Gritting my teeth, I jerked the curtains apart. Saw movement to the left. I zeroed in on it and thought I saw a tall, muscled body dressed in black. Thought that body stopped, turnedand glowing violet eyes met mine.
* * *
Will anything ordinary ever happen to me? I wondered the next morning as I trudged onto the bus. After maybe or maybe not seeing Cole, Id gone to sleep, as planned, but bad dreams had awoken me. Id tried to read but had ended up pacing and obsessing about those violet eyes.
Had I seen them, or had I imagined them?
Imagined, surely. Cole would never have stood outside my house, simply watching me. Plus, he didnt know my address. I hadnt even given it to Kat.
As lost in thought as I was, I didnt remember to keep my head down and my gaze averted. At the back of the bus, I spotted Justin Silverstone, with his dark hair and puppy dog brown eyes.
He gave me a warm smile and waved me over. I couldnt leave him hanging; his feelings would be hurt. And I couldnt hurt his feelings because I kinda owed him. As I lugged my thousand-pound backpack to the end of the bus, I noticed that the dark-haired girl who sat across from him was glaring at me. I didnt know her and had no problem ignoring her.
Justin slid to the window, making room for me. I eased down beside him. Hi, he said. He smelled nice, like some kind of fruity cereal and toothpaste.
Hi. His hair wasnt brown, as Id assumed. The morning sun cast bright rays through the glass, highlighting the strands. He was a redhead. In fact, the strands suddenly looked as if they were on fire.
Im Justin.
I know. You kinda made an impression in the cafeteria, and the girls filled me in. Im surprised you dont go by Ace or Killer, though.
His eyes flashed with irritation. Why? Whatd they tell you about me?
I wasnt sure what Id said to annoy him and hurried to soothe. Only your name and the fact that you keep to yourself, but everyone at school seems to go by a nickname. Kat, Frosty, Bronx, and because I didnt want to single out Coles group, I made up a few. Boo Bear, Jelly Bean, Freckles.
The irritation vanished and he laughed. Good point. What about you?
Im Ali.
Just Ali? Not Angel or Snowcake?
A bubble of amusement grew. Snowcake? Really? Thats what youd pick for me?
He reached out, pinched a lock of my hair between his fingers, reminding me of Cole. Yeah. Dont kill the messenger, but it kind of fits.
Maybe Ill just hurt the messenger a bit. I felt at ease with him, I realized. I liked him. And, the good news was, he had to live close to me since we were riding the same bus. Maybe we could, I dont know, hang out after hours. Clearly I needed to break up my routine. By the way, I never thanked you, I said. Sorry about that.
Thank me for what?
For helping me out with Mr. Butthole that first day, as well as the pointer about Mackenzie.
He raised a brow, even as he gave another laugh. A warm, natural sound, as if he found amusement in a lot of things and wasnt afraid to enjoy himself. Butthole? You are into nicknames, arent you?
I shrugged.
By the way, the trick with Buttle slash Butthole is to suck up. If you tell him that hes the smartest teacher youve ever had, hell be yours all year.
Buttle. Duh. How could I have forgotten that? Is that what you did?
I manned up the words a little, but yeah.
Manned up, I replied with a snort. So you grunted a lot and drilled your knuckles into his shoulder.
Thats cave-manning up. Learn the difference.
Now I was the one to arch a brow. Show me the difference.
All right. Heres manning up. His expression took on an awed cast. Dang, Mr. Buttle. My brain hurts from information overload. Good job, dude.
The bus hit a bump, and we bounced in our seats. So telling him that he clearly put the fun in funeral is out? The moment I spoke, I wanted to snatch the words back. No way did I want to talk about funerals.
Please, please, please tell him that. Ill even walk you to his room the moment we get to school, Justin said, but he must have noticed my discomfort a second later because he quickly changed the subject. So, heyI noticed you hanging with Kat.
Yes.
Have you known her long?
Met her over the summer. Why?
A long, heavy pause; a shrug. Last year she hung out with Cole Hollands crowd, and she definitely will again. Once someone breaches their inner trust circle, that someone doesnt leave it without a world of pain. Id be careful if I were you, or shell drag you down with her.
