The battery had dropped to seventeen percent.

I opened the messaging app.

I typed a message to the only person I could think of who was completely outside of Julian’s circle of influence.

My sister, Elena.

*Julian and Harris are at the house. They cut the power. They are going to blow up the house with gas. Call the State Police. Not local.*

I hit send.

The little loading wheel spun in the corner of the screen.

*Sending…*

The signal bar flickered from one to zero, then back to one.

My heart stopped.

“Did you hear that?” Julian asked suddenly.

The kitchen outside went completely quiet.

“Hear what?” Harris asked.

“A vibration,” Julian said. “Like a phone.”

I held the phone against my chest, trying to smother any sound.

The screen was still glowing faintly through my fingers.

“She’s got her phone in there,” Julian said.

His footsteps moved toward the door again.

“Clara,” he said, his face right against the wood. “Who are you texting?”

I didn’t answer.

“It doesn’t matter,” Julian said. “There’s no cell tower active within three miles of here. I put a jammer in the pine tree by the driveway.”