My Soul For You

by Morgana Phoenix

  “Hey!”

  She dug her nails into his arm, keeping him in place in case he was thinking of running. “Who gave you this?”

  Green eyes wide, the boy shook his head. “I told you, he didn’t—”

  “What did he look like?” she snapped into his face. “Does he go to this school? Do you know him? Would you recognize—?”

  “Katie!” Ashlee yanked her away. “Everyone is staring. What are you doing?”

  The boy, seeing his chance, bolted.

  “Wait!” Katie called after him, but he’d rounded the corner outside the doors and was gone.

  “What is the matter with you?” Ashlee was saying as the noise resumed throughout the room.

  Looking down at the card, Katie shook her head. “I have to go.”

  Grabbing her bag, she tore out of the cafeteria. She ran all the way to her locker. Her bag made an echoing boom hitting the floor at her feet as she reached for the lock. It felt stiffer than usual, but that could have just been her fingers.

  She yanked the lock free, jerked open the locker and stared at the contents, momentarily forgetting what exactly she was looking for. Her mind had gone an unnaturally blank as she tried to pull together just what didn’t belong.

  Everything was exactly where she’d left it earlier. Her coat was on the hook next to her gym bag. Her books were tucked neatly underneath. Overhead, her library books, hairbrush, mirror, and extra stash of pens sat in organized stacks. It was all there. Even inside the door, her collection of pictures, stickers, and notes were just as she remembered.

  Her gaze dropped to the card clutched tightly in her hand.

  “Hope you liked my surprise. Wait until you see the next one.”

  The next one. The thought of another envelope full of intimate photos had her skin crawling. She fell to her knees and began tearing out her books. She sifted through each one, looking for signs of tampering. But whatever the next one was, it wasn’t in her locker this time.

  Still on the floor, she dug out her phone. Her fingers hovered over the open text box as she tried to warn Kaleb.

  She decided against it. She stuffed her phone back into her pocket, grabbed her books and got to her feet.

  She had Pre-Calculus next period. She would see him there.

  Sure enough, he was the only person in the room, wiping something off the blackboard. He looked up when she all but tripped into the room. His arm stopped its wide sweeps and he turned to her.

  “Katie?”

  She opened her mouth, only to snap it shut when other students began marching through the door behind her. The room grew crowded and her moment to tell him vanished.

  Biting her lip and casting another terrified glance, she hurried to take her desk. She slipped the card into the side pocket of her backpack and waited for another opportunity to show Kaleb.

  That opportunity didn’t present itself until after school when her phone beeped in her pocket.

  “Same spot down the block,” it read.

  Sure enough, she found his car exactly where it had been earlier that morning. He was leaning against the passenger’s side door, arms folded, staring down at his crossed ankles. He looked up when she approached.

  “Hey,” he said.

  She took a deep breath and let it out in a tired exhale. “Hey.”

  He pushed away from the car and twisted his body to fully face her. “Need a lift?”

  She accepted, too exhausted to walk anywhere.

  “What’s on your mind?” he asked as he put the car into drive.

  She rested her head back on the headrest and closed her eyes. “I got another message,” she murmured.

  “What?”

  Reaching for the bag tucked between her feet, she drew out the card and, without a word she passed it to him.

  He took one peek at it and spewed a series of cuss words that made Katie want to laugh and cringe at the same time. It was tossed into the cup holder as he twisted the wheel and tore down a side street.

  “Where are we going?” she asked.

  “I don’t know,” he muttered tightly.

  His fingers tightened around the wheel and the blood in his knuckles pulled away beneath his crushing grip.

  She didn’t ask again. It didn’t matter. They didn’t go anywhere. Not really. They drove around aimlessly for almost an hour without sharing a single word before he pulled up alongside the shop and killed the engine.

  “Was it in your locker?” he asked, stopping her when she reached for the door handle.

  Katie shook her head. “Some kid brought it to me in the cafeteria. He took off before I could question him.”

