Shadows

by Amy Meredith

  Luke was the first – and only – one off the bus when it finally reached the psychiatric hospital. PSYCHIATRIC REHABILITATION CENTER was what the place called itself on the big sign out front. The front lawn was huge and gently rolling. Weirdly, it looked like a great place to have a picnic. A couple of patients were sitting outside, soaking up the last hour of sunshine for the day.

  Luke hurried into the main building. The nurse at the reception desk was happy to hear that Bet had a visitor. ‘I have to warn you that she’s in restraints,’ the nurse told him. ‘We had to do it to prevent her from hurting herself. She’s also somewhat medicated. You’ll find her in room three-o-four.’

  The nurse gave him brief directions. Luke took the stairs to the second floor. He couldn’t bear to wait for the elevator – even if it only took thirty seconds. Bet’s room was easy to find. But it wasn’t easy to look at her lying there with her arms and legs in restraints. Her mouth hung slack and her eyes were halfway between closed and open. Her face had three deep scratches across one cheek. Was that why they’d had to restrain her? Had she clawed her own face?

  ‘Bet,’ he said loudly. She didn’t respond. He tried again, this time patting her arm at the same time. Her eyelids flickered, then opened all the way. Luke didn’t think she recognized him. He wasn’t even sure she knew where she was. ‘Bet, hi,’ he said gently. ‘It’s Luke. Luke Thompson.’

  Bet’s eyes focused on his face for the briefest of moments, and she flinched.

  ‘I’m sorry to see you in here,’ he said.

  ‘The shadows came too. They’re here. But they’re hiding,’ Bet said. Her voice was different, he noticed. She sounded like a little girl.

  ‘Maybe they’re gone,’ Luke suggested. ‘Maybe that’s why you don’t see them.’

  Bet didn’t answer. Her eyes slowly travelled round the room, searching, searching.

  ‘Bet. I, uh—’ Why hadn’t he planned out what to say? ‘I was wondering who you went out with after me.’

  Bet began rapidly flexing and unflexing her fingers. He could see her feet move restlessly under the sheet. With the leather cuffs on her wrists and ankles, it would be almost impossible for her to move the rest of her body.

  ‘Did you have another boyfriend?’ Luke tried again.

  ‘Shh! Do you hear that?’ Bet murmured.

  ‘What?’ Luke asked.

  ‘The shadows are whispering secrets about me,’ she answered. The hairs on the back of Luke’s neck stood up. He wanted out of this room; out of this whole place.

  Luke put one hand on Bet’s forehead. It was cool and clammy. He tried to reassure her, calm her. ‘Nobody could say anything bad about you, Bet. Everyone likes you.’

  She began tossing her head from side to side, knocking his hand away. ‘Why are you saying that?’

  ‘Because it’s true,’ Luke answered.

  ‘Stop saying that. He does love me. He does!’

  Was she talking to him? Was she talking about him?

  ‘I like you, same as everyone,’ Luke said, feeling his stomach churn. He didn’t want to lie and say he loved her – if it was him she was even thinking about. It just felt wrong.

  ‘He loves me, he loves me, he loves me,’ Bet continued in a soft singsong. ‘He wouldn’t have kissed me if he didn’t. You only kiss the one you love.’

  Luke had kissed her. But someone else had too. The demon. ‘Who, Bet? Who did you kiss?’

  Bet giggled, still wiggling her fingers and toes. ‘He does love me!’ Her voice suddenly escalated into a screech. ‘He said so. So shut up, all of you!’

  ‘Who, Bet? Who loves you? Tell me and I’ll tell them,’ Luke begged. ‘I’ll tell them all.’

  ‘Yes. Tell them.’ Bet smiled. It was horrible to see on her ripped-up face. ‘Tell them about me and Mally, Mally, Mal.’

  Chapter Twenty-one

  Mal’s front garden was illuminated by dozens and dozens of fairy lights. Eve thought about the night she’d first seen him. All the fairy lights on Main Street had flicked on at that exact moment, like something out of the most romantic movie ever. She was glad she’d decided to wear her Diane Von Furstenberg dress. It was long and flowy, with streaks of blues and greens, but not at all formal. It completely matched the mood set by the glittering garden.

