CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
I awoke the next morning not on the couch where I remembered falling asleep, but in Carter’s bed, carefully tucked beneath the covers. The cabin was empty, but I could see a blanket and pillow strewn across the sofa where he must’ve slept.
I dangled my feet off the side of the bed and I stretched my arms over my head. Carefully, I slid off the bed and went to the window, pulling back the drapes. The sunlight filled the room, reflecting off a vase of freshly pick wild flowers on top of the dresser.
The door opened and Carter stepped inside with a silver tray in his arms.
“I didn’t think you would be awake this early.”
I shrugged. “What can I say? I’m a morning person. When the sun’s up, I’m up.”
“I brought you some food… that is if you feel like eating?”
“That’s another thing about me… I always feel like eating.”
I looked over the tray of food. There was a banana nut muffin, sliced strawberries, and two slices of buttered whole wheat toast.
I raised my brow. “How did you know?”
“The food?” he asked. “I’ve seen you eat lunch every afternoon since your first day in Burnwood.”
I nodded and then noticed the sizable black leather book beneath the tray. “What’s that?”
He pulled out the book and laid it on the bed. It was old and dingy looking, encased in worn leather.
“It’s your history lesson for the day. I figure if you’re going to know things, we should start at the beginning.”
I arched a brow. “The beginning?”
“You know… the history of where people like me come from.”
I grabbed the book and eagerly flipped to the first page. “There are more of you? I mean, there are more like you.”
“You didn’t seriously think I was just some type of one in a million phenomenon, did you?”
It was only after he asked the question did I realize that was exactly what I thought. The world I knew no longer existed. Everything had changed overnight, becoming a world of mystery, one in which anything was possible.
I forced a laugh. “Of course not.”
He chuckled and wrapped his arm around my shoulder, pulling me in for a kiss.
“There are many of us, which you would know if you would just read this,” he said, tapping the delicately thin page with his knuckle.
I took the book and protectively enveloped it in my arms. I got up from the bed and walked over to the sofa where my bag was propped up against a cushion.
“What are you doing?”
“Putting it in my bag.”
“Hold on.” He rushed to my side and took the book from my hand. “You’ve got to stay here and read it. My dad doesn’t know it’s gone, but I’m going to have to put it back before he gets home.”
I glanced at the digital clock sitting on the nightstand. “What about school?”
He glanced at it too, but seemed disinterested.
“How insistent are you on attending today?”
“Carter!” I exclaimed. “It’s school. We have to go.”
“Why?”
I was so baffled by the question that answering it became immensely difficult.
“What’s the harm in missing one day?” he continued, slowly backing towards the bed.
I frowned. “I’ve missed enough days.”
He flashed me his cocky grin. “Oh c’mon. Aren’t you dying to know what’s in here?”
He held the book up to catch my attention and then patted the spot beside him on the bed.
I eyed him. “How long before we have to return it?”
“I don’t know.” He shrugged. “Probably around four o’clock.”
I paused and considered my options. “We won’t have any time after school.”
“So we’re staying,” he said, flopping down on the bed enthusiastically.
“Not so fast. We’re going to take the book with us.”
He shook his head and folded his arms over his chest. “No way. Not happening.”
“We’ll have it back before he gets home.”
“No. It could get lost or torn or stolen. Do you know what could happen if this thing got stolen?”
I didn’t know what could happen. That was the point of reading it. Knowing the basics wasn’t enough and this book had the information I needed. I wasn’t even sure why I needed it, but something inside me yearned to understand him better.
“We can get a study pass from the office,” I explained. “That way we will be marked as present. We can go through the book in the library. No one will be in there during class hours.”
“Only one problem,” he said. “You can only request study passes for group projects.”
I smiled. “Or for extra credit assignments.”
The color drained from his cheeks. “I don’t like the sound of this.”
“You know, it wouldn’t kill you to try bringing up those grades. I saw your last history essay and you’ve got a lot of room to improve.”
“What are you talking about?” He jumped off the bed. “I did great on that essay.”
I frowned. “You got a D.”
He sighed. “Okay, we’re going to school, but I still think the book should stay here.”
“Carter, what could possibly happen to it in the next 6 hours?”
He stared at me hesitantly and then gave me a slight nod. I smiled and pushed onto my tippy toes, giving him a kiss on the cheek.
I followed Carter to my house, not trusting that I would find my way back home. I parked in the driveway and slipped inside to place the keys on the side table at the entrance. I kept quiet, hoping my uncle wouldn’t catch me in the act. I hadn’t decided what I would tell him about being gone for the night, but I knew it wouldn’t be the truth.
He will kill me if he finds out that I spent the night with Carter. No, he simply cannot know.
