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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡluwJibKEev
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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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xxlcjZhdO
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmMBfwACTJ
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobN5d5PF9G
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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?”474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmHR6yEEkj
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2DDmGRMKha
“Look, Ro, I know this is fun for you, but have you ever thought it could be really dangerous?”474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzmMCvCtya
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIfGpbwRo2
“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.”474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKWCbiUOI6
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Thvp2K29T
A disbelieving laugh bursts out of my mouth before I can stop it. She clamps her lips shut, her eyes widening slightly.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBnDP2AoeB
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQfE7pzSsp
“Ro, I’m so sorry.” I reach out to her. “I was being a complete tosser. I didn’t mean to laugh.”474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIHgNbWZ5V
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMzOyWUo1GR
“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.”474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0oAydijlVH
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRUMjt7CDr
“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.”474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwzXgVERED
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0uyBsNHJI
“You’ve seen them now,” she says. “How can you not believe there’s something more happening here?”474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNfnG9msrRf
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUorsiANMu2
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5vv2F3Jej
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVZH3EvRQU
“It’s a freak connection that shouldn’t exist,” I say.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBn3fPrt84x
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSK3gl2Hxm5
“Cami, I think I’m one of them.” There’s a note of desperation to Roanna’s voice.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEcKmCVWLDh
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡByIhMm9OgN
“One of…whom?” I say carefully. “Psychic? You’ve got to be kidding me.”474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDMbreJgMq
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa9wPTXmHXA
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.”474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrrJGAGw8w
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5lduxpOiQt
“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.”474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzdjgUic7j
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvu18Si1jzk
“Good news for you. I won’t be doing that anymore.” She spins on her heel and stomps off.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGu4LJonih1
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7VejWrKTE
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRLmz1OBWf
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexUJqhH3eQ
I’m walking through the hallway, thinking only of finding Will, when someone stops me by putting his hands on my shoulders.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBEmTm8UQyJ
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tFEv9sVtZ
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWPPPlGTYCZ
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqlubwzsGW
“Cami,” he says, taking a deep breath and visibly steeling himself. “I wanted to talk to you.”474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4SGl7CZZvs
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCLI6lifAR
“All right,” I say, my mind still on going outside and finding Will.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpTB52z3Y8
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNEa8bm4msC
“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.”474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0FGctemwG3
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfoLrA2qHUQ
“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.”474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCj32dVXDW
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcb9YwifErR
“I have to say, you’re taking this much better than I expected. I’m relieved.” But he looks a little disappointed.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGwPWOxSHC
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8BkQ5OXzS
“I’m sorry, but…who are you?” I say, feeling a little bad that I have to ask.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMA8LaoueQ
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZC06Pnk1W
His eyebrows knit together. “I’m Will. Will Poynter. We’ve emailed each other a bit during the holidays.”474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35RwjPq8pP
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3F0w9PcCd
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4u7zomUdnT
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxjXs7mvOEy
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRyBnGphXCN
Penana
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