  Kaleb ran his hand down his face and over his jaw. “I need you to start keeping track of everything.”

  She turned her head and looked at him. “What?”

  He took a deep breath. “Keep a record,” he explained. “Times, dates, where and who. Anything you can think of.”

  Her jaw dropped. “What? Why? We can’t go the police—”

  “No,” he agreed at once. “We can’t, but it’s always a good idea to keep records.” His gaze met hers. “And I want you to be very careful about where you go and who you talk to.”

  Despite the heat clinging to the inside of the car, Katie shuddered. She swallowed hard and tasted paste.

  “I don’t understand,” she whispered. “Why is he doing this? Why me?”

  His features tightened and he stared fiercely at something over her shoulder. “There’s no telling what triggers people like this. Just be careful, okay?” He seemed to be forcing himself to meet her gaze. “Call me if … just call me.”

  With a nod, Katie reached for the door handle, needing air. Only to be stopped by the fingers he closed over her other hand.

  “Hey.” He lightly tugged on her arm until she was forced to face him again. “You’re not alone.”

  “Aren’t I?” She offered him a humorless smirk. “Are you getting these messages, too?”

  “In a sense? Yes.” He squeezed her fingers. “I may not be getting them directly, but I’m as much a part of this as you are. I want this bastard like you wouldn’t believe. Not just because they’re meddling in my life, but because they’re hurting you.”

  She dropped her gaze. “I don’t know what to do, Kaleb.”

  With the hand he still held, he reached up and tipped her chin so their eyes were locked once more. “Start writing everything down,” he said. “Everything. Even the stuff that doesn’t seem important.” He took the card. His face hardened as he read it again. “This guy has no idea who he’s messing with.”

  She left him sitting in the car watching her a few minutes later and walked into the shop. Aunt Hannah looked up from the front counter and smiled.

  “How was school? You’re home late.”

  Refusing to meet her aunt’s gaze, Katie nodded. “Yeah, I just had something to do.”

  “Is everything all right?”

  She nodded again. “Homework.” She forced a smile. “I should get started.”

  Not waiting for her aunt to catch the lie, she hurried to the back of the shop and took the stairs two at a time to the top.

  In her room, she shut the door, dropped against it, and slid to the floor as the first of many sobs wrecked through her.

  “Katie!”

  From the window seat, Katie jumped at the unexpected shout of her name followed by a violent fist against the door.

  “Open this door right now or, God help me, I’ll feed snakes through the crack!”

  Wiping the tears crusted to her cheeks, Katie rose and padded to the door.

  No sooner had she flipped the lock when it was thrown open, nearly rearranging her nose. Ashlee barged in, a one woman tornado.

  “I’m not leaving!” To prove it, she planted her boots shoulder-width apart and folded her arms. “I am going to stand right here until you tell me what’s wrong. If that’s not scary enough. I’ll rearrange your closet … by colors!”

 
; Maybe it was the ridiculous threat, or the absolute seriousness on Ashlee’s face, but Katie burst into laughter that quickly dissolved into a fresh wave of tears as she threw herself into her friend’s arms.

  Ashlee’s arms banded around her. Her fingers fisted the back of Katie’s t-shirt tight. The door slammed shut under Ashlee’s boot.

  “Eight words.” Her arms tightened as Katie cried softly into her shoulder. “What’s his name and where does he live?”

  Sniffling, chuckling, and still crying, Katie shook her head. “It’s nothing.”

  “Uh huh.” She drew back and leveled Katie with a raised eyebrow. “I may be blonde, but I’m not stupid.”

  It was brewing inside her to just spill everything, to tell someone. But that would involve Ashlee. It would make her part of the nightmare, and Katie couldn’t do that. She couldn’t put her friend in that kind of danger.

  “I’m just doing really bad in art.” It wasn’t a complete lie. “I guess the stress is getting to me.”

