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.787Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHgkoWeaME
787Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOj04Lq4JFf
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.787Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqETWpS6il
787Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5zJz4ZN5B
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.787Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzwkWwEjhg
787Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUQ7Ut4zpH
“I don’t know,” Roanna says as we walk through the hallway toward the canteen. “Is this really the right thing?”787Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtkR5qmPKJh
787Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSGmQhwp8N
“Look, Ro, I know this is fun for you, but have you ever thought it could be really dangerous?”787Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZITDTNh3f
787Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0lx6Odf2f6
“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.”787Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7pOjwfATJ
787Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ858TGBD3Jn
A disbelieving laugh bursts out of my mouth before I can stop it. She clamps her lips shut, her eyes widening slightly.787Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡytzPJlHWzh
787Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2uweLCm8qd
“Ro, I’m so sorry.” I reach out to her. “I was being a complete tosser. I didn’t mean to laugh.”787Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZ3CON3ZHO
787Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ10NOh3SY5
“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.”787Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHpTtH4joM
787Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSMnGekwT6
“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.”787Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Cud1Vtzay
787Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIGVZmJi3O
“You’ve seen them now,” she says. “How can you not believe there’s something more happening here?”787Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRRKVLyb74F
787Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ74fltfDA3
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.787Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDiuJF2Okp
787Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtL5DURrpyw
“It’s a freak connection that shouldn’t exist,” I say.787Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvvmTCJ32bF
787Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPX8UCiPLdf
“Cami, I think I’m one of them.” There’s a note of desperation to Roanna’s voice.787Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡST41ET8jeC
787Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVqFBuMC8e0
“One of…whom?” I say carefully. “Psychic? You’ve got to be kidding me.”787Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJjpvu6KSX
787Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZDtXeCMctN
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.”787Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFx6HYq2kVA
787Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS94uXBo52h
“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.”787Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ1A7sq5qRa
787Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSFGYmjrQI
“Good news for you. I won’t be doing that anymore.” She spins on her heel and stomps off.787Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs69gfVoFdh
787Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsucpWL6AKO
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.787Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtOQ014icL
787Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7SBvVkStbA
I’m walking through the hallway, thinking only of finding Will, when someone stops me by putting his hands on my shoulders.787Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLZiBpCrS7
787Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgRanYz71t
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.787Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7CQ93wzNi
787Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhom7sQZwtU
“Cami,” he says, taking a deep breath and visibly steeling himself. “I wanted to talk to you.”787Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58rys0gvXc
787Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzvn4MWeZN
“All right,” I say, my mind still on going outside and finding Will.787Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJgMekMb1V
787Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdtV98zbwN
“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.”787Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSxQPVp3xz
787Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGgEzoQgzU
“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.”787Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQSHlwyENE9
787Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTiVHksZGv
“I have to say, you’re taking this much better than I expected. I’m relieved.” But he looks a little disappointed.787Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYAupGHucp
787Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPjLwAka4bC
“I’m sorry, but…who are you?” I say, feeling a little bad that I have to ask.787Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqPxiQOa7w
787Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtnrHzezzD
His eyebrows knit together. “I’m Will. Will Poynter. We’ve emailed each other a bit during the holidays.”787Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhvt4Ru9MR
787Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Te9ma8INu
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.787Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4nZ9iu8DR
787Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsl6BNAXmEm
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.787Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7IpBpVmgkO
Penana
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