Saturday came too quickly.
I almost didn't go.
Almost.
Then Maya showed up at my door at eight in the morning.
She didn't knock.
She never knocked.
“Get dressed.”
I stared at her.
“Good morning to you too.”
“You're coming.”
“I never said I was.”
“You didn't have to.”
She walked past me and dropped her bag on my bed.
I sighed.
“You're exhausting.”
“I know.”
I looked at the bag.
“What did you bring?”
“Snacks.”
I stared at her.
“We're going on a school field study, Maya.”
“Exactly. We're going to need snacks.”
I laughed despite myself.
For a few seconds, everything felt normal.
Then I remembered my mother's warning.
Don't take the pendant into the northern territory.
My hand moved toward my neck.
The pendant was still there.
I hadn't taken it off.
I looked at the
