Bait

by Kasi Blake

  Tessa paced the floor like a Death Row inmate in their final hours before being strapped into the electric chair while Bay-Lee sat on the edge of her bed. Talking faster than usual and sobbing uncontrollably between syllables, Tessa was impossible to understand. Bay-Lee only managed to decipher a few words here and there. The rest was gibberish. She’d have to wait for Tessa to calm down if she wanted the whole story.

  Bay-Lee had insisted on taking the hysterical girl back to their dorm room so they could wait for Nick and Mike in private. At least it was supposed to be private. Curious students gathered in the hallway. Their chatter was too loud to ignore. Every once in a while she heard mocking laughter.

  Tessa crossed in front of Bay-Lee, spun around, and walked by her again. The petite girl gestured wildly with her hands as she ranted. Tears left a wet trail down pale cheeks, and she clenched her fists as she rambled on. “… t’was... or a bell in dare.”

  Unable to understand the girl, Bay-Lee stopped listening.

  Nick stuck his head in and beckoned to her with one hand. Still pacing, Tessa didn’t notice him so Bay-Lee hurried into the hallway, anxious to hear what the boys had found. She gave the nosy students a nasty glare before shutting the door and pulling Nick in the opposite direction. The least they could do for Tessa was keep their conversation private. They stopped in the corner, close to the wall.

  Bay-Lee leaned in to keep the other students from overhearing. “What did you find?”

  “Nothing. Absolutely nothing.” He gave his buddy Mike a look she couldn’t decipher. “I told you the girl isn’t playing with a complete marble set.”

  “And I told you she saw something.”

  “Where’s the evidence?”

  Bay-Lee folded her arms. “Ghosts don’t leave evidence.”

  “For the tenth time, it isn’t possible for ghosts to enter this building. There are spells in place. Van got the spells from a specialist so I know they work.”

  Talking to Nick Gallos was like talking to a rock. You could use big words, small words, didn’t matter because the rock would never understand. He stared at her face, unblinking. His wide eyes invited her to forget everything else. Maybe his handsome face was the only thing he had going for him. For some reason the thought sent her rage soaring.

  Mike ushered the lingering students down the hallway. “Show’s over. Get out of here before I write you up.”

  They instantly obeyed.

  “You know what?” she said. “If you aren’t going to help, then get lost. I’ll take care of Tessa on my own.”

  A muscle twitched in Nick’s jaw. “Do yourself a favor and leave your father out of this. If you run to him about ghosts in the dorm, he’ll think you’ve lost your mind.”

  “Stay out of my relationship with Va—my father. You don’t get to advise me unless you want to be my mentor.”

  “I will never mentor you.”

  “We’ll see.”

  He jerked his head at Mike. The two of them walked away, following a few leftover students to the elevator. She waited until they were nearly there before going back to her room. Tessa was sitting on her bed now, a teddy bear wrapped in her arms. At least she’d stopped crying.

  “Tell me what you saw,” Bay-Lee said as she sat next to the girl. “Don’t leave anything out.”

  “Why? So you can think I’m crazy?” Tessa clenched the hands resting on her lap until her knuckles went white. They shook like a washing machine on spin cycle. “By now everyone in school knows about this, and they’re laughing at me. I guess it’s your lucky day. They’ll be too busy making fun of me to notice you.”

  “Forget them and tell me what you saw.” After a moment’s hesitation Bay-Lee asked, “Why were you in the bathroom?”

  “Why do you think?” Tessa made a face. “I had to pee.”

  “If you tell me everything, I might be able to figure this out. I can help you prove you aren’t crazy.”

  Tessa shuddered before giving her the whole story.

  “I was eating breakfast with my friends, and William told a funny story. When I started laughing, I was afraid I was going to pee my pants so I got up and went to the bathroom. There was no one else in there. I’m sure of it. I heard a noise behind me while I was washing my hands. Then I saw her in the mirror, my mom. She looked exactly like she did before she died, same hairstyle and everything. I screamed and ran out the door.”

  “You didn’t try to talk to her?”

  Tessa cringed. “Of course not. I’ve heard stories about dead people coming back, and it’s never a good thing. Either they want to eat your brains, or they want to throw you through a wall or stomp the snot out of you. I didn’t want to find out which one she wanted to do to me.”

  Bay-Lee tried to picture it in her mind. What if her mom’s ghost appeared in the bathroom one morning? What would she do?

  “Did she try to touch you?” Bay-Lee asked.

  “I didn’t give her the chance. The second I saw her I ran out the door. Fast reflexes are a plus in this business.” A flicker of light entered Tessa’s eyes, and her voice returned to its usual Minnie Mouse tone. “If you’re going to become a hunter, you’ll have to learn to move fast. Hesitation kills. Of course, you probably already know that. I’m sure Van has taught you all about survival. Now if you don’t mind, I am going to pack my bags and hit the road before they ask me to leave.”

  “What?” Near panic at the thought of losing her roommate made her talk higher than usual. “Why would anyone ask you to leave?”

  Tessa explained as she pulled a suitcase from the closet. “Unless someone finds real proof I didn’t imagine the whole thing, Van will think I had a Freshman Meltdown.” She tossed the case on the bed and threw the lid open. “It happens, and when it does the ailing student is asked to leave school because they can’t handle being a hunter. If you crack even once, they kick you out. There are no second chances here. I don’t even think being Van Helsing’s daughter will save you if you have one. He can excuse you from morning workouts, but he can’t keep you here if you screw up. Better be careful. The students will be watching, most of them hoping you’ll crack. Then they can get rid of you.”

  Bay-Lee crossed the room and removed an armful of clothes from the suitcase. “You aren’t going anywhere. I need a good friend here, someone I can trust. I promise to watch your back if you’ll watch mine. Don’t worry. They won’t kick you out. I’ll find a way to prove you saw what you saw.”

  Tessa’s eyes welled up with tears again. “I c-can’t stay.”

  “Why not?”

  “How can I become a good hunter when they’re laughing at me?”

  Bay-Lee glanced at the closed door. She remembered the students in the hallway, hanging around, giggling over Tessa’s plight. The girl was right. They would laugh at her. “Hey, I have an idea.” Bay-Lee returned the clothes to the dresser. “Don’t leave today. You promised to walk me to my first class since you have the same one. Give this a chance to blow over. If you want, you can leave later.”

  Tessa’s lower lip wobbled. “B-but what if they kick me out before then?”

  “What difference does it make if you’re willing to go anyway? Just give it a few days. If you want to leave later, I’ll help you pack and walk you to the door.”

  Tessa threw her arms around Bay-Lee’s neck and squeezed tight. “You’re a good friend.”

  Friend? Bay-Lee’s insides warmed at the word. She lifted her arms to embrace the girl but hesitated. Her hands hovered in mid-air behind the girl’s back, and her vision misted over. The significance of this moment stole her breath away. She had made her first real friend. Her arms finished the journey.

  She hugged Tessa.