Dead Girl in Love

by Linda Joy Singleton

  “What?” I asked innocently.

  “The key!”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “You do too! Give me the key now!” he demanded, but suddenly he wasn’t so fierce; his voice was weakening. Before my eyes, his energy was fading.

  I steeled my emotions, shutting off sympathy. “What key?”

  “The key to the damned gate!”

  “The gate was open when I got here,” I lied.

  “I don’t believe you! The gate was open and now it’s locked. It didn’t just lock itself. You did it!”

  “Why would I trap myself in here with you?”

  “Give me the key!” he bellowed.

  “I can’t give what I don’t have.”

  He cradled his hands, shaking uncontrollably. I could see flickers of silvery mist blending with the blood, as if his soul was slowly seeping out.

  “I’m starting to glow … I have to go now! They’ll find me.”

  I knew he meant the Dark Disposal Team. That had been part of my plan, so I didn’t say anything, only gave another grim nod. This was the only way to save Eli and myself. With Gabe captured, unable to use his psychic sense and flee before the DDT arrived, for once and for all he’d be stopped.

  He knew it, too, and regarded me with a look that was terrifying and tender at the same time, as if he both respected and hated me. He was desperate now, and angry, a caged beast with no way out.

  Only two minutes left. I still gripped the knife, although there was little reason to, since he was rapidly losing strength. Gabe sagged down to his knees, moaning and clasping his bleeding hands, almost as if praying.

  There was a flash, and a group of figures in formal business suits, wielding silver lassos, materialized. I’d never seen so many DD Team members before, as if they’d called in everyone on the other side to bring down their most-wanted fugitive.

  I could hardly bear to watch as the silver whips snapped toward the spectral glow that was seeping from Eli’s body. As his glow spiraled upward, like a flame rising from a fire, the DD Team’s whips lashed out and curled around it. Energy crackled, and light exploded like bursting stars. Then the shape of the glow shifted, spreading and growing, until I could see a handsome young man with a dark ponytail, seaman’s clothes, and ocean-green eyes.

  “Amber,” I heard him whisper one last time. “I won’t forget … you.”

  The whips curled tighter, spinning Gabe’s ghostly essence. His glow faded, like a dimmer switch slowly turning off. And as Gabe disappeared in the throws of silver ropes and business suits, I felt something strange and familiar happening to me. My world tilted and shifted into sensations I recognized.

  The switch.

  Grammy had managed to pull harp strings and speed up the process like I’d asked. But I wasn’t ready to go yet! Eli’s body was still here, bleeding in a cemetery without anyone to help him. Gabe would be gone and Eli would be alone. Alyce would take my place, but she wouldn’t know what to do. But there was no time. I was swept by a whirlwind and pulled into a roar of swirling colors and movement.

  Flying forward, spinning … then impact.

  When I opened my eyes, I was swimming in darkness, blinking. My vision gradually adjusted and I could make out furniture and familiar objects like stuffed animals on a shelf, a bulletin board tacked on a wall, and a furry white cat curled on a bed pillow.

  My bedroom, my cat, my body.

  Thank heaven—and Grammy.

  I was home.

  I had no memory of falling asleep but I must have, because I was awoken by a rough tongue licking my face. Instinctively I reached out to push Snowy away until memory crashed back and I wrapped my arms around my cat.

  “Snowy!” I cried, loving how her soft fur tickled my skin. “You’re the most beautiful, wonderful, best cat in the world. It’s so good to hold you again.”

  She replied by wriggling out of my arms and scampering out of my room.

  “Still the same old attitude,” I said, smiling.

  Then I leaned back against my pillows and waited for my thoughts and feelings to catch up with each other. Being back in my own body felt like being reborn, although it wasn’t anything new. I had this crazy urge to sing or dance, like there was something to celebrate. Yet I was sick inside with dread, too, remembering the terrible things had brought me to this moment.

  Still, for a moment, I reveled in being back home and danced across my sunlit room to the mirror. “I’m me, I’m me, I’m me!” I sang, as if inventing a brilliant new song.

