The dinosaur's jaw opened by itself.
Mason pulled it against his chest so fast the taped leg bent under his thumb. The toy made no sound, and the silence scared him more than a roar would have.
Jade stayed on the cafeteria floor. Her knees had gone numb from crouching, and her right eye pulsed behind the socket. She let both things stay small. If she moved wrong, every adult in the room would remember they were bigger than Mason.
"I need to ask something, and you can refuse before I finish."
Mason looked from her to the toy.
"Is the question about him or about me?"
"About the tape on his leg. I only want to look."
His first answer showed in his shoulders. Refusal. Then he caught it and looked around, checking the adults, the screen, the door, and the Hunter by the wall.
Jade hated that pause more than the moving toy. Somebody had taught him that refusal became dangerous unless the room approved it first.
"You can make it plain. Refusal counts here."
Mason swallowed.