I liked Kat. A lot. I didnt care who she hung out with or dated, even if that who had Cole on speed dial. As for Justins second warning, I wasnt sure what was happening between me and Colesomething? Anything? Nothing?but I wasnt going to discuss it with him. I could barely even discuss it with myself.
So you know him? Cole, I mean? I asked, not changing the subject but making it clear relationships were off the menu.
Justin lost his smile. Yep.
Have many people entered that trust circle of his?
Nope. Hey, were here.
I looked around, and sure enough, the bus had stopped in front of the school, and all the other kids were standing, moving outside. The ride had never ended so swiftly.
I stood and strode down the aisle, Justin close on my heels. Automatically my gaze shot to the sky. A long stretch of baby blue, fat clouds inching bybut no rabbits. Thank you, Lord.
Justin stayed by my side as we entered the massive, winding building. We should hang out this weekend, he said.
Yeah, I Had promised to go to Reeves party, I recalled. Well, Kat had promised for me. Because I adored her, I had to keep that option open. Just in case. And wow, what a difference a few days could make. Before, Id scrambled for an excuse, any excuse, to avoid going. Now, I was actually considering making an appearance. Wait. Im not sure
Never mind, Justin muttered, his voice thick with embarrassment. Dont worry about it.
No! I rushed out. Not never mind. I wasnt thinking of ways to turn you down or anything like that. I was figuring out the best time.
He gave me another warm smile, all straight white teeth and happiness. Yeah?
It was a grin I found myself returning. Yeah.
Of course, thats when I ran into Cole. Literally ran into him. I had been looking at Justin, not paying attention to the path ahead of me, and plowed right into Coles solid chest.
His arms snaked around my waist, preventing me from ricocheting off him. I grabbed his shirt automatically, fisting the material. He was so strong, so steady, that he didnt move an inch.
Im so Our gazes locked, my blue with his violet, and once again the rest of the world faded away. Only, this time we didnt kiss. We
fought?
Night reigned, the full moon hemorrhaging from its overhead perch, practically dripping crimson into the sky. Trees surrounded us. Cole had his back pressed against mine. We were aloneexcept for the twenty or so monsters slowly stalking toward us.
Each had matted hair that was falling out in chunks, and sagging, pitted skin. Sunken eyes. Bloodstained cheeks. Dirty, ripped clothing. Each and every one of the monsters was moaning, creating a chorus of evil.
Violent tremors shook me, squeezing my lungs in a vise grip. Cole held two broadswords. How I knew they were broadswords when Id never before heard the term, I didnt know. All I knew was that I was freaked out. Those weapons were long, thick and sharpand stained with black ooze, just like the monsters.
On my count, go low, he demanded.
The count of what? Three? My voice squeaked with hysteria. Monsters, monsters, so many monsters, here, there, everywhere. Were these the ones who had eaten my parents? Was I next? Was Cole?
One, he said.
Closercloser still
Two
Oh, sweet heaven. This was it. The end of me, of us. There was no way we could fight off so many.
Three!
I fell forward, going as low as possible. In the vision, I watched as Cole twirled those swords, slashing two monsters across their throats. No blood flowed as those bodies twitchedtwitchedand rose again.
I should be on my feet. I should be helping him. He couldnt fight them on his own. Not all of them. I should
Ali!
The world whooshed back into focus. I stood in a hallway, kids all around me rather than monsters. Cole was still in front of me, still holding me, and horror filled his beautiful eyes. Black hair fell over his forehead, as if hed plowed his hands through a time or twenty. No hat today. His cheeks were fever flushed, probably a mirror of mine.
Horrified, we jerked away from each other, both of us panting. A clammy sheen slicked over my skin, and a mix of acid and glass shards took up permanent residence inside my stomach. And why wouldnt it? I wondered with a laugh bordering on the same hysteria Id experienced in the vision. Strange crap kept happening to me. Every day, there was something new. Something worse.
Cole backed away from me, one step, two. Thats when I noticed Mackenzie. Shed come up behind him, had wound her arm around his waist. Was tugging him backback, away from me.
