by May, W. J.
“I’ve been working out at Brent’s gym.”
“All of you? The usual crew: Brent, Seth, Rylee, and Heidi?”
“Yeah.”
“Do you think they’d let me do some blood work?”
His excitement and need to push the barriers was getting lame. He wasn’t interested in me, he was interested in the halos. “I have no idea, Dad.”
“I’m just wondering if any of them have the same results as yours.”
The image of me inside a cage like a lab rat popped into my head. I was joined by more little rats with my friend’s faces. “You said Kieran had no markers. Maybe something weird is just going on with me.”
He pursed his lips. “Maybe. But I’d need to compare their DNA and blood work.”
I checked my watch again. The gang needed to hear what Dad had figured out. Maybe if we told him, he could find a cure. I didn’t know what to say or even think. “If you let me get going, I’ll ask them while we’re at PHP.”
“Are you bribing your father?” A single eyebrow rose above his eye, the other one crushed slightly down.
I grinned. “Maybe a little.”
“Go then. But promise me you’ll ask.”
“Maybe. If you promise not to nag.” I left him in the kitchen and headed down the hall to the front door.
“Zoezey?”
“Yeah, Dad?” I called back, tying up my shoe.
He came running around the corner, his eyes wide and his mouth in a big “O”. “I knew it!” He snapped his finger. “It’s just a hunch, but to actually make the discovery…” He shook his head.
My stomach dropped. “What are you talking about?”
“Nothing.” He waved his hand. “I just thought of something, but I need to try a few equations and see if the numbers add up.”
“Huh?” The odd beating of his heart put me on guard.
“It’s nothing. I-I’m jumping ahead of myself. Go see your friends and enjoy your Friday night.” He turned and headed back down the hall to the kitchen.
I listened to him stack and straighten his papers. It wouldn’t be long before science proved what was going on with my body. Thank goodness Brent had asked us all to get together. We really needed to talk.
Chapter 14
I stood outside PHP locking the Bug. I froze when I heard Seth and Brent from inside.
“What the hell?”
“You stole from other people too? I thought nailing my dad was low, but ten thousand wasn’t enough?”
The anger and disbelief in Brent’s voice sent me racing into the building.
“Wait!” I called as I ran to my friends. I grabbed Brent’s arm. Kieran jumped up and held on to me.
Seth climbed on the bench and hopped over the small wooden wall that separated the booth from the aisle behind. “I don’t know what you guys are talking about.” He moved out of hitting reach and stared at Brent.
Kieran hugged me but I refused to let go of Brent until I heard his heart rate slow and his fist finally relax.
Heidi slipped out of the booth and walked around the booths to stand by Seth.
Rylee stared at Kieran holding me. “You are with her? How could you be interested in her over me?”
Brent pulled his arm, and me along with it, toward him. I crashed into him and wrapped his arm around my waist to keep me from falling.
Kieran turned to Rylee. “Not everyone and everything in this town is about you!”
Seth leaned over the little booth wall. “Yeah, Rylee.”
“Shut up!” Brent and I yelled at the same time.
“Guys,” Heidi whispered. “Can we please take this outside? Everyone’s looking.”
I stepped back from Brent and heard his voice, way below a whisper, “Zoe… I… Why not –”
Rylee spoke, cutting off the rest of Brent’s sentence. “Let’s go.”
We followed Rylee single file out of PHP. Kieran threw two twenty dollar bills on the table to cover what nobody had touched. I made a mental note to make sure we all paid him back later.
The air had chilled considerably and snowflakes floated down. The grey skies seemed to hint that there would be more.
“So what the hell is going on?” Seth leaned against the Bug, oblivious of the snow.
Brent scoffed. “Don’t act like you don’t know.”
“I heard Brent find his dad last night.” I didn’t understand how Seth could have done this to his best friend. “Why would you hurt him?”
“Hurt who? Brent’s dad?” Seth crossed his arms over his chest. “I didn’t touch Brent’s dad.”
Rylee snorted. “Just like you didn’t rob any of those other stores.”