  Gazing in the mirror was like magic. There I was: too-curly brown hair, freckles sprinkling my pale skin, and dark eyes just like my father’s. I was wearing a nightgown that was too long and old fashioned to have been my own choice. And when I looked around my room, which was completely reorganized so that everything was color coordinated and neat, I recognized Grammy’s work.

  While I knew Grammy had gone back to the other side and I guessed that Alyce was herself again, I didn’t know what had happened to Eli.

  Ohmygod! What if he was still in the cemetery?

  Quickly, I looked around for a phone and found one on the dresser.

  I called Eli’s cell and waited, listening to ring after ring after ring and then finally reaching voicemail.

  My anxiety mounting, I hung up and called someone who might have answers.

  Dustin picked up before it rang twice.

  “Amber?” he asked at the sound of my voice.

  “Yes—I’m home. But I don’t know what happened after I left last night.”

  “I do,” he said a little too smugly.

  “Have you heard from Eli?” I asked. “He was bleeding and then my switch happened and I couldn’t help him.”

  “Relax,” Dustin said. “He’s fine.”

  “Are you sure?” My knees went all rubbery and I collapsed on my bed.

  “Positive. Did you really think I’d stay completely away last night? I was outside the fence ready to jump in if your plan failed. Wow! I couldn’t believe it when you actually sliced Eli … I mean, Gabe. Way to go, Amber.”

  “I’m not proud of what I did.”

  “Well, I am. You’re my new hero.”

  “I don’t feel heroic—mostly sad. Gabe wasn’t all that bad. In his own egotistical way, he thought he was helping me.”

  “He tried to kill you!”

  “I don’t think he would have hurt me, not as badly as I hurt him. It was so hard to do what I did … then watch him bleed.”

  “I nearly rushed in to make sure he didn’t attack you,” Dustin added.

  “Thank God you didn’t! Gabe would have jumped into you body and things would have even been worse.”

  “Which is why I stayed hidden. I’m not stupid,” he added dryly. “Those people in suits with the whips—wow! I’ve never seen anything like that. And the way Gabe just floated out of Eli’s body was freaking weird! Those silver whips spun around him and then everyone was gone.”

  “What about Eli?”

  “Oh, he was there and so were you. But you were both just lying there, not moving. So I used a spare key—you didn’t think I gave you the only copy, did you?—and went to help him. I found the first-aid kit you’d left and bandaged his hands. The bleeding stopped—the cuts weren’t deep. But he didn’t wake up.”

  “What about Alyce?”

  “She woke up and seemed confused at first, but then she said she had to go home to her mother. She had her own car, of course, so she didn’t need a ride. I couldn’t stay around to explain things but I showed her the grave. You know the one I mean.”

  “Yes, I do,” I said solemnly. “But what about Eli?”

  “Since he wouldn’t wake up, I took him to his house and gave his family a story about his being mugged. His parents, brother, and sister were really upset.”

  “His sister?” I asked. “Sharayah was there, too?”

  “Yeah. It was weird seeing her, considering you were wearing h
er body just a week ago.”

  “I’m glad she’s back with her family, but how is Eli doing?”

  “Last I heard, he was still sleeping.”

  “I tried his phone and he didn’t answer.”

  “Give him time.”

  “I will. Suddenly I have a whole future ahead with lots of time.” I was overwhelmed with conflicting emotions.

  “Not that much time—I have to get to school. And you should, too.”

  School? The word startled me, but in a nice “life must go on” kind of way. And well, why not? My family had no idea what I’d been through. They’d expect me to follow my usual routine. So I told Dustin I’d see him at school, then hung up.

  My stomach growled—a familiar sound that reminded me again of how good it felt to be me. I got dressed quickly, then hurried to the kitchen where I saw a picture-perfect family: mine.

  My little sisters complained when I squeezed them too tightly.

  “Hurting me!” Cherry whined.

  Olive squirmed away and ran to Mom, who was pouring cereal into bowls.