  The door swung open before Eve had a chance to knock. And now she was especially glad she’d worn the dress, because Mal had dressed up too. He had on a midnight-blue jacket with just a touch of sheen to it, over a grey T-shirt that looked so soft it was hard for Eve not to reach out and stroke it.

  ‘I’m glad you could come,’ Mal told her, stepping back to let her inside the house.

  ‘Me too,’ Eve answered. As usual, it seemed that she’d need a little warm-up time to get into a real conversation with Mal.

  ‘Would you like something to drink?’ he asked.

  Eve laughed. That was why she sometimes wondered how he felt about her – he was so polite. Almost formal. She could imagine him treating any guest so courteously. But he wouldn’t try to kiss any guest, Eve reminded herself.

  The empty living room now held a table for two, set with candles and flowers. Eve’s stomach did the roll-over move again. Were they all alone? ‘Um, aren’t your parents eating with us?’ she asked.

  ‘They had to leave for Sardinia at the last moment,’ Mal answered. ‘They were really disappointed not to have the chance to meet you. They said to ask you to forgive them, and they want you to come back for dinner as soon as they come home.’

  ‘Oh. OK. Where’s your brother?’

  ‘Who knows? He doesn’t keep me informed of his plans,’ Mal said. ‘Would you rather go out someplace?’ He smiled. ‘Someplace with chaperones? I’m cooking, but I can shut stuff off and we can go.’

  ‘Cooking, not blending?’ Eve asked.

  ‘All the major appliances were involved,’ Mal assured her.

  Eve knew her parents wouldn’t be thrilled about her being on a date in a boy’s house with no supervision. Still, what they didn’t know wouldn’t hurt them. And, really, being alone with Mal was what she most wanted. ‘I have to see the results if all the appliances were used,’ Eve said.

  ‘So … what would you like to drink?’ Mal asked again.

  ‘Sparkly water.’ Eve bit her lip, embarrassed. That had just slipped out. It’s what she used to call sparkling water when she was little. Maybe Mal hadn’t noticed, but his half-smile suggested that he had.

  ‘Coming up.’ He led the way to the kitchen, poured two glasses of sparkling water, and ushered her into a sitting room that looked out over the garden. The French doors were open, letting in the scent of roses and the last of the evening sun. Soft jazz played from a ceiling-mounted speaker.

  ‘You have more furniture than you did at the party,’ Eve commented, taking a seat on a chaise longue. She loved its swooping lines and old-fashioned orb-shaped feet. Mal sat in the chair across from her. ‘So,’ she said.

  ‘So,’ he said, and he smiled a full-on smile. Dazzling. It was a good thing he didn’t use it often. It was powerful.

  Eve smiled back. It was impossible not to. ‘What exactly are you making for dinner?’

  ‘A soufflé,’ he told her.

  ‘Yum,’ Eve answered. Who was this guy? Was there anything he couldn’t do? ‘Is there anything you can’t do?’ she blurted out.

  ‘That’s something you’ll have to find out for yourself,’ he said.

  ‘Sounds like fun.’ Eve smoothed the long skirt of her dress.

  ‘Yes, it does,’ Mal agreed. He was flirting. They were flirting. This was going to be the best date ever. The best night ever. ‘What do you—?’

  Eve’s cellphone interrupted him, making them both jump. ‘Sorry,’ she said. ‘I should see if it’s my parents.’ She pulled her iPhone from her bag, wondering how her mother could possibly know that she was alone with a boy all the way from an operating room in Manhattan. But the name on the screen wasn’t her mother’s. It was L
uke’s. Eve frowned.

  ‘Something the matter?’ Mal’s dark eyes searched her face.

  Eve rejected the call. ‘No. It was Luke, but I don’t want to talk to him. I found out something about him – something that means we can’t be friends any more.’ Saying the words made her feel sad. She and Luke had been on their way to being really good friends. He’d tricked her into believing he was someone she could trust.

  Mal raised his eyebrows, clearly wanting more details. But Eve wasn’t going to spend her time with him discussing Luke. Or demons. Or how Luke was a demon. Mal seemed to realize she didn’t want to talk about it.

  He stood up. ‘I’d better check the soufflé.’ He walked out of the room, graceful as a jungle cat.

  The iPhone in Eve’s hand buzzed, the sign that there was a text message. From Luke, she knew without even checking. If I read it, I’ll get sucked into dealing with him right now. I’ll start thinking about how he’s been stealing girls’ souls … and how much I’m dreading the moment when I have to smoke him, she thought.

