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.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7VNQ1vu4T
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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.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRpb5qRA5r
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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.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QUTMPYIeD
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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?”667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6eO4KRpfgo
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“Look, Ro, I know this is fun for you, but have you ever thought it could be really dangerous?”667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa25QZQf1Cq
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“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.”667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ26yM5t4pQ4
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A disbelieving laugh bursts out of my mouth before I can stop it. She clamps her lips shut, her eyes widening slightly.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVuNDxoWCPh
667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC45RRaEezz
“Ro, I’m so sorry.” I reach out to her. “I was being a complete tosser. I didn’t mean to laugh.”667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡffzTPFnqoC
667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQYnkpXzXOW
“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.”667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWRTbiGPBk
667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKIgbKHV6f
“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.”667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNKFZcPjm1
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“You’ve seen them now,” she says. “How can you not believe there’s something more happening here?”667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYgLTCcGwmh
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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.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXnQJp34Ws
667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxIBg9ILat
“It’s a freak connection that shouldn’t exist,” I say.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9IJZ4Pgjy7
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“Cami, I think I’m one of them.” There’s a note of desperation to Roanna’s voice.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKkRg212fE1
667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4umPVchpNa
“One of…whom?” I say carefully. “Psychic? You’ve got to be kidding me.”667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf35GaH6dBC
667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJlqXur3cvU
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.”667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ZKeUt8ocx
667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjclBPuM0P
“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.”667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9OVG4ugnI
667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFjqeytBRl
“Good news for you. I won’t be doing that anymore.” She spins on her heel and stomps off.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0r2yxT4Ww
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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.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlgAMZ5UPTA
667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaR2kSAxo5
I’m walking through the hallway, thinking only of finding Will, when someone stops me by putting his hands on my shoulders.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4yvhyprMun
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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.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAswPn0RNQJ
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“Cami,” he says, taking a deep breath and visibly steeling himself. “I wanted to talk to you.”667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8PRYnvL2vg
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“All right,” I say, my mind still on going outside and finding Will.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaK28HKrdan
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“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.”667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN215qGinkg
667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrHHNYV5jrr
“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.”667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpUSfX4f7Z
667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkoXsS8n8bZ
“I have to say, you’re taking this much better than I expected. I’m relieved.” But he looks a little disappointed.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlCQ6FolW3L
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“I’m sorry, but…who are you?” I say, feeling a little bad that I have to ask.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡky0cRa2FSF
667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXDRxsyPH3l
His eyebrows knit together. “I’m Will. Will Poynter. We’ve emailed each other a bit during the holidays.”667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpfL1FucwW
667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQOcjHTK9d
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.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXAdjpDvsO7
667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylxE7vFHRG
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.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnD7709UZZ
Penana
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