Chapter Four: The Seams

The DECLINE button had shrunk to a pinprick. Lin Mo did not touch it. He seized the red crayon from his sister's desk and wrote across the dialogue box: LATER. The crayon scraped against the glassy air. Both buttons froze. A note appeared. [“Later” is not a valid option.] “It is for humans.” The bedroom tilted. The cavity in Xiaoman's chest widened, pulling shelves, photographs, and her body into strips of faded paper. Lin reached for her and caught only the crayon. “Find Mom's hospital file!” she shouted through the tearing noise. “Don't trust the July fourteenth death list—” Darkness closed. Lin woke with his cheek against Wuyin Street's cold stones. Xu Zhi was dragging him toward the noodle shop.