I hurried back outside where Carter was waiting for me.
“Everything okay?” he asked.
I nodded. “I don’t think he’s home.”
“Where is he?”
The question hit me like a brick wall. I didn’t know where Uncle Felix was. All I knew is that he’d been missing a whole lot lately.
We pulled into the school parking lot, but it was empty. The clouds were thick and gray, shielding the daylight. A thick fog lingered, covering the school ground.
I looked down at the clock on my cell phone, it was 8:15 a.m. “Where is everyone?”
He scanned the area. “I don’t know. The lot should be full by now.”
He parked in what we could only assume was a parking stall, hidden by the fog.
“Wait here,” he said, turning off the ignition.
I got out of the car, meeting his glare head-on. “It’s spooky out here.”
He rolled his eyes. “Fine, just stay close.”
He took my hand and we walked to the side entrance. It was the entrance closest to the parking lot and the one everyone who drove to school used.
He shook the handle vigorously. “They never lock this door.”
“What does this mean?”
I was more confused than worried. I couldn’t feel worried, not with Carter at my side. Next to him, I felt safe.
We walked around to the front door and Carter threw open the door. We entered the building and the deafening silence gave us pause. We glanced at each other.
“Is it a holiday?” I asked.
“No,” he said. “Something’s wrong.”
A light flickered on from inside the office. I started for the door, but Carter caught me by the waist and pulled me behind him.
“Wait here,” he said.
He crept towards the door just as a blonde head of hair popped up from below the reception desk.
“There, that’s better,” she said, adjusting her glasses to sit comfortably on her thin nose.
I jumped in surprise, but Carter didn’t budge an inch.
??
?Who are you?” he said.
“I’m Gwendolyn. I’m the new receptionist,” she gushed, pushing back a strand of hair that managed to escape her neatly twisted bun.
I stepped out from behind Carter. “What about Ms. April?”
She shifted uncomfortably in her chair and readjusted her glasses. “I assume you haven’t received the notification.”
She paused and Carter and I shared a quick look.
“What notification?”
“Well, I’m not really sure what the policy of disclosure is around here. The school sent out an email today informing all students that classes have been canceled for today in light of… well the situation.” She lowered her voice to a whisper as she finished her sentence.
“What situation?” Carter asked, the tone of his voice rising above its natural coolness.
“I’m sorry,” I interrupted. “I’m confused. When will Ms. April be returning to school?”
Gwendolyn quieted. She pointed her finger to the coffee table in the waiting room where a stack of newspapers lay. “Perhaps you two should pick up today’s edition.”
I walked over to the table and picked up one of the three copies of Burnwood Daily. I stared at the cover as the words seeped through me like ice water. My body froze, every muscle tightening against my will. Slowly, my eyes moved from the big block letters to the picture below.
Carter wrenched the paper from my clasped hands and read it for himself. He tossed it down on the table and took my hand, pulling me from the office. My body felt stiff and difficult to navigate, but I let him lead me away, the picture now permanently burned into my mind.
“I know that place,” I said. “I’ve been there before.”
He pulled me into the chemistry lab and closed the door behind us. “I know. It doesn’t make sense.”
He paced and I did everything I could to not lose control.
“Carter,” I said, my voice broken and barely louder than a whisper. “That cliff… it’s the same place you took me.”
He nodded his head and continued to pace.
I stepped in front of him, forcing him to come to a stop. “Carter, what’s going on?”
He shook his head. “I’ve got to find my father. Stay here. I want to tell you everything, but you have to start with this.”
He took the bag from my shoulder and sat it down on top of the desk next to us. He opened it and retrieved the leather bond book and handed it to me.
“Take it to the library and read as much as you can. I’ll come back for you once I speak to my dad. He has to know that Ms. April worked at Burnwood High.”
Carter started for the door, but I grabbed his arm and stopped him.
“Wait,” I said. “I don’t understand.”
“And you won’t,” he replied. “Not if you don’t start with that book right there.”
I sighed and released his arm.
I leaned back against the tall chemistry table behind me and folded my arms across my chest as I watched out the window. Within seconds he was in the parking lot, getting into his car.
I look down at the old leather book still on the desk and sighed. He didn’t even leave me with any directions: where to start, what to pay close attention to, or what I should even be looking for.
I tucked the book underneath my arm and threw my bag over my shoulder. The chemistry lab wasn’t a place I ever felt comfortable studying. I couldn’t concentrate in a room filled with deadly chemicals and explosive materials, the constant fear of death looming in the air.
I sauntered down the icily cool hallway in no particular direction. I was still pondering my options, and there were plenty now that the school would be empty for the day. I considered the cafeteria, but it was far too large and exposed. The library seemed like my best bet, but then I remembered the third floor.