  Only Melonee didn’t complain, and hugged me back with gusto. “Sissy home,” she said, then offered me half of a buttered slice of toast.

  Dad was in the living room, sipping coffee while he watched the news. When I went in to give him a hug, he looked up at me curiously.

  “I just heard on the news about a boy from your school,” he said, clicking the remote to a different channel. “He was mugged last night. Eli Rockham—”

  “Rockingham,” I corrected, a chill shivering up my skin.

  “Yeah.” Dad nodded. “I thought the name sounded familiar.”

  “It’s on the news?”

  “It’s a big story, I guess, because he was in some contest. Is he a friend of yours?”

  “Something like that.” Much more than a friend, I thought, blushing. “What exactly did you hear?”

  “They think he was attacked by an obsessed fan.”

  “But is he okay?” I held my breath.

  “Yeah. They said he was resting at home—no mention of a hospital.”

  I breathed out in relief.

  Still, I wished he’d call so I’d know how he was doing.

  Would he be awake by now? I wondered.

  Looking down at my wrist, I saw my own watch, not the digital one I’d borrowed from Dustin. My lucky bracelet was gone, too—but I knew exactly where to find it.

  Alyce … how was she doing?

  Would she remember anything from the last few days? Did she know what happened last night and that I’d been the one to find her sister’s grave?

  As if just thinking of her held magic, I heard a honk outside. Rushing to the window, I saw Junkmobile pulling up in front of my house.

  Without bothering to find a jacket, I raced out of my room.

  To see my best friend.

  I climbed into the passenger’s seat, shutting the door behind me before slowly turning toward Alyce.

  We didn’t say anything, both studying each other like strangers meeting for the first time. And it was strange for me—seeing the body I’d recently inhabited from the outside. She had her hair pulled back into one long black braid, wisps of curls escaping around her forehead. Purple-black gloss simmered on her lips and kohl shadowed her dark eyes. She wore black leather and black suede in a Native-American-meets-vampire style. Totally original Alyce, and I smiled.

  “I wasn’t sure I’d find you here,” she said, with obvious relief.

  “Why not? This is where I live.”

  “But you had me really worried,” she added.

  “I did?” I asked, surprised.

  “What did you expect after leaving that letter in my purple notebook? I didn’t find it until this morning, and I drove over here right away—I was so relieved when you walked out front door.” She shifted in the seat, her knee jingling the keys in the ignition. “My memory is fuzzy, but I know enough to say thanks.”

  “Well … you’re welcome. After everything … I just hope you’re okay.”

  “Okay?” She gave a brittle laugh. “Have you met my mother? Of course you have—so you know that nothing will be easy with her. But now that I know where the grave is, I’m going to make her face reality. It might get complicated, since what she did was illegal, but we’ll work through it.”

  “And I’ll help you,” I added. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you before.”

  “I’m the one who shut you out.”

  “Still, I should have known.”

  “I was the idiot who thought that if no one knew what Mom was really like, I could pretend everything was fine—that my family was great like yours. I got so jealous sometimes, watching your mom take care of you instead of the other way around. And it was hard seeing you with your little sisters, knowing that I had almost had one of my own.”

  “I’m sorry.” Tears sprang to my eyes. “I wish I’d known.”

  “Me too. But that was my fault, not yours. I see that now.” She twisted the end of her braid. “With all the body-switching and other-side weirdness, you know what I find the most hard to believe?”

  “What?”

  “I spent months looking for that stupid grave, and you found it in just a few days. How did you do it?”

  “Dustin helped. He even helped me set you up on dates.”

  “Dates?” She looked horrified.

  “Zachary wasn’t bad, but Kyle was a nightmare.”

  “You went out on dates as me?”

  “Only two. There would have been three but Dustin goofed and Taylor turned out to be a girl.”

  Her glossy lips fell open. “I don’t remember anything about it.”

  “I’ll fill you in.” Then I grinned and told her everything—starting with Kyle and his bat blood.

  I was still talking when there was a knock on Junkmobile’s window. Dad gestured to his watch and mouthed, “School.”

