Over the next few days, I sent Virginia to stay with my uncle, then threw myself into the performance of a lifetime.
Every morning, I made a point of swaying as I got out of bed in front of Clement, bracing myself against the wall just to stand.
"Honey, why do you look so pale?"
He walked over with a glass of milk, concern painted across his face like a mask.
I gave him a weak smile. "I don't know what's wrong with me. Lately I feel drained all the time, like my body doesn't even belong to me anymore."
He furrowed his brow the way he always used to. "Should we go to the hospital?"
I shook my head, deliberately letting the fake pendant peek out from my collar. "No need. Look, the pendant's almost completely red. Maybe once it turns all the way, I'll feel better."
Clement nodded. But I didn't miss the corner of his mouth twitching upward.
On the fourth day, I threw myself down the stairs on purpose.
He rushed over to catch me. "Carla! Are you okay?"
I sucked in air through my teeth, my voice shaking. "Clement... something strange has been happening to me. Sometimes it's like I can't control my own body. Like... like someone else is trying to push their way in."