Seth shook his head and swallowed. He grimaced like the taste in his mouth made him sick. “I haven’t stolen anything.” He inhaled. “I smell a rat.” He exhaled. “Fine. My dad bought the watch and hid it. I found it along with the grad card. I just put it on to try it out. He’s working today so I figured nobody would figure it out. I’ll put it back as soon as I get home.” He waved his hands. “That’s my crime. I have not robbed any stores or touched your freakin’ father, Brent!”
What was happening to our group? We’d always been best friends. It seemed like everything was crashing down and ending.
Heidi stepped into the middle of our circle. Her little feet made a flower path in the building snow on the ground. “We need to slow down. I don’t know what’s going on but, come on, Seth didn’t rob those places in the news. He’s like a bull in a china shop.” She turned and touched Brent’s arm. “I don’t know what happened to your dad, but is he okay?”
Brent nodded. “He’s okay. Except he wasn’t too impressed with what we’ve done to the gym. Looks like we’re going to need another place to train for a bit.” He glanced at Seth. “Sorry for assuming…”
“Me, too,” Seth said. “I shouldn’t have worn the watch. I just hate how money’s so easy for you.” He shrugged. “Guess I wanted to show off a bit.”
Kieran stood silent beside me, holding my hand. “Maybe we need a night off from each other. Catch our breath.”
Heidi nodded. “That’s what I was going to suggest. We have to work together, and in order to do that, we need to trust each other.”
I thought of the conversation with my dad. “I got here late because my dad and I were talking. He took mine and Kieran’s blood the other day. Apparently there are markers in our blood. Some kind of rings binding to our blood cells. My dad saw them.”
“In Kieran too?” Rylee asked.
“No, just me. Kieran’s showed nothing. However, I think we all have these radium halos. If we’re all going to chill tonight…” I swallowed, not sure if they would agree. “Do you think we should tell my dad about our super-senses? I think he’s going to figure it out eventually.”
“No way!” Rylee shook her head. “He’s a flippin’ doctor. Next thing you know he’s going to be dissecting us. I say we don’t tell anyone. It’s too dangerous.”
I was beginning to think keeping it a secret would end up too costly. “Just think about it. Maybe if we get together tomorrow or Sunday or Monday at school, we could see what each of us thinks?”
Kieran squeezed my hand. “I agree with Zoe.”
Rylee rolled her eyes. “Of course you do.”
“So do I,” said Brent.
“Next time we get together let’s just talk about it.” I hated the pleading sound in my voice.
“Fine,” Ryle said. “I’m going home now. My feet are freezing.” She pulled her keys out of her purse. “Seth and Heidi, if you want a ride, I’m leaving now.”
Heidi hugged me. “I’d better get going. I’ll text you tonight?” She hugged me and whispered in my ear.
“Sounds good.” I pulled my hand out of Kieran’s and hugged her back. “Bye, Rylee,” I called over my shoulder.
Brent coughed, clearing his throat. “You want a ride, Seth? Kieran?”
“Sure, beats riding home with crazy pants.” H
e nodded at Rylee.
“Kieran, you need a ride, too?” Brent didn’t sound like he actually meant the offer.
“I’m good. I’ve got me bike here.”
I looked through the parking lot, not seeing the bike. “Is it okay to drive in the snow with it?”
He kissed my forehead. “I’ll be fine. Call me later tonight. Maybe we can hang out tomorrow. Just you and me.”
“Sounds good.” I watched him walk around the corner and wave to Rylee and Heidi as he pulled onto the road. I waved to Seth and Brent also and I hopped into the Bug.
I didn’t like the feeling in the pit of my stomach. It seemed to be trying to tell me something.
Whatever it was, I sincerely hoped our friendships could handle it.
Chapter 15
I needed to clear my head and get the ringing in my ears to die down. Nothing seemed to be helping tonight. I kept running over everything that had happened since the night in the mine. My chest grew tight and the walls of my room felt as if they were closing in. I grabbed my winter jacket and tiptoed past dad’s office door. The clicking noises confirmed he sat typing on his computer.
