Forgotten (In The Shadows, Book One)

by Catherine Gardiner

  Emily hung up the phone and, realizing that people were starting to mill about the school’s hallway, she picked up her belongings and hurried into the girls’ restroom to avoid anyone asking her any awkward questions about why she was crying.

  When Emily entered the restroom she noticed Suzanne at the end wash basin, washing the dried blood off her arms and legs.

  “Suzanne!” Emily whispered, tears streaming down her face.

  Suzanne looked up. “What’s wrong?” she asked, rushing over to Emily.

  “I don’t know. I just called Marcus so he’d pick us up from here quickly and then I started crying.”

  Suzanne put her arms around Emily’s shoulders to comfort her. “You’re just in shock; it’ll probably hit me when I’m out hunting alone later,” Suzanne said, trying to reassure her friend.

  Emily broke away as she wiped away her tears and looked to see if any of the stalls were occupied. None were. “Can I ask you something?” she asked, turning back to Suzanne.

  “Sure. But why look so serious?” Suzanne laughed nervously.

  “Why didn’t you change?” Emily’s voice was quiet and solemn.

  Suzanne looked at Emily, puzzled. “Because all I had was these.” She gestured to her torn cheerleading uniform.

  “No, I mean into a wolf! You are a werewolf, aren’t you?”

  “Yes, you know that. I don’t know why I didn’t transform.” There was irritation in Suzanne’s voice now.

  “You don’t know? Both of us nearly ended up as dog food and you use that feeble excuse?”

  “That wasn’t an excuse!”

  Seeing how distressed Suzanne was getting, Emily sighed, “I’m sorry, it’s just that it’s really strange. Has it ever happened before?”

  Suzanne frowned. “No, I always wolf out when under stress. Does the Titanic ring any bells?”

  Emily smiled back weakly. “Yes, I remember what happened to us on the Titanic. Having a huge wet wolf sitting on my lap is somewhat hard to forget.” Emily paused, nervously biting at her bottom lip. “Marcus will find a way to sort everything out, right?”

  “Of course he will,” Suzanne said reassuringly, “you know what he and Jonathan are like.”

  “Are you nearly ready? Because Marcus will be here soon,” Emily said, changing the subject.

  Suzanne looked down at her cheerleading uniform and grimaced. “I suppose so. I didn’t even want to be a stupid cheerleader. All that jumping and cheering, and don’t even get me started on the pep-rallies. The only way we’re going to be cool in this school is if Marcus makes the football team.”

  Emily smiled and rolled her eyes. “Is that all? Well that should be real easy!”

  “Emily, I’m serious.”

  “So am I. Marcus will never agree.”

  “Come on, Emily!” Suzanne pouted.

  “He won’t be interested!” Emily threw up her arms. “But if you think that Marcus will do it, then by all means, go ahead and suggest that to him when we all start school. Just count me out of your wacky ideas.”

  “I will, but don’t come crying to me when I’m popular and you’re not.”

  Emily rolled her eyes again. “We’ll finish this conversation later; we have more urgent things to think about.”

  “What could be more important than sitting at the ‘cool’ table in the cafeteria with a couple of cute seniors?”

  Holding up her hand, Emily began to strike off points on her fingers. “Firstly, the werewolf attack in the girls’ locker room. Secondly, Marcus will be waiting for us, and thirdly, you watch far too much TV.”

  Suzanne started to grin.

  “Why are you smiling? I’m trying to give you the third degree.” Emily crossed her arms.

  “It worked,” Suzanne said cheerfully.

  “What worked?”

  “I got you to smile, if only briefly.”

  “And why would you want to do that?” Emily looked puzzled.

  “Because, Emily, you take everything so seriously.”

  “Suzanne, we got attacked!”

  Suzanne huffed. Offended that Emily hadn’t realized her friendly intent, she pushed past her. “If you want me, I’ll be outside waiting for Marcus.”

  “Suzanne!” Emily called after her, but she had already left the restroom.

  Marcus pulled into the student parking lot and cut the engine, waiting for the girls.

