“You’re him.” Cadence didn’t move, didn’t stand up, didn’t even turn her head until she repeated it. “You’re him. You’re... Skelton.”

He was still in his own world, sniffling and wiping his eyes. “It weren’t my fault. He took over my brain.” His sadness morphed into what she could only describe as rage then, as he whirled around and grabbed her shoulders again. “He’ll do the same to ye, Miss Findley! You’ve gotta believe me. Don’t go. If ya do, you’ll regret it. He’ll get into yer head, and you’ll never, ever get him out. He’ll make ya do bad things. Real bad things.”

His fingers were beginning to dig...