I quietly opened the front door and snuck through. It wasn’t late and I had nothing to hide, but I wanted to be on my own. Hugging myself against the cold, I stared out into the front yard. The steady falling snow swirled and landed on the recently shovelled walkway and drive. I inhaled deeply, and then slowly released it. A glistening snowflake melted; no match against my warm breath.
Wish I could do the same to the ice growing around the gang.
It had been a crazy afternoon. We were struggling to find answers and were now starting to accuse each other. I pressed my fists tight under my armpits. Could Seth really be involved? It seemed hard to believe.
And what was with Brent today? He seemed… off. Like he was nervous or something. I planned on asking him tomorrow.
A vibration inside the back pocket of my jeans diverted my train of thought. I pulled my phone out and checked the screen. Rylee. “Funny,” I mumbled. “She never calls, always texts.” I pressed the talk button. “Hey. What’s up?”
Silence.
A weird, eerie silence you see in the movies before something bad happened. “Grow up,” I mumbled to myself. “Rylee?”
A shuffling sound had me pulling the phone away from ear. “Zoe? Thank goodness! I wasn’t sure if you’d pick up. I just snuck out of my house. My mom’s gonna kill me if she finds out.” She panted, clearly she’d been running. “I think I’ve figured something out. It’s big.”
Total movie suspense.
“It’s about the murder.” She huffed. “About us.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I… I don’t think I should tell you over the phone.” She began whispering, “Someone might hear me. I want to make sure my hunch is right.”
“What’s going on? Where are you?” I started to panic at the worry in her voice and my moron thinking. “Don’t be doing anything dangerous on your own, Rylee.”
“Shhh!” Her breath caught. “I think someone’s following me.”
I heard her heart rate pick up. “Where are you? I’m coming right now in the Bug.”
There was a long pause and then she started laughing. “It’s a bloody cat. I’m being stalked by a cat.” She stopped laughing. “Sorry. I’m just getting paranoid.”
I moved back into the house and slipped my keys off the hook on the wall. I cringed when the door banged shut. My legs raced to my car. “Where are you?”
“I’m heading to the mine.”
I shook my head. “Are you crazy? On foot? You can’t walk all the way there in the snow.”
“I know what’s going on. I know who’s been doing this. I just need proof.”
“Doing what? You aren’t making any sense.” I opened the door to the Bug and jumped inside, hoping it wouldn’t be too loud when I started the engine. It needed to run a bit and warm up.
Rylee sighed. “I’m pretty sure I know who’s done this. Have you been listening to the radio?”
My hand paused mid-air, holding the key just millimeters from the ignition. “No. I try to avoid excess noises.”
“The body… at the mine,” she began whispering again. “It’s Kieran’s dad. It’s all over the news.”
“What?” The word echoed inside the small car and against my chest. It’d come out louder than I planned. “That’s impossible. He’s in Scotland.”
“Who told you that? Kieran?”
Obviously. “His dad’s been sending him money so he can’t be dead.” I sighed and stuck the keys into the ignition. “You’re my best friend. Please don’t be--”
“I’m not jealous! Well, I was, but I’m totally over it.” She paused, maybe listening for something or someone. “You need to put your feelings for him aside and think about what I’m saying. It makes sense. Totally.”
“Go back home, Rylee.” This time I didn’t try to hide the irritation in my voice.
“Listen to me! What if Kieran’s responsible for all the break-ins and robberies? What if he said the money was from his dad when it wasn’t? What if he killed his dad?”
“And broke into Brent’s place and hurt his dad?” I sighed dramatically. “He wouldn’t hurt his friends. Your brain’s on overdrive.” I dropped back against the cold seat and shivered. Impossible. Right?
“Something’s up and I’m going to prove it.”
I leaned forward and started the Bug, shoving it into reverse before I could change my mind. “I’m coming to get you. We’ll check things out, together, in the morning.” I steered the Bug in the direction of the mine, needing to correct my tires against the frozen road. There was now ice under the freshly fallen snow. “What street are you on?”
