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Rachel’s eyes cut toward me, waiting for me to give her up. A change had come over her the moment the girl in black entered the lounge. She looked afraid. Defensive and defiant, but also afraid. “She was just leaving,” I said.
    The girl in black wasn’t convinced. Her dark eyes narrowed on Rachel. “What did I tell you?”
    The Follower slid toward the door. “I don’t remember.”
    The girl in black sidestepped into her path. “Are you sure? Because it really was such a simple message. How about I give you a hint?”
    “Stay away from me,” Rachel muttered.
    “On second thought, I’ll repeat myself.” The girl punctuated her statement by poking a finger into the Follower’s chest. Hard. Like she was trying to break through the breastbone. “This school is Seeker territory. We claimed it first. That means you and the rest of your sheep do your recruiting elsewhere. If I catch you proselytizing here one more time, there are going to be consequences, and I promise you aren’t going to like them.” She pinched Rachel’s cheek, leaving behind a splotch of red. “Try to remember this time.”
    The girl in black stepped aside, and Rachel scurried toward the door. Then she stopped and looked back at me.
    “Don’t join them,” she said. “Come to Prophet. He will forgive you. Whatever you’ve done, no matter how great thesin, he will accept you. Think of it, Mia. Redemption. That’s what you seek, isn’t it? Redemption and forgiveness for the wrong you’ve done.”
    I started to tell her to shut her mouth, but my throat wouldn’t release the words.
    The girl in black took a step toward Rachel. “Get gone,” she said.
    Rachel puffed up her chest, and for the briefest moment I caught a glimpse of the goth-chick she used to be before she was swallowed by her new persona. “I’m not afraid of you,” she said. “There is no light in you. In her, yes.” She nodded at me. “I felt it. But there is no light in you, Seeker. The only thing you’ll ever be is a recruiter, hiding behind those in your cult who possess real power.”
    It seemed impossible for the girl’s eyes to get any darker, but they did. She didn’t have a chance to respond, though. Rachel pushed through the swinging door. Before she exited, I caught a glimpse of the back of her neck. The Celtic cross tattoo was gone, replaced by a ragged patch of scar tissue, as though it had been burned off.
    Then I was alone with the girl in black.
    The heat in my chest eased as soon as Rachel was gone. I drew in a deep breath and released it, shaking my head. What was wrong with me? I hadn’t come that close to losing control since Arizona, since the day my family had fled the city we’d lived in our entire lives. But I was on edge. It was that kind of day. It had been that kind of month.
    Think of it, Mia. Redemption. That’s what you seek .
    Another round of chills climbed my spine like a ladder.
    “Goddamn Followers,” the girl in black said, turning to me.
    “God saved , you mean.” My voice came out shaky.
    She laughed once, a short burst. “So your name’s Mia? Sorry about the coffee this morning,” she said. “I’m glad you were wearing black. I can’t even see the stain.”
    I could very clearly still see the stain.
    “I’m Katrina, by the way.” She held out her hand. Her nails were painted the same red as her lips. The color of stop. And displayed on the center of her palm was a reddish scar in the shape of a perfect ring. It looked like a burn scar. A brand.
    I hesitated before clasping hands with her. I wasn’t sure why. Maybe because I didn’t want to draw attention to my gloves, didn’t want her to hear the wet squish if she squeezed my hand. Or because it seemed like an oddly formal thing to do in the lounge.
    Maybe because that circular scar warned me to be careful.
    When our hands came into contact, Katrina closed her eyes. Then she gasped and released my hand quickly, and shook hers a little. She grimaced, like