Chapter 2

Sitting across from me at the cheerleader’s table, Tammy picked at her French fries and watched the uncomfortable byplay between Amy and Will, the highlight of the day, with a bored expression. Amanda’s attention was rapt. I knew if her ears moved they would have been perked forward, trying to catch anything that she could use, any opportunity where she could slide in without falling into the other gushing admirers. Her perfect, glossy red lips were pressed together, brows drawn making her forehead crease. I wondered absently if I should warn her about wrinkles.

Will’s rock star status didn’t interest me. James wasn’t at the table and I hadn’t seen him since that morning. I wanted to know if he’d left, or if he was still in the school, brooding. The image of James brooding almost made me laugh out loud. James just wasn’t the type. He was too full of life, too apt at finding some kind of positive to keep him going. Fine, he had a bit of a temper, but there was a kind of vitality to that too. I’d never seen anger or sadness hold him for long.

I wanted to make sure it wasn’t now.

When I stood Amanda and Tammy looked at me. I mumbled that I just wanted to go for a walk. Tammy’s little smirk was knowing. I didn’t acknowledge it.

Amanda looked ready to protest, but changed her mind before the words came out. “Would you mind going to Coach Hardey’s office? We had a sub for gym who doesn’t have the key to the storage closet. When I called Miss Daniels she told me the Coach picked it up this morning when she called in sick. I kinda think they’re having an affair…” Her words trailed off when I made it clear by my look that I was in too much of a hurry for gossip. “Anyway, we need the key if we’re going to practice after school and you need to practice if you wanna cheer at the game on Wednesday.”

A very long explanation for a very small request. I was starting to get the impression that Amanda just liked hearing herself talk. “No problem.” I turned and hurried out before she could go on again. On my way I heard her ask Tammy if she thought the Coach and the gym teacher were having an affair. I grinned when I Tammy pointed out that neither was married.

There were few people in the hall, and none in the corridor leading to the gym. I paused at the door, not liking how dark the gym was. Things moved in the shadows. No, that’s not right. I was imagining things moving in the shadows. It was just the gym, in the middle of the day. Fine, with the lights off it was a little eerie. Not a big deal. I wasn’t a little kid. Only little kids were scared of the dark.

Still wished I knew where the light switch was.

With a deep breath I took my first step into the gym and made a point of not hurrying. I didn’t need to hurry. There was nothing there.

A light, breathy sound came from beneath the bleachers. I took bigger steps. A hiss sent my skin crawling. I walked faster. Incoherent whispering, coming from all around me made me run. I could hear something else moving, behind me, closing in. I cried out and slammed into the door to the boys’ locker room.

The metal door swung open. I grabbed it and shoved it back until it clicked into place. I leaned against it, breathing hard. Then I laughed. So stupid. My mind playing tricks on me again. There was nothing there.

A screeching sound, like metal scrapping metal, came through the door. I screamed, pushed away and hit something solid. Pulled into a strong embrace panic left me. There was something very familiar about the warm presence surrounding me.

“Callie?” Taking my hands James led me to a bench between the lockers. When I sat down he took a knee in front of me and touched my face. “Are you okay?”

“No! It’s after me. It’s…” I was going crazy. My head was tired of my denial. Tired of me shoveling logic over all its warnings. Neither denial or logic would save me.

Then what would?

The heavy weight of the bracelet Tammy had given me grew warm against my wrist. An image formed in my head, growing in clarity until I could see little puzzle pieces. On each piece was a flow of events, moving, changing, like a film reel that had been sliced but not lost its ability to play. I tried to make out what they revealed.

As I concentrated one caught flame, then another. The embers burned into my skull.

“Callie.” Something grabbed my shoulders and shook me. A hand rested on the side of my face, fingers trailed below my ear. “Callie stop!”