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.556Please respect copyright.PENANAun5nq6rYcn
556Please respect copyright.PENANAGuTQH03iTp
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.556Please respect copyright.PENANApyd9yzctY2
556Please respect copyright.PENANABoiYnJSnOj
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.556Please respect copyright.PENANAXHw1IenD6Q
556Please respect copyright.PENANAT70D212imo
“I don’t know,” Roanna says as we walk through the hallway toward the canteen. “Is this really the right thing?”556Please respect copyright.PENANABOkhRSjNcz
556Please respect copyright.PENANAMiPzHVDgYu
“Look, Ro, I know this is fun for you, but have you ever thought it could be really dangerous?”556Please respect copyright.PENANA1TN719vNH7
556Please respect copyright.PENANAtxEhYW5qR4
“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.”556Please respect copyright.PENANAvsg1zw1aiw
556Please respect copyright.PENANAAEy6gLW6N5
A disbelieving laugh bursts out of my mouth before I can stop it. She clamps her lips shut, her eyes widening slightly.556Please respect copyright.PENANAgc9iq0hVRd
556Please respect copyright.PENANAm4XpuNR6if
“Ro, I’m so sorry.” I reach out to her. “I was being a complete tosser. I didn’t mean to laugh.”556Please respect copyright.PENANAKwvhPc0Xfq
556Please respect copyright.PENANAdMS9jqEZmY
“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.”556Please respect copyright.PENANALPDj7MdNl7
556Please respect copyright.PENANAefkDWBDPTP
“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.”556Please respect copyright.PENANAwQIx9sZ8Gm
556Please respect copyright.PENANAX9rAC0Gm67
“You’ve seen them now,” she says. “How can you not believe there’s something more happening here?”556Please respect copyright.PENANAHPOGf0tsdb
556Please respect copyright.PENANAS4rLhiJJa7
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.556Please respect copyright.PENANAkGAa8jldIh
556Please respect copyright.PENANANWfe3O0dim
“It’s a freak connection that shouldn’t exist,” I say.556Please respect copyright.PENANAR7QT2mkl9K
556Please respect copyright.PENANAu6nvGadKfQ
“Cami, I think I’m one of them.” There’s a note of desperation to Roanna’s voice.556Please respect copyright.PENANA6CVFXwFptk
556Please respect copyright.PENANAnK7JFzWiFt
“One of…whom?” I say carefully. “Psychic? You’ve got to be kidding me.”556Please respect copyright.PENANAFX6E8AwaqR
556Please respect copyright.PENANAuJqs3as9Rg
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.”556Please respect copyright.PENANAh7mKJCQtAG
556Please respect copyright.PENANAtVwKcJ8Rih
“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.”556Please respect copyright.PENANAvUWKdWSpCD
556Please respect copyright.PENANAuKcozncK5x
“Good news for you. I won’t be doing that anymore.” She spins on her heel and stomps off.556Please respect copyright.PENANA0kKP7ZFFRC
556Please respect copyright.PENANAUn0cr2SBaj
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.556Please respect copyright.PENANAJeu8jIolkF
556Please respect copyright.PENANA42MwLnI4jp
I’m walking through the hallway, thinking only of finding Will, when someone stops me by putting his hands on my shoulders.556Please respect copyright.PENANA0nOyl7wAlW
556Please respect copyright.PENANA8p5rFMHPFM
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.556Please respect copyright.PENANAFQwFG1j0rY
556Please respect copyright.PENANAdGcfoeFqOG
“Cami,” he says, taking a deep breath and visibly steeling himself. “I wanted to talk to you.”556Please respect copyright.PENANAEq695eIOI4
556Please respect copyright.PENANAcwS7dxOo98
“All right,” I say, my mind still on going outside and finding Will.556Please respect copyright.PENANAnvHP7i1LkJ
556Please respect copyright.PENANAxCNUARshtO
“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.”556Please respect copyright.PENANAlnR2ChTbgL
556Please respect copyright.PENANAgT38MfU9WS
“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.”556Please respect copyright.PENANAPNcFXiNKPO
556Please respect copyright.PENANAVPVdLVkk0t
“I have to say, you’re taking this much better than I expected. I’m relieved.” But he looks a little disappointed.556Please respect copyright.PENANAvyGHv429s9
556Please respect copyright.PENANAikhWlICkvI
“I’m sorry, but…who are you?” I say, feeling a little bad that I have to ask.556Please respect copyright.PENANAAGActSKH9V
556Please respect copyright.PENANAMcVaYt5rTG
His eyebrows knit together. “I’m Will. Will Poynter. We’ve emailed each other a bit during the holidays.”556Please respect copyright.PENANAhuq0lI7dt4
556Please respect copyright.PENANAiuIxZOaYbx
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.556Please respect copyright.PENANA0T2yBiTJoK
556Please respect copyright.PENANAR3f1v2FKnR
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.556Please respect copyright.PENANAXq8vBpDIep