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.566Please respect copyright.PENANAJAAS0dJrHT
566Please respect copyright.PENANAUQ2O0UXSWc
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.566Please respect copyright.PENANAf7G4ZFiX7t
566Please respect copyright.PENANAAq3JHLFmyV
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.566Please respect copyright.PENANAjBJwoDycMN
566Please respect copyright.PENANA8FtwPgZxN4
“I don’t know,” Roanna says as we walk through the hallway toward the canteen. “Is this really the right thing?”566Please respect copyright.PENANAb7eTSe76sW
566Please respect copyright.PENANAWUXMoVERL8
“Look, Ro, I know this is fun for you, but have you ever thought it could be really dangerous?”566Please respect copyright.PENANAaHTJAKvLl5
566Please respect copyright.PENANACm4T9nkrM8
“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.”566Please respect copyright.PENANAV1Tse0PXPi
566Please respect copyright.PENANAD4P0wk2FTV
A disbelieving laugh bursts out of my mouth before I can stop it. She clamps her lips shut, her eyes widening slightly.566Please respect copyright.PENANA0lD92ZrbpY
566Please respect copyright.PENANA8eJ8vAk2EX
“Ro, I’m so sorry.” I reach out to her. “I was being a complete tosser. I didn’t mean to laugh.”566Please respect copyright.PENANAqD4YccShMu
566Please respect copyright.PENANARJ2mXw8lNu
“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.”566Please respect copyright.PENANA9LvVrs0LQc
566Please respect copyright.PENANATP5fL8Uagm
“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.”566Please respect copyright.PENANARFSYRrsYhV
566Please respect copyright.PENANA56ahlmKl8h
“You’ve seen them now,” she says. “How can you not believe there’s something more happening here?”566Please respect copyright.PENANAx4R9uiayMw
566Please respect copyright.PENANAJYFjV7t05z
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.566Please respect copyright.PENANAwDqDmvhDog
566Please respect copyright.PENANAxp7lOAzExO
“It’s a freak connection that shouldn’t exist,” I say.566Please respect copyright.PENANAZCH7Ok120C
566Please respect copyright.PENANACsTuPOT6JU
“Cami, I think I’m one of them.” There’s a note of desperation to Roanna’s voice.566Please respect copyright.PENANAcRCnd9dSbB
566Please respect copyright.PENANAbbihY2WLSM
“One of…whom?” I say carefully. “Psychic? You’ve got to be kidding me.”566Please respect copyright.PENANAABCk5PbpHp
566Please respect copyright.PENANAUsAv8MkBRw
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.”566Please respect copyright.PENANAIw5MXBkvyl
566Please respect copyright.PENANANxeVaFLVeO
“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.”566Please respect copyright.PENANAAPHgBkiZa7
566Please respect copyright.PENANA4znYO5Rczm
“Good news for you. I won’t be doing that anymore.” She spins on her heel and stomps off.566Please respect copyright.PENANAx7Wbs2o2eX
566Please respect copyright.PENANAQTs0IGozAf
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.566Please respect copyright.PENANAVsTVUTGRmE
566Please respect copyright.PENANAvVBUQ7VSNE
I’m walking through the hallway, thinking only of finding Will, when someone stops me by putting his hands on my shoulders.566Please respect copyright.PENANASiwJKWOPW3
566Please respect copyright.PENANAVP15TAuk36
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.566Please respect copyright.PENANAte3PGnjC8J
566Please respect copyright.PENANAOwCqu7tkr9
“Cami,” he says, taking a deep breath and visibly steeling himself. “I wanted to talk to you.”566Please respect copyright.PENANAgpd09zyuyW
566Please respect copyright.PENANAgiCCcN0LEQ
“All right,” I say, my mind still on going outside and finding Will.566Please respect copyright.PENANARSx81TAm1l
566Please respect copyright.PENANAX7tscH5mJR
“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.”566Please respect copyright.PENANAvdGNLuYNWs
566Please respect copyright.PENANASukR6yi9nY
“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.”566Please respect copyright.PENANAWfQBPaH34e
566Please respect copyright.PENANAgA6iWraj2K
“I have to say, you’re taking this much better than I expected. I’m relieved.” But he looks a little disappointed.566Please respect copyright.PENANAK4YDEKKLGJ
566Please respect copyright.PENANAOFRqCqihCP
“I’m sorry, but…who are you?” I say, feeling a little bad that I have to ask.566Please respect copyright.PENANADdinq1SXcn
566Please respect copyright.PENANA2ST7WFwiPI
His eyebrows knit together. “I’m Will. Will Poynter. We’ve emailed each other a bit during the holidays.”566Please respect copyright.PENANAuor9tVGv0c
566Please respect copyright.PENANAw2mZgKmD5E
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.566Please respect copyright.PENANAmujfzHVEWF
566Please respect copyright.PENANAPmkjYm3TQ1
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.566Please respect copyright.PENANAhEwMi9SZEX
arrow_back
Wolverhampton House
more_vert
-
info_outline Info
-
toc Table of Contents
-
share Share
-
format_color_text Display Settings
-
exposure_plus_1 Recommend
-
Sponsor
-
report_problem Report
-
account_circle Login
Search stories, writers or societies
Continue ReadingClear All
What Others Are ReadingRefresh
X
Never miss what's happening on Penana!
Wolverhampton House
Author:
TejiReve
ISSUE #16
Cami [7]
LIKES 1
READS 562
BOOKMARKS 2
campaign
Request update 0
Sponsor
Login with Facebook
or Sign up/Login to comment or bookmark!
Click to load the next chapter
X
After each update request, the author will receive a notification!
smartphone100 → Request update
X
Sponsor again
Click to login
Login first to show your name as a sponsor.
Thank you for supporting the story! :)
Please Login first.
×
Write down what you like about the story
×
Reading Theme:
Font Size:
Line Spacing:
Paragraph Spacing:
Load the next issue automatically
Reset to default
×
People Who Like This