"Guard," she orders the hounds, and one immediately takes up a stance in the open door, the other at the paper-patched hole in the wall.

There's a small scorch mark on the floor, at the center of what used to be inscribed circles. The two carry Andrew to that spot, then shift their positions. The second unceremoniously drops his feet to the floor, then takes a tight grasp on his right arm and shoulder as the first whips the blanket off and tosses it aside before gripping his left arm and shoulder.

Meg stalks across the floor and looks Andrew right in the eye. "There's no one left in this part of the building to hear you if you scream, but I don't want to put up with the noise. Be smart. Don't try it."

She's holding a piece of chalk in her fingers.