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.759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqnHEHwKkBz
759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4NLQu0bLs8
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.759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6cNB34yfc
759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWIB4AoKxo
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.759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWjun4giOf0
759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2aEnwnP595
“I don’t know,” Roanna says as we walk through the hallway toward the canteen. “Is this really the right thing?”759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgtRF3GaSiq
759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1AqfvDvvx
“Look, Ro, I know this is fun for you, but have you ever thought it could be really dangerous?”759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW1GHpdWIsZ
759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0BWeL7K5r
“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.”759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJ17L5cYPK
759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8e3o3D07BP
A disbelieving laugh bursts out of my mouth before I can stop it. She clamps her lips shut, her eyes widening slightly.759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLSrpbNpyW
759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcdU47iLLDq
“Ro, I’m so sorry.” I reach out to her. “I was being a complete tosser. I didn’t mean to laugh.”759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtoLHqqR9E
759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDpEu6hFYV
“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.”759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHKhBOv3JM
759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiopV1PFlx0
“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.”759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXYWap0OQ4
759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8yTItLQRK7
“You’ve seen them now,” she says. “How can you not believe there’s something more happening here?”759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡesa9Jba50t
759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPW7IqzpFS
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.759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYove7yemp
759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrXO2ZZzNg
“It’s a freak connection that shouldn’t exist,” I say.759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHf4L6lKF5V
759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6nhMmVRGP
“Cami, I think I’m one of them.” There’s a note of desperation to Roanna’s voice.759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZskUKKuznz
759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSl98ANzXk
“One of…whom?” I say carefully. “Psychic? You’ve got to be kidding me.”759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtIWlaZF4q
759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNAoFuxV79
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.”759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmA4DnaBzP
759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwZSfd22NS
“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.”759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡersdbiD20K
759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLtgj6Hy6p
“Good news for you. I won’t be doing that anymore.” She spins on her heel and stomps off.759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLFIe541cR
759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡahdZ7rZEBR
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.759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuktRCHHHxl
759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxIFZTmLA3
I’m walking through the hallway, thinking only of finding Will, when someone stops me by putting his hands on my shoulders.759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIFn4RnmnT
759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4rsE9hfEsW
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.759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGh4Pd17fH
759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6IBigOSTU
“Cami,” he says, taking a deep breath and visibly steeling himself. “I wanted to talk to you.”759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBH99uCp8He
759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ67Vunr2Gb
“All right,” I say, my mind still on going outside and finding Will.759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINYN82meHt
759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAgFFw4LHEN
“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.”759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMawsHXWvG
759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTw6vqEfEY2
“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.”759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoWKT2mh57I
759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNs7bbDBvFE
“I have to say, you’re taking this much better than I expected. I’m relieved.” But he looks a little disappointed.759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2l28TSyt1j
759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW23BqQvieG
“I’m sorry, but…who are you?” I say, feeling a little bad that I have to ask.759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0TgrKb3dJ
759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5s9q2s2DZ
His eyebrows knit together. “I’m Will. Will Poynter. We’ve emailed each other a bit during the holidays.”759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvbaVXlqwR
759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbsOaHVag28
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.759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡey1w8rybe7
759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqxqDvAbTC
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.759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsuJNqogzDO
Penana
search
Loginarrow_drop_down
Registerarrow_drop_down
