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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2DTuTaCMU
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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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo88wRbvLCk
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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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3LP7C6DtU
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“I don’t know,” Roanna says as we walk through the hallway toward the canteen. “Is this really the right thing?”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBX0LURIxIY
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRG8m0BNVEO
“Look, Ro, I know this is fun for you, but have you ever thought it could be really dangerous?”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXj3O0WzgU
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJp269tqlrK
“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.”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlk7cDHkDFp
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVEqWfOjqhi
A disbelieving laugh bursts out of my mouth before I can stop it. She clamps her lips shut, her eyes widening slightly.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhC2Qv6umf
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPD7QKlcy3
“Ro, I’m so sorry.” I reach out to her. “I was being a complete tosser. I didn’t mean to laugh.”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUpHXVGHvv
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Y3ylkPXxU
“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.”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1yRl6zodu
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTA9QlKFdSa
“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.”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMe71rDQOF
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTSjTI83UT
“You’ve seen them now,” she says. “How can you not believe there’s something more happening here?”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltjMShzO6P
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgC3aycXKh
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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QKCDidIlK
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8Sff64DKE
“It’s a freak connection that shouldn’t exist,” I say.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzZTZLe09g
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMt7aNM1UK
“Cami, I think I’m one of them.” There’s a note of desperation to Roanna’s voice.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2B6vPRYJ78
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8I2Jh0PKFG
“One of…whom?” I say carefully. “Psychic? You’ve got to be kidding me.”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2H2Mj46fl
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNotYuEEIc
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.”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCtlv3oMuE1
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmaOCKpKD1T
“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.”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhV6s0eWZ1G
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZnCZ92A9x
“Good news for you. I won’t be doing that anymore.” She spins on her heel and stomps off.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCrwKsXpgF
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8WIJfwThq
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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTvN7AZ5Cp
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JEqmF71Sy
I’m walking through the hallway, thinking only of finding Will, when someone stops me by putting his hands on my shoulders.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGOJssAtzt
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWQgqjl0Tp
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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5ZmvyBI6F
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdeAJ7GFGV
“Cami,” he says, taking a deep breath and visibly steeling himself. “I wanted to talk to you.”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQG9raMfJp
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“All right,” I say, my mind still on going outside and finding Will.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNuE210i5xO
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhm8GXX2Vf
“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.”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQpjPlaOFW
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj94gm4IO5i
“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.”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6GXKf6LqQ
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Ias3Vzs17
“I have to say, you’re taking this much better than I expected. I’m relieved.” But he looks a little disappointed.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSRrFAQAXKs
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbx3NKT7W8
“I’m sorry, but…who are you?” I say, feeling a little bad that I have to ask.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ316zSIAaP7
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtbxuCu8xc
His eyebrows knit together. “I’m Will. Will Poynter. We’ve emailed each other a bit during the holidays.”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLuI29UIYG
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9xwgRgpfx
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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JCjj47UQ9
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6BdnYZxWe0
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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtcP7fRGgCT
8964 copyright protection384ＰＥＮＡＮＡxEjlIu7ww2 維尼
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