Victoria Dallon didn’t know what to make of the girl standing on her front porch.
The fact that she was asking for Amy wasn’t unusual by itself. It happened less often these days than it used to, but every now and then someone still showed up at their house hoping for a miracle.
Usually it was someone desperate. A parent or a sibling, someone whose loved one had exhausted every other option. Occasionally it was someone who wanted healing for themselves, but those conversations rarely ended well.
Amy hated being cornered into helping people, and Victoria couldn’t really blame her. People saw Panacea and forgot she was a sixteen-year-old and not some magical cure machine that existed solely to solve their problems.
The stranger in front of her didn’t immediately strike Victoria as that type, though. For one thing, she looked too nervous. Most of the people who came begging were either desperate or determined. This girl looked like she was halfway through reconsidering every life decision that had brought her here.
Honestly, it was a little weird.
Victoria studied her for another second. The girl was tall, visibly awkward, brown haired, and probably around her age or younger. She wasn't somebody Victoria recognized from school, and definitely not somebody who looked like she belonged in this neighbourhood, not that Victoria had any room to judge there.
Still, it was strange.
For a moment, she considered sending the girl away. Amy wasn’t even home. She’d gone to the hospital earlier in the day and hadn’t said what time she was returning. Which wasn’t unusual lately.
Actually, now that Victoria thought about it… Amy had been acting strangely for days. She seemed more distracted and anxious than normal. Jumpier, too.
Victoria had tried asking about it. The answers she’d received had been vague at best and a nothing-burger at worst.
Amy had kept insisting everything was fine, which usually meant everything was very much not fine.
Victoria leaned on the threshold with a sigh.
The girl continued staring at her, probably hoping for a positive answer.
Poor thing.
“Look,” Victoria began, trying for a gentler tone. “Amy’s not actually—”
She stopped herself because she’d suddenly realized something.
She actually had no idea why this girl wanted Amy. For all Victoria knew she’d found Amy’s wallet, homework, or some other random thing.
Actually, no. That didn't make much sense. But still, the point remained. Maybe she should figure that out first.
“What do you need her for?”
The girl immediately clenched her jaw, and Victoria felt her stomach sink. That wasn’t a good sign. People usually didn’t need to think this hard before answering simple questions.
The girl frowned and looked away before glancing back. And for a brief moment Victoria got the distinct impression she was watching someone convince themself to talk.
Eventually the girl straightened, enough that Victoria immediately became wary. Then she spoke.
“There’s a parasite in my hand that claimed to have been created by her.”
Victoria blinked.
The sentence didn’t register, at least not immediately. After all, it wasn’t a sentence normal people said.
A parasite created by Amy.
Victoria stared, the girl stared back, and silence stretched between them. And then, all at once, several things clicked together: Amy disappearing for hours, refusing to explain herself, waking up in the middle of the night, and looking terrified whenever Victoria tried to push for answers. Through all of it she’d looked like someone carrying a secret that was slowly crushing her.
A cold feeling settled in Victoria’s stomach. And before she could properly process any of it, she moved.
One moment she was standing in the doorway. The next she had an arm around the girl’s waist, and the world blurred. A startled yelp escaped the girl, but Victoria barely heard it, and a second later they were inside.
The front door slammed shut, and she carried the girl down the hallway, past the living room, the kitchen, and straight up the stairs.
The girl made a strangled noise somewhere around the second floor landing. Victoria ignored it. Her thoughts were moving too fast.
If even half of that accusation was true—
No.
She wasn’t going to jump to conclusions. She needed information immediately.
The door to her room flew open, and the girl let out another noise of alarm as she was thrown onto the bed. Victoria stepped inside, shutting the door behind them and locking it.
The girl was wide-eyed and clearly frightened, which, admittedly, was fair.
Victoria had just kidnapped her.
There was probably a less insane way she could have handled that, but it was too late now.
Victoria’s attention remained fixed on the girl, who, seconds ago, had just casually dropped what might be the most alarming sentence she’d heard all year.
The silence lasted only a second, maybe two, then Victoria took a step forward.
“Start talking.”
The girl flinched, but Victoria didn't particularly care right now.
Because if Amy had really done something—
If there was actually a living organism involved—
If this somehow explained the past several days—
Then Victoria needed answers now.
She crossed her arms in front of her and stared directly at the increasingly nervous girl. Then, she repeated herself.
“Tell me everything.”