I keep thinking about what Madame Pommier told us the night before. Psychics? Connections to the past? It’s difficult to stomach. Still, I did see ghosts, so I suppose I have to believe in such far-fetched explanations. I can’t decide if it’s better or worse that we’re seeing living people not actual ghosts.757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnvJZGQgiuq
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbfZTm2ktb
In any case, Madame Pommier told us the connection will be closed by sunset tonight. It’s a crucial time, according to her, because tonight is All Hallow’s Eve, when the connection is the strongest. The last thing we want is for patients—whether lunatics or psychics—to cross over here or for students to get trapped in a 1920s psychiatric hospital.757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRAFnsyCwpn
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVmVt9HZXL
As far as I’m concerned, sunset is delaying it for too long. I make the mistake of telling Roanna, who’s been downcast since Madame Pommier explained everything to us last night.757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82YawyXZEf
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgtZJHMZfAG
“I don’t know,” Roanna says as we walk through the hallway toward the canteen. “Is this really the right thing?”757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfIXXVp0YM
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpenTEw7c8a
“Look, Ro, I know this is fun for you, but have you ever thought it could be really dangerous?”757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5dcMTA5ShX
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJKa8QX2c3
“No,” Roanna says, pushing her glasses up her nose. “I really don’t think so. I feel like there’s something more—like these people are misunderstood.”757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxtIzVTNjKk
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4KM2Hbtu8o
A disbelieving laugh bursts out of my mouth before I can stop it. She clamps her lips shut, her eyes widening slightly.757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaGjrwVchHf
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2WC2haxxo2
“Ro, I’m so sorry.” I reach out to her. “I was being a complete tosser. I didn’t mean to laugh.”757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacFrpYeOaZ
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzn08Pgziv
“No, because you always just hold back, right?” she says, stepping out of my reach. “I know you don’t believe me. You never have.”757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZRKCIPKBY4
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡstTgWmTV4f
“I never lied to you,” I say, temper rising. “You knew I never believed in any of this, but you also knew I always supported you.”757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vXiHKuLQZ
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYKofdog0k
“You’ve seen them now,” she says. “How can you not believe there’s something more happening here?”757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXQAMP2kNJ
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgzvgW7Ficm
I think back to the room with the row of beds, and the way the people came toward us. I remember the bruise on Jen’s throat. I can’t suppress a shudder.757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbZoEqNKoC
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUM6KgtaO34
“It’s a freak connection that shouldn’t exist,” I say.757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPC1fdbpJQJ
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSrBeW3DNf
“Cami, I think I’m one of them.” There’s a note of desperation to Roanna’s voice.757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLqriCuSXmd
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD74i7AhGCr
“One of…whom?” I say carefully. “Psychic? You’ve got to be kidding me.”757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHVvElSEvh
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4N5XPgZzLn
Roanna glares at me and speaks vehemently. “I’ve had dreams about Wolverhampton since before I ever laid eyes on this school. I’ve seen more ‘ghosts’ than all the other students combined—even Jen. I keep seeing this nurse, and she looks so…she looks so sad. I have to stop Madame Pommier from closing the door before we can learn more about what’s going on. And if you aren’t going to help me, I don’t need you.”757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0susSjupkZ
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxBIu5ZOikn
“Fine,” I say, her last line causing anger to come to a boil inside me. “Do it on your own, then. I never understood why you insisted on dragging me along everywhere.”757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFgnFQwzW7
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhqsdHlr4U
“Good news for you. I won’t be doing that anymore.” She spins on her heel and stomps off.757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jpfxMSi7U
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEhth3VvgD
I take a deep breath and head away from the canteen and toward the grounds. I want to see Will. I want him to hold me and soothe me. My heart pounds, and dread fills my veins. This is the biggest fight I’ve ever had with Roanna.757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCimiYzDwI
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7sprEgtR2k
I’m walking through the hallway, thinking only of finding Will, when someone stops me by putting his hands on my shoulders.757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYHRAKCKJx
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWNqQ2nCWYo
I stare at him, wondering how he can touch me so easily. I don’t really know him, and I’ve only spoken to him a handful of times—most recently when he helped me pick up my fallen books the other day.757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡerPgL1WGFK
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5iUYouvIxF
“Cami,” he says, taking a deep breath and visibly steeling himself. “I wanted to talk to you.”757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYzFBae9fS
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkrG8AI227
“All right,” I say, my mind still on going outside and finding Will.757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBbbGQ8e1Z
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3ILwp7jpx
“I know how you feel,” he says in a rush. “People have been telling me over the past couple of years that you…that you fancy me. I don’t really know how to say this. I guess I should just come out and say it. The truth is…I’m gay.”757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSDuYt7ZMj
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuYqbReMziS
“Oh, um, congratulations,” I say, trying not to let the word sound like a question. I’m not sure why he’s telling me this when we’ve only talked a few times. “I’m sure coming out was very difficult.”757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEy8GHlnUaS
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLeHGUkR1X6
“I have to say, you’re taking this much better than I expected. I’m relieved.” But he looks a little disappointed.757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWs81eJ0KL0
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKkAC7KkGJ
“I’m sorry, but…who are you?” I say, feeling a little bad that I have to ask.757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6VUZQ2pvmQ
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHrUZyil7q
His eyebrows knit together. “I’m Will. Will Poynter. We’ve emailed each other a bit during the holidays.”757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjtCJT5wuE
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQjRjeUiKn1
I’m frozen. He isn’t Will Poynter. Will Poynter is my Will. I think about him sitting beside me under the crabapple tree; Will lacing his fingers through mine; Will telling me he’d planted camellias for me. Everything good in my life has been tied to Will—everything that hasn’t been tied to Roanna, that is. They’re the people I love most in the world.757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvoS5syWbWd
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2H8CZFwVVD
I know I have to find Roanna and apologize, but first I have to find Will—my Will—and figure out what’s going on.757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetUm32C1Sv
Penana
search
Loginarrow_drop_down
Registerarrow_drop_down
