the house followed by Quinnâs mother. She carries something. Quinn sees it and itâs like a hard punch to her stomach. She canât breathe. Itâs as though some invisible beast has sucked up all oxygen, leaving barely enough for Quinn to fill half her lungs. Nothing will ever be okay again. Nothing. She crumples to a heap on the floor, sobbing and gasping for air.
The officer holds Emmaâs orange backpack.
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13
C OLD WATER SMACKED Q UINNâS FACE. Her eyelids fluttered.
âQuinn? Quinn? You okay?â
The world fizzed into focus. Kara was inches away, her expression twisted with worry. Quinn tried to sit up, but sank back onto the hot cobblestones. âEmma,â she muttered. âEm.â
Kara and Josh exchanged curious glances.
âHeatstroke,â said Josh. âI told her to come into the water.â
âHush,â said Kara. âGive me that glass.â
Quinn held up a limp hand and turned away. She thought Kara was going to douse her again with ice water. Instead, Kara slipped her arm under Quinnâs neck.
âHere. Take a sip.â
Kara tipped the glass, just enough to wet her friendâs lips. Quinn opened her mouth and let the cool liquid run down her throat. She took another sip and raised her head. She gripped Karaâs shoulder. âItâs Emma. Sheâs here.â
Kara took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. She looked at Josh, then back at Quinn. âYou passed out. You must have been dreaming.â Her voice was soft and comforting, but her words were firm.
Quinn searched past Kara, past Josh, toward the hotel. She squinted and scanned each of the windows of the topmost floor. There was no pink-capped figure staring down at her. She couldnât understand it. She was so sure.
âListen, Kara. I saw her. Sheâs here. Emma is here.â Quinn hoisted herself back onto the chaise and took the glass from Karaâs hand. She drank a few more mouthfuls and set it down. âYou have to believe me. I saw Emma. It was her.â
âRiiight,â said Josh slowly. âLike the time you saw her at the zoo?â
âAnd the time we had to chase after that girl at the mall with the same jacket as Emma?â said Kara.
âAnd all those pink caps,â added Josh.
She shook her head. âThis was different. I swear. This time I really saw her. I have to find her.â She tried to stand, but Kara pulled her down.
âQuinn. You passed out. You must have thought you saw her. Josh, go get help.â
âIâm fine.â Quinn shrugged free from Karaâs hold.
She stood up, still a bit weak in the knees, steadying herself against the top of the chaise, and stepped into her boots. She darted toward the side of the hotel where sheâd seen Emma, shading her eyes, searching all the windows once again. She could feel the other guests watching her, including Rico, but none of them mattered. All that mattered was Emma.
âSatisfied?â called Josh.
âEmma is here. I know she is.â Under her breath, she added, âAnd Iâm going to find her.â
Without warning, Quinn sprinted the length of the pool toward the entrance to the hotel. Over her shoulder, she heard Kara shouting.
âQuinn! What are you doing? Joshâgrab your stuff! Quinn! Wait!â
Before Kara could catch her, Quinn ducked inside the hotel, made a sharp turn, and disappeared into the corridor that led into the wing where sheâd seen Emma. Behind, she heard Karaâs muffled calls, but Quinn wasnât going to stop, not until sheâd found her sister.
The hallway seemed endless. Quinn ran as fast as her jittery legs would carry her. She searched frantically past door after door for a stairwell that could not be found. Somewhere on the topmost floor, Emma was waiting. She had to get to herâbefore she disappeared again. Before it was too late.
Quinn turned several corners, stumbled up two