Read Online Last Dance by Linda Joy Singleton - Free Book Online Page A

teenager. It was eerie to see her so vibrant, so alive. Her friend Cathy had to be in her seventies, but Chloe never aged.
    Seventeen forever.
    When we finished the tour, I asked for directions to the restroom. Going downstairs, through a side hallway, I made a quick potty stop. But when I came out, I got turned around, because I found myself in a darkened hall that dead-ended at a wooden door with a fist-sized red heart painted on it.
    “Sa-bine,” came a breathy whisper.
    “Who said that?” Now it was my own heart thumping wildly. I looked around fearfully, seeing no one, yet sensing I wasn’t alone.
    “Sabine.”
    I covered my hands over my ears, but my own name echoed like a curse inside my head. Icy darkness seeped out from the door. But I didn’t back away. Instead I moved closer, compelled by forces I didn’t understand. I reached for the knob and—
    “Get away from there!”
    Jumping back, I turned to find Kasper striding over. His fleshy face was reddened and his mouth pursed tightly. He grabbed my arm. “That room is off-limits!”
    “Why?”
    “Because it’s not safe,” he blustered. “You shouldn’t be here.”
    “Sorry, but I got lost.”
    “I’ll show you the way back.”
    Shadows shifted and energy flowed behind the door, and I was oddly reluctant to leave. I pointed to the door. “What’s inside?”
    “Spiders and rotting wood.” He drew a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped sweat off his forehead. “I keep it locked for safety reasons. The stairs are old and dangerous, and I can’t afford a lawsuit if someone falls. I hardly ever go down there.”
    “So who painted the heart?” I asked.
    “I don’t know. It was there when I bought the building fourteen years ago. Probably the work of a bored kid.” He seemed flustered as he nodded towards the hall where Thorn waited. “Come on. I can’t leave my store unattended any longer.”
    Returning to bright lights and tacky souvenirs was jarring—as if we’d traveled through a time capsule from decades past. And the image of the delicate red heart stayed with me.
    Had the voice calling my name been from Chloe? I wondered as I browsed through aisles of cheesy merchandise. Had she wanted me to open the door? Was something hidden inside that Chloe wanted me to find?
    When I saw a biography on Chloe’s life, I couldn’t resist picking it up. Flipping through the pages, I skimmed the first chapter. I was pierced with a sharp sense of connection, despite our differences. She’d been outgoing, flirtatious, and aspired to become a famous actress or dancer. I was more serious with no lofty ambitions. I didn’t want to stand out, I longed to fit in.
    So why was Chloe reaching out to me?
    While Thorn sorted through videos of black-and-white movies, I made four purchases: Chloe’s biography (written by Kasper), a Chloe toothbrush (I mean, who could resist something so cheesy?), and two yellow souvenir T-shirts.
    “Thanks for visiting and come back again,” Kasper said, banging the cash register shut. “I’ll walk you to the door.”
    I shook my head. “Thanks, but you better stay here to answer your phone.” And sure enough, as I said the word “phone,” the phone behind him rang. The startled look Kasper gave me was priceless.
    Smiling, I hurried to catch up with Thorn who had already left the museum. As I glanced up at the sky, a raindrop splashed on my face. Overhead, dismal gray clouds swirled and I heard an ominous rumble of thunder. There was a light touch on my shoulder, but when I turned to look, no one was there. When I glanced down at the ground, a faint impression of a heart appeared in the cracked cement.
    The icy chill tingling up my spine had nothing to do with the weather. Chloe was sending messages, not unlike when I’d had a vision of a dragonfly tattoo. I hadn’t wanted to get involved then, and had tried to shut out the visions. But I’d finally surrendered to my gift—and ended up saving Danielle’s