  Eve looked at her cell. The screen had a little icon that said MESSAGE FROM LUKE THOMPSON! Underneath was a box that said READ, and another one that said DELETE.

  She stared down at it for a long moment. Then hit DELETE.

  Chapter Twenty-two

  Luke pounded on Jess’s front door, panting from running all the way from the bus stop on Main Street. Jess opened the door – with the chain on – and peered at him though the small opening.

  ‘Jess! I need—’

  ‘I can’t talk now,’ Jess cut him off. ‘I have to—’

  ‘Look, I know you guys are mad at me,’ he interrupted. ‘You think I’m a jerk and you’re right. But we have to get to Eve right now. Mal’s the demon!’

  ‘What?’ Jess cried.

  ‘It’s Mal! He’s the one. And I think Eve’s having dinner at his house right now,’ Luke went on, desperate. ‘I heard them arranging it this morning. I didn’t mean to listen, I just kind of … Well, look, the point is I tried to call her, but she won’t pick up. You have to help me!’

  ‘That’s a lie, Luke. You’re lying,’ Jess told him, her voice shaking. ‘My brother’s home, my parents will be home soon, and I need you to leave.’ She started to shut the door, but Luke caught it with his hand.

  ‘Wait. Just listen, OK? I’ll let go of the door.’ He let go, hoping she wouldn’t slam it. She didn’t. ‘Please, please listen to me.’

  ‘OK.’ Jess’s eyes – what he could see of them – were filled with fear and doubt.

  ‘The demon sucks out a person’s soul by kissing,’ he said. ‘It said so in those papers we found at the church.’

  ‘I know,’ Jess snapped. ‘And Eve knows too.’

  Her voice was angrier than Luke had ever heard, and all of a sudden he got it. ‘You think it’s me!’ he gasped.

  ‘Well, you’re the one who kisses everybody,’ Jess said. ‘So get out of here!’

  ‘No, no, no,’ Luke cried. ‘I swear I will never kiss anyone ever again – well, until we destroy the demon. But it’s not me. It’s Mal! When I figured it out about the kissing, I realized the demon must have kissed Bet.’

  ‘Right. And you were with her in the pool house at the party. You expect me to believe you didn’t kiss her?’ Jess demanded.

  ‘Not in the pool house. I was in there telling her that I wasn’t really her boyfriend. I wanted to do it in private. I did kiss her though,’ Luke admitted. He knew it made him look guilty. But lying would be worse. ‘I kissed her when we went to the movies.’ He had to get Jess’s trust back. ‘But I’m not the demon. So somebody else had to have kissed her. I went to Ridgewood to find out who.’

  ‘You went to Ridgewood?’ Jess sounded curious, but she didn’t make a move to take the chain off the door.

  I have to convince her. It’s the only thing that will work. She’s the only one Eve will listen to, Luke thought. ‘Yeah. Bet – she’s in bad shape. She was really out of it, hardly making any sense. But she was talking about Mal and kissing.’

  ‘Why would I believe that?’ Jess said. ‘If you’re a demon, you would lie about everything. Besides, you kissed the other girls who’ve gone insane too. Do you expect me to believe it’s all a big coincidence? You even kissed Shanna’s mother!’

  ‘What?’ Luke felt heat flood his face. ‘I did not! Ew. What are you talking about?’

  ‘Kiki told me. By the way, all the guys on the football team think you’re a stud. Congratulations,’ Jess spat out.

  ‘Look, I’ve been a jerk. A man ho. Whatever you want to call me. But I’m not a demon.’ Luke ran his hand through his hair, upset. ‘And I’ve never even met Shanna’s mother.’

  ‘I don’t believe you. You’re trying to trick me.’ Jess started to close the door.

  ‘Check for yourself!’ Luke exclaimed. He took a step towards the door, then forced himself to stop. He had to remember that Jess was terrified of him. He couldn’t look as if he was about to attack her. ‘You know Megan Christie. Call her. Ask if she and Mal ever kissed. That’s all I’m asking.’

  Jess hesitated.

  ‘Jess, think about Eve,’ Luke cried. ‘If I’m telling you the truth, then your best friend is with the demon right this second!’