  Ashlee blinked and made a face of disgust. “Art? You’re bumming about art?”

  Katie shrugged. “Stupid, I know.”

  “Uh, yeah, real stupid.” She shook her head. “I mean, all this time, I thought I had to set someone on fire.”

  Katie laughed. “No, sorry.”

  Ashlee physically cringed. “Art,” she repeated, like if she said it enough, she’d finally understand. She threw herself down on the bed and rolled onto her side. She propped her head in her hand and watched Katie. “Are you sure no one broke your heart? That I can understand and can even help with.”

  Katie chuckled as she went back to the window seat and sat. “No, really. Just Art.”

  Ashlee wrinkled her nose. “Drats! I’ve always wanted to tie someone up, cover him in honey, and leave him for the ants.”

  Katie cringed and eyed her friend warily. “Remind me never to break up with you.”

  Bouncing once, Ashlee swung her legs over the edge of the mattress, and hopped nimbly to her feet. “I know what we need, hot guys and lots and lots of junk food.”

  All the things Katie didn’t want, but didn’t have the heart to tell Ashlee as the blonde skipped out of the room.

  With her gone, Katie dropped her forehead onto her raised knees and closed her eyes. She prayed with all her might that tomorrow would bring a new beginning and the person stalking her would forget she existed. It was unlikely, but she wished for it all the same.

  On the nightstand, her cell phone chirped, signaling a new text.

  Katie rose off the bench and picked it up. It was from Kaleb.

  “Hey, you okay?”

  She skimmed the pad of her thumb over the keys, biding her time before answering. “I’m trying.”

  “I’ll find him, Katie. Trust me.”

  She wanted to believe him, but how could he with just a few pictures and a card?

  “Katie?”

  She shook away her doubts. “I do. Thank you.”

  “Don’t thank me.” It was almost instant. “Not yet.”

  “At least you’re trying,” she replied.

  “I won’t give up,” he promised. “Not until I have my hands around his throat.”

  Katie snickered. “Can I be there when you do?”

  “Front row, center. Did you write down the stuff I told you?”

  She grimaced. “No, but I will. Ashlee just came over. I think we’re going to have a girl’s night.”

  “Okay.” A moment passed before the next message. “We need to set up another time to work on your art assignment.”

  Her eyebrows rose in surprise. “You still want to do that? Look what happened last time.”

  A heartbeat of silence.

  “There is nothing I want more than to finish that.”

  As though the digital words had the power to physically touch her, sharp points of desire shot through her. The place between her legs clenched. Her fingers trembled.

  Katie sucked in a sharp breath. “Which? The project or what almost happened in the art room?”

  “Both,” came his response, almost immediately.

  She bit her lip. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, not after everything that’s happened. It might be best if we avoided each other for a while.”

  “Do you think that will make him stop?”

  She didn’t. “No, but I don’t know what else to do. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

  “How about the public library tomorrow after school?”

  Katie felt herself grin before she could stop herself. “You want to keep our relationship a secret at the public library?”

  “Is it wrong that I don’t want to keep you a secret?”

  “Damn it,” Katie breathed aloud to herself as her heart galloped in her chest.

  “Do you have a better idea?” came his next message.

  She wet her lips. “We could come back here.” She hit send before she could chicken out.

  “I thought we agreed we couldn’t be trusted alone.”

  “We won’t be alone. My aunt will be here.”

  Maybe.

  “Your place it is.”

  “Katie!” Ashlee bounded into the room. “We’re all set. Your aunt is ordering pizza and I have found our movies for the night.”

  Katie slipped her phone behind her back and turned to her friend. “Okay. I’ll be right there.”

  “Hurry!” Ashlee half groaned, half growled. “I haven’t seen Channing Tatum topless in over three days.” She gasped dramatically. “I’m going through withdrawal … it hurts!”

  Chuckling, Katie shook her head as Ashlee dragged herself out of the room. She turned back to the phone.

