August

“Mercy? Are you all right?” The sound of the television exploding behind August was alarming, but he was more concerned about the girl in front of him. She was shaking like a leaf, her eyes closed, her face turning pale. “Mercy, please, open your eyes!”

“What’s going on?” Isabella demanded as she came into the room.

August glanced at her but then returned his gaze to Mercy. “I don’t know. She just…” He shook his head, not sure how to put it. He didn’t want to tell his mom that this was his fault, that he’d jarred this reaction from her when he’d said Black Hole Moon, but he’d...