second.
“If the person’s wearing black or I’m wearing black, I can’t get a read on their thoughts. So when I’m in a mood or just want the thoughts to shut up, I wear black.” She shrugs. “I mean, I could just not look at people and their thoughts wouldstay in their heads, but how long can I do that and lead a normal, productive social life? Know what I mean?”
“So why the color black?”
“Don’t know. Never figured that out. I was just so relieved to find something that worked. I just go with the flow.”
“Really? So you’re saying all you have to do is look at me and you can tell exactly what I’m thinking?”
At his doubting question, Lindsey turns, looks directly at Jake and says, “She’s more open to it than you think. Just tell her you like her and get it over with.”
Jake’s cheeks turn a shade of pink I’ve never seen on a boy before. Guessing who the “she” is in Lindsey’s assessment of Jake’s mind was a no-brainer. Although I doubt Krystal has figured that out yet. I can’t help it. I chuckle.
“Not. Funny.” Jake shifts in his chair and flips open another book. “I’m wearing black from now on,” he mumbles.
“Welcome to the Mystyx,” Krystal says, extending her hand across the table to Lindsey. “If you could just keep my thoughts in your head, that would be real cool.”
Lindsey smiles, taking Krystal’s offered hand. “I know how to respect people’s privacy. To the extent that’s possible for someone like me.”
I’m just about to answer her when I get a familiar sensation in the pit of my stomach. It’s like millions of tiny stars are moving inside of me, lifting me until I’m floating.
And then it’s black again, the total darkness that I’ve seen before. I feel weightless but not necessarily afraid this time. I’m going someplace. I can hear my name being called and it feels like someone is pulling me along, taking me to where they want me to be.
“Sasha,” the gentle voice is saying once more.
It’s closer now. This person, this woman, is closer to me.The darkness seems just a little lighter this time (if that’s possible) or maybe just the spot where I stare because I think that’s where the voice is coming from. I don’t know, but my heart’s pounding so hard I feel like screaming with its rapid pace.
“Stay calm,” the voice says. “You’re still in control.”
“In control of what?” I ask the absolute nothingness that’s there since it’s obviously talking to me.
I mean really, behind me there’s this dark place that I remember going through before I showed up at the nightclub with Antoine. And in front of me there’s all this light, like a bunch of combined headlights shining directly my way.
“She said you would come, you and your friends.”
“Who said that?”
“It doesn’t matter now. I’ve been sent to give you this message. Be vigilant, all of you. He’s coming back and this time he threatens everything.”
“Who? What are you talking about?” The light is dimming, my eyes stop blinking so fiercely at its brightness.
“The light will prevail,” the voice says slowly. “The light always prevails.”
The ending words are a whisper just as the last flickers of light are sucked away. A cool wind blows around me, and before I can open my mouth to ask another question—which would most likely go unanswered like my previous ones—I feel that floating sensation again.
Floating, but faster. More like falling this time.
Falling and falling until I feel the cool tile of the library floor and hear the loud thunk of the chair I was sitting in hitting the floor beside me.
“Sasha? Sasha?”
I come through this time to Krystal cradling my head in her lap and Lindsey holding my hand and plucking my cheeks atthe same time. I can’t see Jake, but I know he’s there. They’re all calling my name.
“Shh,” is the first thing I manage to say. “We’re in the library, remember.”
“You
“If the person’s wearing black or I’m wearing black, I can’t get a read on their thoughts. So when I’m in a mood or just want the thoughts to shut up, I wear black.” She shrugs. “I mean, I could just not look at people and their thoughts wouldstay in their heads, but how long can I do that and lead a normal, productive social life? Know what I mean?”
“So why the color black?”
“Don’t know. Never figured that out. I was just so relieved to find something that worked. I just go with the flow.”
“Really? So you’re saying all you have to do is look at me and you can tell exactly what I’m thinking?”
At his doubting question, Lindsey turns, looks directly at Jake and says, “She’s more open to it than you think. Just tell her you like her and get it over with.”
Jake’s cheeks turn a shade of pink I’ve never seen on a boy before. Guessing who the “she” is in Lindsey’s assessment of Jake’s mind was a no-brainer. Although I doubt Krystal has figured that out yet. I can’t help it. I chuckle.
“Not. Funny.” Jake shifts in his chair and flips open another book. “I’m wearing black from now on,” he mumbles.
“Welcome to the Mystyx,” Krystal says, extending her hand across the table to Lindsey. “If you could just keep my thoughts in your head, that would be real cool.”
Lindsey smiles, taking Krystal’s offered hand. “I know how to respect people’s privacy. To the extent that’s possible for someone like me.”
I’m just about to answer her when I get a familiar sensation in the pit of my stomach. It’s like millions of tiny stars are moving inside of me, lifting me until I’m floating.
And then it’s black again, the total darkness that I’ve seen before. I feel weightless but not necessarily afraid this time. I’m going someplace. I can hear my name being called and it feels like someone is pulling me along, taking me to where they want me to be.
“Sasha,” the gentle voice is saying once more.
It’s closer now. This person, this woman, is closer to me.The darkness seems just a little lighter this time (if that’s possible) or maybe just the spot where I stare because I think that’s where the voice is coming from. I don’t know, but my heart’s pounding so hard I feel like screaming with its rapid pace.
“Stay calm,” the voice says. “You’re still in control.”
“In control of what?” I ask the absolute nothingness that’s there since it’s obviously talking to me.
I mean really, behind me there’s this dark place that I remember going through before I showed up at the nightclub with Antoine. And in front of me there’s all this light, like a bunch of combined headlights shining directly my way.
“She said you would come, you and your friends.”
“Who said that?”
“It doesn’t matter now. I’ve been sent to give you this message. Be vigilant, all of you. He’s coming back and this time he threatens everything.”
“Who? What are you talking about?” The light is dimming, my eyes stop blinking so fiercely at its brightness.
“The light will prevail,” the voice says slowly. “The light always prevails.”
The ending words are a whisper just as the last flickers of light are sucked away. A cool wind blows around me, and before I can open my mouth to ask another question—which would most likely go unanswered like my previous ones—I feel that floating sensation again.
Floating, but faster. More like falling this time.
Falling and falling until I feel the cool tile of the library floor and hear the loud thunk of the chair I was sitting in hitting the floor beside me.
“Sasha? Sasha?”
I come through this time to Krystal cradling my head in her lap and Lindsey holding my hand and plucking my cheeks atthe same time. I can’t see Jake, but I know he’s there. They’re all calling my name.
“Shh,” is the first thing I manage to say. “We’re in the library, remember.”
“You
Similar Books
