikes.” Mikki blew out her breath. “Do you think she’ll listen to you?”

“I don’t know.” I scratched at the already heavily scored wooden table. “I have to go to my one-on-one with Moon and Sol. I’m not super hopeful, but maybe I can convince them that Catherine needs a higher level of care.”

“Hmm.” Mikki took a sip. “Did we ever find out why they had that bizarre altar?”

“Good morning!” Dawne swept into the room, her long highlighted braid streaming behind her. “That fire ceremony was so fun, right? Dance party!”

The night before felt so far away, of a totally different time. Mikki and I met eyes.

“Did anything happen after I went to sleep?” Dawne called over her shoulder at the coffee carafe.

“Nothing at all,” Mikki sang back, her voice light.

“Thea, come in!” Moon jumped up as I walked into the yoga tent.

I’d expected Moon and Sol, but the whole gang was there: Grace, Steven, Catherine… and Karen. She smiled warmly as I sat on a cushion. I looked away. It struck me that I wasn’t just surprised that Karen, a seemingly kind and kooky woman, had been lying to my face this whole time. I was also hurt.

“How are you feeling this morning?” Moon asked with that lilting accent. I wondered if Mikki was still planning to confront her about it today.

“I’m okay.” I felt the same sensation as when we’d started my session:anticipation tinged with fear. Not that I was going to share. “How about you?”

“Well…” She blew out her breath. “Terrified.”

“Terrified?” I echoed. Sol scooted closer to her, rubbing her back.

“Absolutely.” She shrugged. “We were planning to have this conversation with you today. To connect you with Catherine. But last night things went a little… off track.”

Catherine’s legs were crisscrossed, her elbows resting on her knees. Sure, she was tan. But hunched over, with greasy hair and wide, unblinking eyes, she again looked strange.

“You were planning to connect us?” I echoed again.

“Yes. Catherine was doing her internal vision quest, as we said, but she was also sequestered in order not to influence you. We had to figure out if you were who we thought you were.” Moon gestured at Karen. “It’s also why our resident Karen did what she did.”

“Oh, so your name is actually Karen?” I was unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice.

“It is. I’m sorry, hon.” Karen looked dejected. “I hate lying, but it was necessary. I needed to figure out if I felt the right way about you.”

“The right way?” I shook my head. “Why do I feel like everyone’s talking in riddles?”

“Thea, it’s okay.” Sol held out a hand. “We’re going to share everything with you.”

“Great. I can’t wait.”

No one said anything for a moment. Finally, Moon nodded at Karen.

“What do you think happens after we die?” Karen asked me.

I scoffed at the unexpected question. “I have no idea.”

“You were raised…”