A hand tore Joey from the bed. He opened his eyes to find himself looking into those of Aunt Veronica. Her eyes have the same menacing look as in his dream. "Time's up," she said. "Now, what about the algae?"
"I don't know," he said.
She turned him to face the corner. Molly huddled there, wearing Samantha's pink dress from the party. Aunt Veronica tossed him on the bed to seize Molly by her curly hair. He saw when she got to her feet that Molly had shrunk into a toddler. "You see what you've done to her?" She pinched Molly's tear-stained cheeks. "She's a baby now because of you."
"I didn't do anything," Joey said.
"That's exactly the point." Aunt Veronica let little Molly slip to the ground and then hefted Joey again. "We've tried her way, now we're going to do things my way. You're going to tell me what I want to know or I'm going to kill her and you and everyone else on this fucking island. Do you get it?"
He nodded. "Good. Now, no more pussyfooting around." Before he could say anything, she banged his head into the wall. As his world turned dark, he thought of Mommy. Somewhere, he knew she was in danger.