Elián;
Nobody moves for a long time.
The ice ticks…The frost creeps. Even my own breath hangs in front of my face in the dark. The only light is the cold blue glow of my hands.
I stand in the middle of the hallway and wait for someone to scream, or run, or call the police…
Instead, it's Zack who speaks first.
"So," he says, in a very small voice. "That's new."
I know he's trying to lighten the mood, but nobody laughs.
"Zack," Reed says.
"I'm just saying. If we're doing this, I need a drink." He answers as he peels himself off the wall. His hand is still shaking, but he drags it through his buzz cut and manages a crooked grin that doesn't reach his eyes. "Or six."
Reed doesn't answer. He's staring at me. His silver eyes are steady, and I've never been so grateful and so frightened of anyone's calm.
"Elián," he says. "Can you stop it?"
"I'm trying," I answer weakly. Trying all at once to stop the frost and bite back my tears.
"What do you need?"
