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.822Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkch4KBhGFI
822Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgL3OdboHFa
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.822Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Kx2RZ1Hld
822Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6EFAOt5zuF
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.822Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLjfefCULsv
822Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5hgjSEKahr
“I don’t know,” Roanna says as we walk through the hallway toward the canteen. “Is this really the right thing?”822Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxbCiMxqjl
822Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbRmtch6suE
“Look, Ro, I know this is fun for you, but have you ever thought it could be really dangerous?”822Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj3QFJHtjRf
822Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGkPTfye20
“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.”822Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0ewdGdBBQ
822Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqK6zwwTqa
A disbelieving laugh bursts out of my mouth before I can stop it. She clamps her lips shut, her eyes widening slightly.822Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5BazY8GnJ
822Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSt5YvsQSLh
“Ro, I’m so sorry.” I reach out to her. “I was being a complete tosser. I didn’t mean to laugh.”822Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPyq8dvtSE
822Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIytXhB70Pp
“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.”822Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1X37a5Fyb
822Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hgYDg17zI
“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.”822Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGVJ0k5kdJH
822Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZG5GPAhy86
“You’ve seen them now,” she says. “How can you not believe there’s something more happening here?”822Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3LVr05zLRO
822Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT35W3aXeM3
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.822Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76iAxPC0W9
822Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMVMHOb3LKJ
“It’s a freak connection that shouldn’t exist,” I say.822Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05hIs3qGmj
822Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQADzU1N7eu
“Cami, I think I’m one of them.” There’s a note of desperation to Roanna’s voice.822Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQgbghunvB
822Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVcyL2Pd3e
“One of…whom?” I say carefully. “Psychic? You’ve got to be kidding me.”822Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgE13uTswVz
822Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOpLYAgaKP
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.”822Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAtTyqFiWls
822Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3vY35jiUx
“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.”822Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jt0fVfTKo
822Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFVD6H1uhHY
“Good news for you. I won’t be doing that anymore.” She spins on her heel and stomps off.822Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBroiiQHDAh
822Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFLz2xtFR7
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.822Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3mEOB9JCq
822Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBu7FNAe9B
I’m walking through the hallway, thinking only of finding Will, when someone stops me by putting his hands on my shoulders.822Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnNq77nugj
822Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5k8eLODjIO
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.822Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgWXisfGl3y
822Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo8QsDUNnua
“Cami,” he says, taking a deep breath and visibly steeling himself. “I wanted to talk to you.”822Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvsXU74bVLD
822Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH93hZkGxdL
“All right,” I say, my mind still on going outside and finding Will.822Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Z4NahRjuq
822Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOab7NSYv6n
“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.”822Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnlHLWBek3g
822Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdasQgNGArF
“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.”822Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT69U92R7xZ
822Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUHIr8nS88
“I have to say, you’re taking this much better than I expected. I’m relieved.” But he looks a little disappointed.822Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLT8PqaFa7
822Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRk16dgh6Y
“I’m sorry, but…who are you?” I say, feeling a little bad that I have to ask.822Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7945wM06lT
822Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhHNg060G5
His eyebrows knit together. “I’m Will. Will Poynter. We’ve emailed each other a bit during the holidays.”822Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsMkcnoKGE
822Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Eobgmg6Wb
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.822Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9NgMWy1yKp
822Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zx0vwh34W
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.822Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0IiyrSv8V
Penana
search
登入arrow_drop_down
註冊arrow_drop_down
