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.732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfEIBAupzb
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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.732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJAIdi4VNtz
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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.732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPTvzFMixQ
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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?”732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZD0q2GaQcy
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“Look, Ro, I know this is fun for you, but have you ever thought it could be really dangerous?”732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5b54S1d7wq
732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBabZsBkCd
“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.”732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmYvKraKJ2
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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.732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkAk5JqMaM8
732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4RZEA9mylZ
“Ro, I’m so sorry.” I reach out to her. “I was being a complete tosser. I didn’t mean to laugh.”732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3yqQWQJNr
732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ89Bw3NvaNF
“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.”732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3Xw0U3Wmo
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“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.”732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3LOF7yFfkh
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“You’ve seen them now,” she says. “How can you not believe there’s something more happening here?”732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwc6KCdvPnr
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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.732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0NlvjHyqxd
732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsVmXnKUz6J
“It’s a freak connection that shouldn’t exist,” I say.732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEkH25yHkyn
732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdyPITuK0qz
“Cami, I think I’m one of them.” There’s a note of desperation to Roanna’s voice.732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEt8ZKqxArm
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“One of…whom?” I say carefully. “Psychic? You’ve got to be kidding me.”732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaP9oUaR5U4
732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVMwEfj83n
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.”732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJo1MsMxlX
732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhJcgTlcPO
“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.”732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0R3PiDbhN
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“Good news for you. I won’t be doing that anymore.” She spins on her heel and stomps off.732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLdZT81WTg
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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.732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnU2zIRrfO
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I’m walking through the hallway, thinking only of finding Will, when someone stops me by putting his hands on my shoulders.732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPzRYNACSKr
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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.732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYpD70xTzd
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“Cami,” he says, taking a deep breath and visibly steeling himself. “I wanted to talk to you.”732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwSp4htP8G
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“All right,” I say, my mind still on going outside and finding Will.732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdwuQdGXv7
732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFbQwfOwzXR
“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.”732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXjN3QTsIX
732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuhGyHv2biV
“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.”732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZR9cm8hPs2
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“I have to say, you’re taking this much better than I expected. I’m relieved.” But he looks a little disappointed.732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvlZuzUnP1i
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“I’m sorry, but…who are you?” I say, feeling a little bad that I have to ask.732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQ0HberTE8
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His eyebrows knit together. “I’m Will. Will Poynter. We’ve emailed each other a bit during the holidays.”732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUaXVnHWFrG
732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfAiSYY8xRE
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.732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDaH5gb1yB
732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyKkHmn3Eye
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.732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR45WNTQu72
Penana
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