6
Shrieking, I half crawled, half ran to the door. Flinging it open, I dashed into the hallway and down the stairs, skidding to a stop in the kitchen where the family, including Rand and Emily, were eating dinner.
“Mars, are you okay? You look a little pale,” Lil said, slowly standing.
Brett frowned. “You do look pale. I was going to wake you for dinner but you were sleeping so soundly.”
“I . . .” I looked around the table, all widened eyes on me. I probably looked a fright. It was what I felt like too. “Brett, can I see you a moment?” I asked, jerking my head toward the stairs.
His frown deepened as he stood and followed me up to his room. I heard an indignant sniff but ignored it. At Brett’s door, I stalled.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“I tripped on something.”
“I should have left
