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.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyERlJevJua
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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.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡun7RDZvGIw
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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.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0HXViSyxCy
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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?”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGt9pRQ8pt
647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4klwbN9OOK
“Look, Ro, I know this is fun for you, but have you ever thought it could be really dangerous?”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBeXoprTr5
647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPPP5GfwZa
“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.”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LF1v7UNG0
647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkK7ZGvJOsR
A disbelieving laugh bursts out of my mouth before I can stop it. She clamps her lips shut, her eyes widening slightly.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJ7uHBKAq3
647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡksQrEl860l
“Ro, I’m so sorry.” I reach out to her. “I was being a complete tosser. I didn’t mean to laugh.”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqoQz7shYl
647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMqpSdpclW
“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.”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkWufIT5tV
647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNqkVfYsOf
“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.”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEqEWeq5qn
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“You’ve seen them now,” she says. “How can you not believe there’s something more happening here?”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlzIKvph8cO
647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHiXqA5fBml
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.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8oTeMRg4p
647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBwTQkZiCR
“It’s a freak connection that shouldn’t exist,” I say.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN137Vprvhs
647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCN8beL0SRj
“Cami, I think I’m one of them.” There’s a note of desperation to Roanna’s voice.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡONm5a8Kzoq
647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHSb7xPcnr
“One of…whom?” I say carefully. “Psychic? You’ve got to be kidding me.”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBcNaQandSR
647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAbSqHjqlMo
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.”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKJUvwru2V
647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7spZogKwSQ
“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.”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIZaeR9QcZ
647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvwSHKe8i2
“Good news for you. I won’t be doing that anymore.” She spins on her heel and stomps off.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMpWIG7y02b
647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNtAcjsv5g9
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.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDoC3zQSyCL
647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNZqynMxsY
I’m walking through the hallway, thinking only of finding Will, when someone stops me by putting his hands on my shoulders.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo4teAPyNbJ
647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48KoRgKhAw
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.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5PoxQ1pxP
647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMEDbfwO9zg
“Cami,” he says, taking a deep breath and visibly steeling himself. “I wanted to talk to you.”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrkOxk8fJ2
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“All right,” I say, my mind still on going outside and finding Will.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5y0LW0ymMJ
647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCpan8v3t1i
“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.”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLmgSTwsfy
647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW82Q9er8lE
“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.”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyczry5dUrA
647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6hm4LDtml
“I have to say, you’re taking this much better than I expected. I’m relieved.” But he looks a little disappointed.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSamRiSzcW
647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGTUuw6RPtL
“I’m sorry, but…who are you?” I say, feeling a little bad that I have to ask.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCW2bhYw5j
647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJj3rA3nhbv
His eyebrows knit together. “I’m Will. Will Poynter. We’ve emailed each other a bit during the holidays.”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡckOZoduGHB
647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFaTHIXQf2
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.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJzEWabVM9
647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVDrurXFBa
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.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPlmO3GNrbZ
Penana
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