  ‘OK,’ Jess finally said. She did shut the door then, leaving Luke on the porch. He paced back and forth. Would Megan be coherent enough to talk? Or would she be like Bet? Would she confirm that she’d kissed Mal? Because she must have. Why else would she be locked away in a psychiatric hospital now?

  He wheeled towards the door when he heard it swing open. Jess stepped out, holding her cell to her ear. That had to be good. She wouldn’t be out here with him if she still thought he was the demon.

  ‘So Megan had a thing for Mal,’ Jess said into the phone. She listened for a moment, her eyes on Luke. ‘Thanks. I know it was a weird question. I’ll be by to visit Megan soon.’

  Luke promised himself he’d visit her too. And Bet. And Rose, even though he’d never kissed her. He’d bring them flowers. He’d even bring Shanna’s mom flowers.

  Jess lowered the phone. She swallowed hard. ‘A nurse told me Megan wasn’t well enough to talk, so I called Megan’s house. Her sister answered. She said Megan and Mal hung around some in the summer. Megan was crazy about him. Not crazy crazy,’ she quickly corrected herself.

  ‘I know what you mean,’ Luke told her gently.

  ‘She said they were together the night before school started, which is the night before she had to be taken to Ridgewood. She walked in on him and Megan. They were making out,’ Jess said. She took a step closer to Luke. ‘I asked her about you too. She said that Megan showed you around town and that maybe you two went out a few times. But that was before the Mal infatuation.’

  ‘As soon as the demon kisses someone, the soul is sucked out. I did kiss Megan a couple of times. But Mal kissed her after that. He’s the demon,’ Luke said.

  Jess nodded again. Then a look of panic crossed her face. ‘Oh my God! Evie!’ she gasped.

  ‘Call her. Please. She won’t take my calls.’ Luke wiped away the beads of sweat that had popped up on his forehead. Maybe there was still a chance. Maybe now they could save Eve.

  Chapter Twenty-three

  ‘My parents don’t go out of town very often. But it’s not like they’re home a lot. Mom – workaholic. Dad – workaholic,’ Eve explained. ‘If you asked me the last time all three of us were in a room together, I’m not sure I could tell you. I might have to go back to one of our birthdays, or a major holiday. Actually, Dad and I ended up going out for Mom’s birthday without her this year. She had an emergency surgery.’

  ‘So you’re alone most of the time,’ Mal said.

  ‘Kind of. But Jess is pretty much always willing to come over or I go over there. She’s my “sisfri” – that’s what we call a friend who is basically a sister,’ Eve said.

  ‘I wish I had a Jess. We move around too much for me to make that kind
of friend.’ Mal shook his head like he was trying to get bad memories out of his mind. ‘I had some cool babysitters when I was younger. This one girl – she was about fifteen, I think – let me stay up as late as I wanted, then she let me skip school if I was tired. She also let me eat grape popsicles for breakfast. She had a theory that they were basically the same as grape juice.’ He smiled. ‘She didn’t last very long.’

  ‘Wonder why,’ Eve joked. ‘This cool babysitter, did she have the privilege of knowing your full name?’

  Mal shook his head. ‘So what’s the guess of the day?’

  Eve had looked at a few more baby-name websites for ideas. ‘Malachi. It means Angel.’And it’s so perfect for you, she thought.

  ‘I’m no angel.’ He grinned, and she could feel herself flushing. ‘And that is not my name.’

  Her cell rang, and she groaned. She should have turned it off after Luke called. She and Mal were having an amazing convo. He’d just used the most-ever words in a row since she’d known him.

  ‘Sorry, again.’ Eve took her iPhone out of her purse. ‘It’s Jess,’ she told Mal. ‘Let me talk to her for a sec. She’s having, um, guy problems.’ She clicked ANSWER and lifted the phone to her ear. ‘Jess, what’s up?’ The phone crackled, then went silent.

  Eve frowned as she studied it. Out of juice. Weird. She was sure she’d charged it before she came. She shook it a few times. Didn’t help. She hoped her powers hadn’t just fried her iPhone – that really would suck. Then again, maybe fate was telling her she should be concentrating on Mal and only Mal right now. That was a good thought – although a little part of her whispered that Jess would never call during Eve’s big date unless it was important.

  Mal got up and moved over to sit next to her on the chaise longue. He playfully plucked the phone from her fingers and put it in his pocket. ‘I’d rather talk about my girl problems,’ he said.