  “Marcus!” a familiar voice called.

  It was Suzanne, waving from the school steps. She started to amble toward Marcus’ SUV.

  Marcus’ attention moved to Suzanne’s appearance. Her skirt was ripped in several places; her hair was wildly disheveled and matted with dried blood. Eyes wide in horror, he stepped out of the car to meet her.

  “What happened?” he demanded.

  “Oh, this? It’s nothing,” Suzanne replied, gesturing.

  “Nothing?” Marcus looked skeptical.

  “Well … by nothing I actually meant that me and Emily got into a little bit of trouble, but it was nothing that we couldn’t handle.” Suzanne walked past Marcus and climbed into the backseat of his SUV.

  “Suzanne?” Marcus asked again.

  “Why don’t you ask Little Miss Perfect what happened.” And as she folded her arms across her chest, Marcus knew the conversation with her was over.

  “Alright then. Where is Emily?” Marcus inquired, opening the car door and leaning in.

  With a glance at the main entrance, Suzanne sighed. “She’s in the restroom, probably sulking. If you want I’ll go back and get her.”

  “Um, no, that’s okay. She’ll come out when she’s ready.”

  “Do you have anything to eat?” Suzanne asked, as she began to search Marcus’ brand new off the assembly line maroon 1999 Lexus RX 300.

  “Have you tried the glove compartment?” Marcus called. He was now perched upon the SUV’s hood.

  Suzanne squeezed herself between the two front seats to get to the glove compartment. Inside were a couple of candy bars and a bag of chips. Suzanne took the chips and sunk back into her seat, opening them.

  Marcus leaned back on his SUV hood and closed his eyes against the harsh glare of the sun. What is taking that girl so long? She had better get her butt out here soon.

  As if on cue there was a tap on the inside of his SUV’s windshield. Marcus opened his eyes to see Suzanne pointing toward the school entrance where Emily was. She began to jog over to where they were parked and stopped in front of him, her violet eyes staring into his.

  “Sorry I took so long,” Emily greeted. “I needed to get my head together; today has been pretty crazy.”

  Marcus sat up and stretched. “I take it that the cheerleading try-out didn’t go okay.”

  “You could say that.”

  “What’s with the bat?”

  Emily considered the blood-stained baseball bat for a moment, then turned back to Marcus. “Didn’t Suzanne fill you in?”

  Marcus shook his head. “What happened?”

  “Nothing!” Emily replied defensively.

  “Emily, you called me less than an hour ago in tears and now you’re back as Miss Ice Queen. I want to know what the hell is going on,” Marcus said, getting off the SUV’s hood and walking around to the driver’s door.

  But Emily ignored him. Instead, she climbed into the SUV’s backseat and turned to Suzanne. “I’m sorry about what I said to you earlier. I was being a jerk; the werewolf attack left me pretty shaken, but I shouldn’t have taken it out on you.”

  “What werewolf attack?” Marcus asked, raising an eyebrow.

  “I’ll tell you when we get home. This isn’t exactly the time or place,” Emily said quickly.

  Marcus looked into the rearview mirror at Emily and shook his head in dismay. With a heavy sigh, he started his car’s engine and pulled out of Sycamore Heights High School student parking lot.

  Twelve

  Katrina tossed her book bag and the sweater that she had been wearing on to her window s
eat, then went over to her dressing table and sat down.

  “Every inch of my body aches,” Katrina said to her reflection, rubbing the back of her neck.

  “So how does it look?”

  Seeing Jessica’s reflection in the mirror, Katrina turned around. “I don’t know about the sweater but everything else looks okay.”

  Jessica’s smile slowly disappeared. “I thought you liked this sweater?”

  “No, I said I liked the green sweater, not the red one.”

  “You sure?” Jessica frowned.

  “Quite sure; it was your friend, Madison, who liked the red one.”

  Her face puzzled, Jessica tried to recall the day’s events.

  “Jess, can you really not remember what happened earlier?” Katrina asked.