  Alyce told me she wasn’t going to school, that she was going to be busy for a few days taking care of her mother. But she offered to drop me off. On the way, she filled me in on her experiences.

  Waking up at the cemetery and finding Dustin bandaging Eli’s bleeding hands shocked her. But even more shocking was to see the grave marked “SAM.” She stayed in the cemetery awhile, staring at the small plaque, before going home to have a serious talk with her mother.

  “Thank you,” Alyce said, with such sincerity that I nearly cried as I stepped out of her car at school. Fighting tears, I nodded and smiled to show that I understood.

  Then I heard the warning bell ring and hurried to my locker.

  As I was grabbing my books, I heard a musical beep from my cell phone and read a text from Eli.

  I m ok.

  Being watched.

  Will talk l8r.

  L Eli

  I stared at the message, reading deep meanings into every letter, especially that L in front of “Eli.” Did it mean what I thought it meant? Or was it just a typo? And why was he being watched?

  I found out why when I met up with Dustin later for lunch in the computer room. Dustin said everyone was talking about Eli’s attack. The status of having a stalker had renewed the media’s interest in him, and reporters were swarming his house. With his family under siege, he wasn’t allowed to answer the phone or go to school.

  While I was glad to know why Eli had been a no-show since the switch, I was still tense with anxiety … and eager to see him.

  The door opened, and I glanced past the computers to see Jessica Bradley sweep into the room. She pulled up a chair between Dustin and me and launched into an excited description of her ideas for a fundraising party on Saturday. She had bought hundreds of baskets and fun items to fill them.

  “Party?” I repeated, completely clueless, although I vaguely remembered Grammy mentioning a party when she’d been me. But she was back at her other-side job now, so I couldn’t call her—not by phone or even GEM. I’d searched my purse and backpack before coming to s
chool and the GEM was gone. This was proof that my career as a Temp Lifer was over.

  Somehow I managed to fake things with Jessica and she left me with a glittery-pink party invitation—similar to the first party invitation I’d received from her a few weeks ago. And since this party was for the Halsey Hospitality Club, I wasn’t just a guest—I was on the planning committee.

  And so was Alyce. But when I told her later, she refused to go, slipping into her old habits. She couldn’t use the excuse about her mother needing her, though, since her mother had entered a treatment facility and Edna was staying at her house with her. So after some begging and threatening, Alyce gave me this exasperated look. “All right, all right. I’ll go, but only because you’re my BFF.”

  I smiled. Yeah, best friends forever.

  Saturday morning, I was ready to go, my hands full of folders with plans and basket-creating ideas.

  While I waited for Alyce to pick me up in Junkmobile, I heard a strange sound coming from the kitchen. A gasp, or maybe a sob. When I went to investigate, I saw the walk-in pantry door open and Mom standing there with a shocked expression, holding something in her hand.

  Finally, Mom had found it.

  I’d suggested to Grammy that she leave a letter for Mom to “accidentally” find—so that Mom would know Grammy loved her and the triplets. It had been Grammy’s idea to buy a gift. While I’d been facing the dangerous Dark Lifer and stabbing my boyfriend, Grammy had been shopping for a special gift. She’d wrapped the box and hidden it in the kitchen pantry. When Mom found it, she’d assume it had been there for over a year, rather than for less than a week.

  Now Mom was kneeling on the floor, ripped wrapping paper all around her, as she cradled a photograph album with the words “Grandma’s Darlings” on the cover. Tears fell down her face as she read the note from Grammy inside the flap of the book. A simple message of love for triple granddaughters. But it was enough, and I could tell by Mom’s face that all the bitterness was forgotten.

  Junkmobile honked from outside, and I grabbed my bag.

  A short time later, we walked up the elegant steps of Jessica’s home and were welcomed by the maid. I had taken care with my appearance, wearing embroidered jeans and a shirt that shimmered a silvery color like rain. My too-curly hair was pulled back with a sparkly scarf. I’d used only a touch of makeup: foundation to tame my freckles and a hint of shimmery peach lip gloss.