Another dramatic-Rylee sigh. “Fine. I’m only saying yes so I can sit in your car. It’s freezing.” I caught the sound of chattering teeth. “I’m on Phillips.”
“I’ll be there shortly. I can’t talk and drive.” As I spoke, black ice on the road had me dropping the phone and grabbing the wheel with both hands.
The phone slipped under my boot but hadn’t disconnected. Rylee spoke, “I’ll head toward the four-way stop so it’s easier to find me. Give me a sec to see how far away I am. I keep gauging distance wrong since I can see everything so crystal clear. It messes up my head.”
Her footsteps echoed through the phone as she walked. I heard the sound of a revving engine and crunching tires against the snow through the phone probably before Rylee did. I envisioned some car losing control and smacking into her. “Watch out!” I cried a moment before the awful sound of impact ricocheted out of the phone.
I squeezed the wheel in terror with one hand, and reached down to grab the phone with my other. “Rylee!” I screamed.
Silence. Dead silence. Then spurring of tires and a loud engine disappearing.
Hands shaking on the steering wheel, I stared blankly at the road in front of me. I should turn my windshield wipers on. The defrost had cleared them but the falling snow made things blurry. My thoughts switched to autopilot. I flicked the wipers on and cranked up the heat. Then my brain woke up.
“No! No, no no!” I screamed.
I slowed the car in the middle of the road. No one was around. Reaching around on the floor, I located my cell and dialled 911. Setting it on speaker, I tossed it on the passenger seat and began driving again.
“Nine. One. One. What is your emergency?”
“My friend. I was just on the phone with her. She was walking outside. In the snow. I think she just got hit. By a car.”
Still in a daze, I answered the lady’s questions, all the while wondering if she actually believed me. None of it made sense.
I pulled onto Phillips and began scanning the sidewalks, also looking for tracks in the snow of a car veering. “Come on, come on, come on, come on,” I mumbled. At a stop sign, I speed dialled Dad’s house. “Dad!” I shouted when he picked up. “I think Rylee’s been
hit.” I heard him jump up from his office chair.
“Was that the Bug I heard a few minutes ago?”
“Yeah. Get in your car and help me find her. Please, Daddy.”
“I’m on my way.” Keys jingled. “Where are you?”
“Phillips, going toward the mine.”
“Stay where you are, Zoe. I’ll come get you and we’ll look together.”
I pressed my teeth against my lower lip. “I can’t find her. I can’t—” I lost my voice when I suddenly caught sight of two trails in the snow, cutting across the road and veering onto the sidewalk near a large snow-covered evergreen planted on an old farmhouse yard. I pulled off to the side and jumped out of the Bug.
Sirens rang out into the night air, letting me know help was on its way. I had no idea how far away they were. My boots filled with snow as I ran. I jumped onto the top of an old trailer tie but had to jump off to avoid nearly hitting the large steel pole-things nailed into them. Searching for my best friend, my eyes provided little help in the near darkness. I tried to hear her breathing. She wasn’t in the snow where the tire tracks stopped, or under the tree.
“Rylee! Rylee!”
I paused and cocked my head, forcing all other sounds out and focussed on anything unique.
A strange sound I’d never heard before, like a gurgling and slight popping noise seeped into my ear canals. A terrible thought crossed my mind. Warm blood melting snow. “No!” I sobbed and swung left, racing around the tree to the other side.
Rylee lay sprawled on the ground face up, her arms stretched out like she was making a snow angel.
Except she wasn’t moving.
My legs gave out and I dropped into the snow, kneeling beside her. Wetness seeped through my jeans. Tears coursed down my cheeks and I hiccupped against the pressure in my chest. With a shaking hand, I reached for her neck to try and find a pulse. The sleeve of my coat caught against something sharp. I reached to unsnag it. My hand brushed against cold metal. Please no! I scurried back and fell back into the snow when I realized Rylee had been impaled by a piece of metal sticking out of the old railway tie. Horror filled my insides. I didn’t want to look, but couldn’t stop myself. Glancing closer, I saw the railway tie under her, just below her shoulders. Her back twisted in an angle that the human body wasn’t capable of.
