[Under other circumstances, Lila would feel victorious about that. She'd probably smile, showing all her teeth. But this isn't a game. This is real. She's not going to play with her food right now.]

[So she just nods. Good. Draws in a breath, the edges of her flickering, skittering, real-and-then-not.]

You need . . . to learn to clean up your own fucking messes.

[If Riley even opens her mouth, Lila holds up a hand. No.]

You have half the town at your back calling for blood on your behalf. Good for you. Here's the thing, though. Somebody's already suffered from your careless mouth. You know who I'm talking about. Do you know why?