  Jessica began to smile. “Of course I remember. We met Madison, and she invited us to her party on Saturday to congratulate all the girls who made the cheerleading squad this year.” Jessica took a breath. “But I still I think that I’m right about you saying you liked the red sweater better.”

  Katrina rolled her eyes. “If you say so.”

  Jessica sat down on Katrina’s bed. “So are you going to Madison’s party?”

  “Maybe,” Katrina said, unsure.

  “What’s wrong?” Jessica asked.

  “Is she the same girl you were telling me about yesterday?”

  “Yeah. Why do you ask?”

  “No reason.”

  “Katrina!”

  Katrina sighed. “Didn’t you find anything odd about the way she was acting?”

  “Odd? Like what?”

  “I don’t know if I should say.”

  “Katrina, if there’s something bothering you, just tell me.”

  “Don’t you think she has a weird appetite?”

  “Can’t say I really noticed.”

  “Jess, she had two whole pizzas to herself!”

  “Maybe she was hungry.”

  Katrina turned back towards her mirror. Ever since she’d had that weird dream about being bitten by a vampire she had felt different but couldn’t place why. She looked at her neck — it looked normal like it had done last night when it had felt tender to the touch — then she placed her fingers on her throat, stroked where it had hurt, and involuntary flinched. Katrina looked up to see if Jessica had noticed her reaction and was relieved to see in the reflection that Jessica had been distracted by Shelby jumping up and trying to lick her face, so turning to face her foster sister, Katrina took a breath, “Jessica, this might seem like an odd question but …” Katrina paused and wet her lips, “do you believe in vampires?”

  Jessica looked up, stunned, before starting to laugh. “Katrina, I’m sorry, but that sounded so funny!”

  “I’m being serious.”

  “Sorry; your question just surprised me.”

  “Well. Do you?”

  “How can I believe in something that’s not real?”

  “I thought you said Logan Vickers is a vampire?”

  “No I didn’t,” Jessica said with a grin. “I said that some sophomore girls started that rumor!”

  “What if it’s true?”

  Jessica burst out in laughter, almost rolling from the bed. “You’ve got to be joking!”

  “I’m not. Have you any proof he isn’t one?”

  “No. I don’t need any, because vampires don’t exist!”

  “How do you know that, though?”

  “Because I think I would have noticed people dying all over the place.”

  “There’s no need to be sarcastic.”

  “I’m not.”

  “It doesn’t sound like it.” Katrina smiled.

  Jessica grinned back. “When school starts I’ll go up to Logan and ask him.”

  “You wouldn’t dare!”

  “Or I could phone him now if you like!”

  “No, it’s okay, I’ll take your word for it.” Katrina paused, then changed the subject. “So you got a date with Billy?”

  “Yeah, he’s picking me up in half an hour.”

  “Well I hope you have a good time.”

  “Don’t I always have a good time with Billy?”

  “Oh please, I’m going to be sick if you say things like that!”

  “My love life isn’t that disgusting! Anyway, on that note, what are you going to be doing tonight? Got a hot date you haven’t told me about? I saw that guy in the mall checking you out.” Jessica asked, giving Katrina a mischievous wink.

  Katrina started to laugh. “I wish, but nothing that exciting; I’m just going to catch up on some studying. I have missed so much so I’m glad you were able to lend me some textbooks to help me out. I figure it’s a good idea for me to catch up with the rest of the class, what with school starting soon.”

  “Rather you than me,” Jessica said with a laugh. Then, as an afterthought: “I can’t stop thinking about the joke me and Billy pulled on you last night, I’m really sorry we did that to you. Sometimes he can be a real jerk but he’s only ever joking around, he doesn’t mean any harm by it. All the same though, we shouldn’t have done it in the first place and you shouldn’t have heard about it from him anyway. He said you would laugh it off.”

  I bet he did, Katrina thought, annoyed, but said, “It’s okay. Just forget about it.” She glanced at her clock. They had been talking for over twenty minutes. “You don’t want to be late, do you?”

  “Jeez, is that the time?” Jessica cried, peering at the clock herself. “Thanks for reminding me! Don’t stay up too late studying!”

