Page 97 of The Last Session

I thought back to the times I’d sensed someone watching me through the lace curtain of the purple door. Had it been Catherine after all? Had she been meditating in thecave? The idea of it made me shiver.

You should leave.I was pretty sure Catherine hadn’t been praying for me to stay.

“Thea.” Moon leaned in. “Do you remember what happened in the desert? Before you died?”

“Ah, no.” I shook my head. “I don’t.”

“Think.” Moon’s voice lowered. “Your desert dreams. Can’t you see something off in the distance, coming towards you?”

And all at once I remembered: that undulating movement slipping over the hills.

“You can see it, can’t you?” She smiled and leaned back. “This is an enormous opportunity. Because it goes beyond our cohort. Sometimes something happens that’s so egregious, so agonizing, that the energy affects not just the individuals but the collective. That’s what happened when you and Catherine were brutally killed.”

“By you, right?” I cocked my head.

“Yes. In that incarnation, I was a taker of life. That was my role to play.” Moon’s eyes glittered with intensity. “And your role is much greater. You don’t remember, but something happened in the desert. You were offered something. A choice.”

“I don’t remember, Moon. I’m sorry.”

“But that’s why you need to stay.” Moon jumped up and crouched in front of me, grabbing my hands. “Just two more days. Until Ostara—the spring equinox. You’re here on the most balanced day of the year in order to bring balance to humankind. Once we resolve our healing work, everyone on earth will feel the effects.” Her honey-colored eyes pleaded.

“How do you mean?” I asked.

“Think of it like this.” Moon let go of my hands and sat on the floor, still too close. “If you’re a person with unresolved trauma, you might experience physical symptoms. Headaches, stomachaches. Right?”

I nodded mechanically. It was true: the mind and body were closely connected. I’d worked with a few patients whose health issues had improved or cleared up after they processed painful experiences.

“We believe that the same thing happens on a collective scale. Suffering, war, poverty: these are the manifestations of our psychic trauma. Our cohort went through a trauma together. If we’re able to heal it, there will be a ripple effect. Fewer people will suffer. Fewer people will die.” Tears shone in her eyes. I thought of the deaths she’d claimed: Had any of them been real?

“This is huge, Thea,” Sol piped up. “Bigger than you could even imagine.”

Catherine peered up at me through her curtain of hair.

“We know how this sounds,” Karen said. “You’ve only been here two days. This is all brand-new. But can you just take some time to think about it? If any part of you resonates with what we’re saying, then stay. At least for one more session. You’ll be amazed by what happens, I swear to you. And once we work through it, that’s it. The pattern’s broken. We can all move on.”

“And if I say no?” I asked.

“Then we’ll have to wait for our next opportunity, who knows how far into the future.” Moon smiled sadly. “And the pattern will haunt us for the rest of this lifetime.”

“We need you,” Grace pleaded. I glanced at her smooth, bare face. Grace was the sorcerer? How had they come up with that?

“We know this is a lot.” Moon got to her feet. “So we’ll give you some time to process. But if you want to come talk to me—or anyone—we’ll be around.”

“Okay.” I stood, a headache lurking.

Moon embraced me without hesitation. They all waited in a line to hug me—even Steven, who smelled like fried dough.

Catherine was last. She gave me that same weak smile, but this time it struck me as real.

You should leave.Was she happy because she thought I was planning to?

40

“Can I talk to you?” I asked Catherine quietly.

“She actually needs to go rest.” Sol slipped an arm around her. “As Moon said, this all has taken a lot out of her.” He walked her out of the tent and Moon, Karen, and Steven followed. Grace gathered up the cushions to set in a corner, and I helped her. The others were all clearly behind Moon. But maybe Grace would have a crack.

“Some great actors here,” I said.