CHAPTER 26ROCHELLE
December 21, 2090
I jiggled the paper clip in my hand and slowly twisted it until I felt the familiar click Lareina had taught me to wait for. “Got it!” My free hand flew to the knob, and the back door of Molly’s house creaked open.
“Perfect.” Lareina helped me to my feet. “You’re getting really good at that.” She blinked away the giant snowflakes that coated her eyelashes.
“All thanks to you.” My attention was drawn to the doorway I’d so often run through with Molly on our way inside for a snack after playing in the backyard.
“We’d better get inside.” Lareina glanced around the snow-covered yard, then took a backward step toward the door. She’d insisted we inch along the side of the house to leave as few footprints as possible. “Nick gets off work in forty-five min