  After Jessica had left, Katrina moved from her dressing table to her desk, opened a thick textbook and started to read. Needing her notebook that was still in her book bag, she reached over the back of her chair and pulled at one of the straps. It slipped; the book bag fell off the window seat with a loud thud, spilling its contents across the floor.

  Grumbling under her breath, Katrina stooped to pick up her things. She hastily crammed most back into the bag and grabbed her notebook, but then noticed something that shouldn’t have been there.

  There, amongst her belongings, was a plain red envelope.

  “Hmm, I can’t remember anyone giving me this!” Katrina said to herself, picking up the envelope and sitting down at her desk.

  Feeling excited and a little apprehensive, Katrina opened it and, taking out a piece of white card, began to read the scrawled writing in deep red ink.

  The note read:

  Roses are Dead,

  Violets are, Too!

  Suzanne’s going to die soon,

  Then I am coming for you!

  Katrina quickly dropped the note on her desk like the paper had just burnt her fingertips and felt bile rise up in her throat, but as hard as Katrina tried she couldn’t take her eyes off the macabre writing.

  She stared at the note until finally, exhausted, she fell asleep, her face resting against her open textbook.

  The room was dark when Katrina next awoke, and her curtains were still open. She stepped up groggily to close them.

  I wonder how long I was asleep for, Katrina thought, moving back across her bedroom to her bed, forgetting momentarily about the threatening note.

  As Katrina passed her telephone on her nightstand, it rang. She jumped.

  Katrina picked up the receiver and answered.

  “Hello?” Katrina said down the phone, perching herself on the edge of her bed.

  Silence.

  “Hello?” Katrina repeated.

  The deafening silence continued.

  “Billy, is that you? I don’t find this very funny,” Katrina said, annoyed.

  “Did you get my note?” a hoarse voice finally asked.

  “The note was from you?” Katrina whispered, bile rising up in her throat again. Her eyes flew to the note, mocking her through the dark.

  “I hear that you’ve been seeing someone to help you remember your life before your tragic accident, but if you know what’s good for you then you’ll keep the past w
here it belongs.”

  “Who is this?”

  “Let’s just say that I’m an admirer of you and your sister, Suzanne!” the voice said with a chuckle.

  Katrina’s hand began to tremble. “You’ve had your fun now, Billy!”

  “Billy? Isn’t he the were—” Then the voice broke off, before recovering and continuing, “The boy that left about two hours ago with the pretty blonde that looks remarkably like Suzanne?”

  “Who are you?” Katrina screamed into the receiver. “And what do you want with me?”

  “I want to see you and your sister dead! You can’t hide forever behind these humans!”

  Overcome with fear, Katrina slammed the phone down and began to cry.

  Thirteen

  “Marcus?” Suzanne asked innocently.

  “Yeah?” Marcus looked up from his laptop.

  “Have you and Emily spoken yet?”

  “What about?” Marcus stopped typing and closed his laptop, focusing all his attention on Suzanne.

  “About the werewolf attack.”

  “I was wondering when you were going to ask me about that.”

  “Why?”

  “When Emily spoke to me earlier she implied that something was wrong with you.”

  “No, I’m fine.”

  “You sure that nothing strange happened?”

  “Well … something did happen, but it’s not important,” Suzanne replied dismissively.

  “Suzanne?”

  Looking away, Suzanne shrugged her shoulders, then sighed. “I couldn’t transform.”

  “I would say that’s pretty important.”

  “I knew this would happen!” Suzanne threw up her arms in frustration. “I should have never said anything.”

  Marcus got up from the desk and crossed the room in several long, easy strides. “What happened this afternoon?”

  She sighed and sat down on one of the study couches. “I’m not going to get any peace until I tell you, so here goes.”

  Marcus sat down next to her and waited for Suzanne to begin.

  Suzanne cleared her throat nervously. “Erm, well, Emily and I were in the girls’ locker room at school getting ready for cheerleader try-outs, and the next thing we knew there was a rogue werewolf standing behind us.”

  She was silent, so Marcus urged, “Please, go on.”