How stunning she was, those dark curls cascading freely, her eyes glitter bright with rage as they pierced me. Despite the days heat, she wore another sweater and slacks. The business kind, making her look professional, like someone youd see on TV, telling you about the newest world crisis.
Justin placed his hand on my shoulder, clasping tightly enough to bruise. Are you okay?
I couldnt look away from Cole. Why was he frowning at me like that? Had he seen the fight, too? If sohow? Why? What did any of this mean?
Cole caught Justins action, though, and stopped moving away from me. Scowling now, he stepped forward, closing in on Justin. His hands curled into fists. Was he going to challenge Justin?
I couldnt let that happen. Grabbing hold of Justins wrist, I spun us both and raced around a corner, leaving Cole behind.
Are you and Cole dating or something? Justin asked me, dark emotion in his voice.
No.
Are you sure about that, because he
Im sure. Listen, Im not going to make it to first block. I couldnt sit through an hour-long lecture. I just couldnt. Already I verged on a panic attack. Those monstersCole I have to go.
I rattled off my phone number to Justin, told him to call me this weekend, then left him in the dust. I searched for Kat. Shed say something hilarious and I would calm down. I needed to calm down. I couldnt go on like this; Id crackand there was no telling what would spew out.
And maybemaybe Id tell her about the visions. She might laugh at me, she might refuse to talk to me again, but I had to risk it. There were too many unanswered questions. Plus, she knew Cole far better than I did. She might have information that would help me. As much as I needed to calm down, I needed someone to help me.
A few minutes later I found Reeve and nearly howled with a heady mixture of hope and relief. Wheres Kat? I have to talk to her.
Shes not coming today, Reeve replied, slamming her locker shut.
Hope deflated like a balloon. Why? Is she okay?
She flipped her hair over one shoulder, an action as natural to her as breathing. She didnt say. Just said shed see me tomorrow, at the party. Youre coming right?
Yes. No. Maybe. After that vision, I wasnt sure of anything. Was it a warning? Kind of like the rabbit in the sky? If I ventured out at night, would I see more monsters?
What about tonights game? she asked.
I have to go, I found myself saying again.
I didnt wait for her reply but kicked into motion. I had no car to take me somewhere else. I didnt know the building well and had no idea where the janitors closet or an empty classroom was. I couldnt call Nana to come get me, because Id have to fake being sickalthough, how fake would it be?and shed worry about being rightI knew you had pneumoniaand insist on taking me to the hospital.
Footsteps behind me. A hard arm wrapped around my waist. I curled both hands into fists, ready to do some damage to whoever the culprit was. Only, it was Cole, and for some strange reason that finally calmed meeven though he was the main source of my panic.
He forcibly switched my direction. This way. You and I are going to talk.
7Out of the Chrysalis and Into the Abyss
Cole ushered me outside, through the sunny parking lot now devoid of kidsand witnessesand into a brown Jeep Wrangler. Or maybe it was a white Jeep Wrangler. With all the mud caked on the sides, it was kinda hard to tell.
The top was off and the doors were gone. The inside had dried leaves on the floorboards, and specks of something dark. The backseat had been removed, creating a wide-open space.
I buckled into the passenger seat as he claimed the drivers side. A quick scan of the sky provedthank Godthere was still no rabbit cloud.
Dr. Wright will I began.
She wont care that were gone, he interjected.
How do you know? Did you ask her?
Silence.
Id take that as a big fat no. So where are you taking me? Whatever his answer, I wouldnt be scared. Not even if he said slaughterhouse or the far worse karaoke bar. (I was a terrible singer.) We were going to talk!
He cranked the radio, Since October suddenly pounding from the speakers, and peeled out, smoke rising from the tires and wafting inside the open vehicle. O-kay. Message received. He wanted to play the quiet game first. Prepare to lose, Cole Holland!
As wind whipped through my hair, I studied his profile. There was a slight bump in the center of his nose, as if hed broken it more than once. The split in his lip had healed a little, and the bruise on his jaw had faded. His chin jutted stubbornly, and I felt sorry for everyone who ever challenged him.
About ten minutes into the drive, the mountains and trees whizzing by, he shut down the music and tossed me a quick glance. What?
See? Id won. Just looking.