Free Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan Page B

on a notepad. She smiled when Waverly came in.
    “You’re looking much better. How are you feeling?”
    Waverly flexed her hand. The edges of her burn pulled and stung a little, but the pain was bearable. “I’m fine.”
    “I’m so glad. I wanted to have a chat with you before you rejoin the rest of the girls.” The pastor patted the bed, meaning for Waverly to sit next to her. Waverly sat, but much farther away than the woman had indicated, at the foot of the bed.
    “Come closer, dear, I won’t bite.”
    Waverly did not move; she looked at the woman, who was staring over the wire rims of her spectacles, eyes locked on hers.
    Pastor Mather’s brow hardened, but her voice remained soft and lilting. “Dear, I’m afraid I have terrible news. Our sensors have been unable to find any survivors from the Empyrean.”
    Waverly imploded, entered negative space. A gray film moved over her eyes.
    But no. This woman was a liar, and Waverly wouldn’t accept anything she said. Kieran and her mother were alive.
    Pastor Mather studied Waverly’s blank face. Something clicked behind her gaze, and she said, “You must be in terrible shock.”
    “I must be,” Waverly said, her voice breathy.
    “Dear, I know this is a blow to you, but we need you to help with the younger girls. They need a familiar authority figure, someone they can trust. Felicity has helped as much as she can, but, well…” Mather smiled warmly. “I fear she doesn’t possess your strength of character.”
    Waverly made herself smile humbly at Pastor Mather’s compliment. “Well, I am the oldest,” she said.
    “That’s right. And with that comes some responsibilities, right?”
    “I’ll try,” Waverly said.
    Anne Mather studied her until she seemed satisfied. “Then I’ll let you announce that we’re still sweeping the area, looking for your parents. They’ll like knowing we haven’t given up.” She stood up and took hold of Waverly’s hand. “They’ll be having their breakfast, I suspect. You can make the announcement there.”
    Anne Mather led Waverly down a hallway into a large mess hall filled with oblong tables. Mather seemed exhausted and out of breath simply walking down the corridor. There must have been a sickness here, Waverly thought.
    All one hundred and thirty girls from the Empyrean were sitting at the tables, eating. They were wearing variations on the same frilly pink dress that Waverly wore, and their hair was pulled into pigtails. There was hardly any chatter. Only the clink of silverware against metal trays broke the silence in the room.
    Little Briany Beckett looked up from her full plate, saw Waverly, and let out a squeak. The other girls noticed, and there was a general cry as they rushed at Waverly, who was suddenly crushed by the crowd, all reaching, touching, and grabbing, patting her back, yelling questions. She held up her hands. “I’m fine, I’m fine!”
    Anne Mather had moved away, but she was sitting to the side where she could watch Waverly’s face. When she caught Waverly’s eye, she raised her eyebrows expectantly.
    Waverly forced her voice to sound calm, and she said, “Everyone, I have an announcement to make!” She waited until they quieted, watching her with wide, hopeful eyes. They all looked the same, in their ribbons and dresses, as they stared at Waverly, waiting for her to speak. Serafina Mbewe approached Waverly in her quiet way and wrapped her chubby fist around Waverly’s pointer finger, looking up at her face to read her lips. “Pastor Mather gave me some information…”
    “Auntie Anne?” asked Ramona Masters, waving her tiny fat hand over her head. She looked around the room, saw where Mather was seated, and toddled over to the woman’s lap. Other young girls followed, leaning against the woman or simply sitting next to her on the bench. Surrounded by children, Mather looked like a kindly old grandmother. She seemed aware of the effect and chuckled, eyes sparkling.
    This woman