Katie sat cross-legged on her bed, eyes closed, feeling the special light inside her. It hummed beneath her skin like a lullaby, warm and gentle when she was calm, bright and sharp when she got scared. Mr. Cassius had said it was a gift, something precious that connected them even when they were apart.
"Light always finds its kin," she whispered to herself, repeating his words like a charm.
Through the walls, she could feel the protection they'd made before they left—silver and gold and blue, all woven together like a blanket wrapped around the entire building. Katie traced the patterns with her mind, marveling at how the three different lights danced together, stronger because they were connected.
Just like Miss Daisy had said they needed to be.
In the common room beyond her door, th