  “I have to go. But I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “Goodnight, Katie.”

  “Night, Kaleb.”

  She set the phone down and left the room to find her aunt and Ashlee already on the lumpy sofa, surrounded by enough junk food to make a frat house proud.

  Katie smiled as she watched them giggle like school girls. Their happiness was infectious. She found the weight on her chest lift as she crossed the room to drop down between them.

  She elbowed Ashlee. “Don’t hog the popcorn, Lambert.”

  It was nice to be surrounded by the people she loved. It was nice not to feel so completely alone and afraid. For those few hours, Katie forgot all about the shadow lurking just out of sight.

  Chapter Eleven

  Katie was by no stretch of the imagination the smartest person in the school. She never claimed to be. When it came to her classes, she was fairly average, except for Business Law. It was the only course she threw herself into as though her life depended on it and that was only because of her aunt.

  There was nothing Katie wouldn’t do for her aunt. The very idea that there was something out there, a potential danger, both chilled and infuriated her. Her need to protect her aunt was the only thing keeping her together as she went about yet another day of pretending everything was perfectly fine.

  “I still think Ashlee Tatum has a very beautiful ring to it,” Ashlee mused while staring dreamily into the distance.

  Katie shook her head, barely smothering a grin as she poked her meatloaf with a fork. “The guy is married.”

  Ashlee blinked big, blue eyes. “So?”

  Katie laughed. “Never mind.”

  Ashlee sighed, dropping her chin onto the heel of her hand. “When we get married, it’ll be on a beach. You’ll, of course, be my maid of honor and—”

  A figure dropped into the seat across from them.

  “Hello ladies.” Larson grinned at them.

  “Wow, you’re really taking this whole attending thing seriously, huh?” Ashlee remarked, eyeing Larson’s skull hoodie and torn jeans with a glint of disapproval.

  “Wheels, baby,” Larson replied, slapping his thighs in enthusiasm. “So what are you ladies talking about?”

  Katie and Ashlee exchanged glances. Both grinned and replied in unison, “Nothing.”<
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  Larson glanced from one to the other. “Oookay … well,” he sat back. “I’m here to invite you ladies over.”

  “Over for what?” Ashlee asked.

  “An orgy,” he said with an absolute seriousness that had even Katie pausing. Then he snorted. “You two are taking me way too seriously.” He shook his head. “Just to chill out.”

  Ashlee narrowed her eyes. “Don’t you have friends?”

  Under the table, Katie kicked her. “Of course we’ll come over,” she said, giving Larson a smile. “After school?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Sounds great!” Katie said just as her phone took that moment to signal a new text. She tugged it out of her pocket.

  “I’m sorry. I have to cancel today. Something came up.”

  Her heart sank, even before she could mentally kick herself for nearly forgetting Kaleb was coming over in the first place.

  “Hope everything’s okay.”

  “Yes, just some family stuff. But we’ll reschedule.”

  “Okay. Talk to you later.”

  “Be careful, Katie.”

  Katie stared at the two words and wondered if he was any closer to uncovering anything. She had meant to ask him when he came over, but that didn’t seem to be a possibility now.

  “You too,” she texted back instead.

  With her after school plans made and lunch ending, Katie finished the remainder of school with a feeling of dread. Part of her wished she could cancel the evening at Larson’s but then she would have to go home and fret alone and that didn’t suit her either.

  Larson lived on the other side of the metaphorical tracks. While Ashlee and Katie lived in reasonably decent homes, Larson’s crash pad was an enormous three story colonial home with monitored gates and enough property to build a deluxe super mall and amusement park. Katie and Ashlee had to show their IDs before being allowed access through the ten feet of wrought iron. The walk from the gates to the front doors seemed infinitely long; it was the sort of driveway one needed to drive up, not walk.

  Katie had only been there once, when she and Larson had to finish a project for shop class. It had taken a lot of pride and effort not to stand in the driveway and gawk, which was what Ashlee was doing.