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.739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡolllxEiTmW
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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.739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOW9fWceVY
739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUJAXrgkzP
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.739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPMDwVEPZKW
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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?”739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Q0Mput9MK
739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEDgZCoOkZ8
“Look, Ro, I know this is fun for you, but have you ever thought it could be really dangerous?”739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWjUkwFYj6q
739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLY8hAjf2S
“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.”739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7UPQ5WvFiz
739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXcuMYqX3sv
A disbelieving laugh bursts out of my mouth before I can stop it. She clamps her lips shut, her eyes widening slightly.739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8hrYJCivpd
739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhOKNfVWwr
“Ro, I’m so sorry.” I reach out to her. “I was being a complete tosser. I didn’t mean to laugh.”739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG45HwEheE4
739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHdmsDLzDz
“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.”739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XZn94wcl9
739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpAaXnZSRO
“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.”739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0YAj5UCIa
739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5nPjChZlFg
“You’ve seen them now,” she says. “How can you not believe there’s something more happening here?”739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIBeMxhAmr
739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡekkz6gKvMR
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.739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbge8ZDQNbV
739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJDAm98XgY
“It’s a freak connection that shouldn’t exist,” I say.739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmzBlAGjGO
739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNZJH9AIJU
“Cami, I think I’m one of them.” There’s a note of desperation to Roanna’s voice.739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4Wcmshq6Q
739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvk8gGMUlcj
“One of…whom?” I say carefully. “Psychic? You’ve got to be kidding me.”739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7A9rkbhAQ
739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJ6zkzIgAa
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.”739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvoVZwIg2Pa
739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPoJN2B6MX
“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.”739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt91dN7fOSG
739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpnAE7wMUx
“Good news for you. I won’t be doing that anymore.” She spins on her heel and stomps off.739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hfVzS8GOW
739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwisTJXvN8
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.739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwU0j3mTew
739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPUQ2o8BJH
I’m walking through the hallway, thinking only of finding Will, when someone stops me by putting his hands on my shoulders.739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04jxeiTEtG
739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVdbswJyms
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.739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5NQGgZge7C
739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqC6idmvLt
“Cami,” he says, taking a deep breath and visibly steeling himself. “I wanted to talk to you.”739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7VXw884sl
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“All right,” I say, my mind still on going outside and finding Will.739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUWYwIo9cp
739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA536KBq3TV
“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.”739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBeM1Zi8NGd
739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjKeRl5CY0
“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.”739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhshw3UPSEV
739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3Zzjqo8Aj
“I have to say, you’re taking this much better than I expected. I’m relieved.” But he looks a little disappointed.739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzC67hKjtoN
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“I’m sorry, but…who are you?” I say, feeling a little bad that I have to ask.739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2LalH5ZDJv
739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Yn5EDu3Gc
His eyebrows knit together. “I’m Will. Will Poynter. We’ve emailed each other a bit during the holidays.”739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCc96EGfR0D
739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6iNxM2LC2m
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.739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8XL3WC2byy
739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwi6e6Uj8zA
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.739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyWQBXSyeM
Penana
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