Read Online The Otherworldlies by Jennifer Anne Kogler - Free Book Online Page B

having more and more of these lately—
usually right before something significant happened. Though Mrs. McAllister was convinced Fern had a case of irritable bowel syndrome, nothing helped.
    Fern, near the point of doing anything to stop the pain, couldn’t move her thoughts from the note she’d received last night. Earlier she’d resolved to keep its contents to herself. But she thought sharing it with Sam might ease the tension in her stomach.
    “Look . . . ,” Fern said, concentrating, trying to will the pain away. “Look . . . in my top desk drawer.” Although slightly disappointed in herself, Fern could feel the pressure in her stomach relent.
    Fern’s desk, a rolltop she’d inherited from her mother, was cluttered with books and papers. Sam jumped up and retrieved a folded white piece of paper. He unfolded it gingerly, sat back down in the cushioned rocker, and began to read the note aloud.
    “‘I know who you are. I want to help. Please meet me at . . .’” Sam’s voice trailed off. “Fern?”
    “Uh-huh.”
    “Who wrote this?” Sam’s eyes were as big as two pickle jar lids.
    “I don’t know.” Fern’s words came out slowly.
    “When did you get it?”
    “It came in through the window last night, after Mom left.”
    “I’m coming with you,” Sam said, studying the note. He was determined—Fern could see that.
    “Who says I’m going at all?” she asked. Though she was miffed at her inability to keep her own secrets, the shared burden was much easier to bear. If she did go, Sam would be with her every step of the way.
    “Maybe it’s Mr. Summers!” Fern said.
    “We’d better find out who it is, that’s for sure.”
    “I’m not sure I want to know.”
    “You have to go. This person says they can help you.”
    Sam’s last sentence hung awkwardly between them in the dim light of Fern’s bedroom. Sam, always the protector, was normally very careful to say nothing that indicated his confusion about Fern.
    “You think I need help?” Fern could feel the lump in the back of her throat swelling. Her brother’s view of her was no different from the rest of San Juan’s. She was a misfit, through and through.
    “You’re different from the rest of us, Fern,” Sam said, pleading.
    “I know.” Before she disappeared, none of this had mattered. Now, Fern thought, her difference was the only thing that mattered.
    “We need to find out all the information we can. Who knows? Maybe I can learn to disappear, too.”
    “What if it’s a hoax? What if it’s a kidnapper—or someone out to get me?”
    “If someone wanted to hurt you, instead of chucking a paper airplane through your bedroom window, they’d have come in themselves.”
    “You really think we should go?”
    “Think about it, Fern. If we don’t find out who this is, we’ll worry about everything and everybody. Even Mr. Summers. We need to get to the bottom of this, whatever happens.”
    “Okay,” Fern said.
    “I’d better scram before Mom gets wise. I’ll be back at eleven forty-five.” Sam hopped off his sister’s chair, still gripping the note. “I’m going to keep this for now, if you don’t mind.”
    “What, are you going to dust it for prints or something?” Fern said, wondering what Sam could possibly do with the note.
    “I don’t want you losing it, that’s all. It’s our only clue to who you are.”
    Sam’s last sentence stung Fern a little. Being a McAllister wasn’t enough anymore.
    Fern couldn’t sleep—not that she expected to. Against her better judgment, she decided to pass the time by reading Lord of the Flies . (She was still a little nervous that somehow she might be transported back to Pirate’s Cove, only this time at night.) Things were not looking good for Piggy, Ralph, and the boys. Jack, who had his eye on Ralph’s position as chief, did not seem trustworthy.
    A rustling caused Fern to look up from the book.
    Pulling off the covers, she began to get out of bed, but she stepped on