"So remind me, why are we taking the back roads?" Kate asked, and then took a long sip from a huge mug.
"It’s faster."
"That's debatable. I guess we'll just see who gets to the hotel first. Steph was taking the highway right?"
Claire checked her rearview mirror for the hundredth time. "Yup." All clear, no one was following them. She had remained calm in front of Smith, but his warning had frightened her.
"Did you talk to Ethan yet?"
"I missed his call, but I’m sure he’ll call back."
"How about Logan?"
"Nope."
Kate was checking herself out in the sun visor’s mirror. "Weird. You'd think he would've called by now."
Claire checked the time. "It's only eight. He’s probably still sleeping."
"Maybe, but personally I think Logan's upset that he's not playing with us."
Claire shook her head. "I don't think so."
"Then he's upset that you rejected him."
"Nah. We'll be friends forever, he knows that." She looked in the rearview mirror again.
"But maybe that's the problem," Kate said and then glanced behind her. "Why do you keep checking your mirrors? You're making me nervous."
Claire straightened and gripped both hands on the steering wheel. "It's nothing. Just something Smith said."
"What, is he still freaked out about Gage?"
"I guess."
"What about you? Are you freaked out?"
"How can I not be? Some mutant's running free."
Kate fluffed her already perfect hair. "Well it's been awhile since anyone's seen him. Maybe he's moved on."
"I hope so," Claire said and reached for the radio. "What do you want to listen to?"
"Us, of course," Kate said and laughed.
Claire grinned. It made her happy to see Kate happy, especially after last year and all the problems she’d had with Corey. This dream wasn't just hers. Kate wanted this just as badly.
Claire pressed play on her iPod. One of the first songs they ever wrote blared through the speakers.
"This one's still my favorite," Kate said, drumming her fingers against the dashboard.
Claire nodded and pressed on the accelerator. It was a straight stretch of road, extending through the center of a huge forest. The trees pressed against it as if it didn't like the foreign intrusion. In a way, she felt sorry for the woods. She knew what it felt like to have something you didn't want forced upon you.
"You want some chips?" Kate asked.
“Lay them on me.”
Kate undid her seatbelt and turned to the seat behind her to rummage through a bag.
Claire kept her gaze on the road, letting the sound of her own voice soothe her. Just then she saw something ahead, no someone, disappear into the forest. Her heart began to pound. "Did you see that?"
Kate turned back around. "See what?"
"I thought I saw..." She let her foot off the accelerator.
"What?" Kate asked again.
It couldn't have been. Not here. The flash of black, the hood. Speed up or slow down? She was almost to the spot where she thought she saw him disappear into the forest when she decided to speed up.
"Watch out!" Kate screamed.
Claire saw it too, but it was too late to do anything about it. A thick chain across the road was being lifted as if someone hidden within the trees was whipping it into the air. The chain rose high and for a second Claire thought they were going to drive under it, but then it came crashing down on top of their hood with such force that the whole front of the van buckled. The back of the car reared up high into the air, flipping them over.
Time slowed.
She turned to Kate, whose body was being slammed into the roof of the car. Claire tried to reach for her, but the centrifugal motion forced her arm up. She watched it tangle inside her dark hair.
The van landed on its top, shattering the driver’s side window. Shards of glass flew into the side of her face and arm, cutting deep into her skin. Claire didn't scream; she barely flinched. All she could think about was Kate, whose body lay crumpled up in the back seat.
The upside-down, broken van expelled its last breath and steam hissed from its dented hood. Claire's head was pressed painfully against the top of the car. "Kate?" she whispered. It hurt to speak through a cut on her lip.
Claire reached for her seatbelt and clicked. This time she cried out when she fell to the roof of the car. Her whole body felt like it had been punched with a wrecking ball. She turned around and tried to focus her vision. "Kate?”
She didn’t move.
Claire’s breathing quickened. “Answer me, Kate! Wake up!”
When there was no response, Claire tried to reposition herself to where she could get onto all fours, but the steering wheel and the center console had been displaced in the wreck, blocking her path to Kate. The only way around was to crawl out the driver’s side window and reach her through the back windows.
Claire looked around until she found her jacket stuck between the seat and the glove box. She took hold of it and placed it across the broken glass sticking out of the smashed door. In sort of an army crawl, she began to inch her way out the window. “You better be okay, Kate. I need you to be okay.”
She stopped, halfway out the window, when she heard movement off to the side of the road. Through blurry vision she made out a tall, dark form walking toward her, like an approaching storm surging with power. A hand rose and removed a hood. Black hair. Dark eyes.
Claire lowered her head to her forearm, gasping and thinking hard. She had to get to Kate as soon as possible, even if that meant fighting the person who terrified her most.
She glanced around. The only thing within reach was a piece of a broken headlight almost the size of a dagger’s blade. It would have to do.
"What an unfortunate accident," Gage said when he was within a foot of her. He squatted next to her. "You never know when something bad will happen, do you?"
Claire rolled over in the direction of the broken, hard plastic. When her fingers closed tightly around it, she pulled it close to her side and looked up at Gage. His stare was cold and chilled her bones, more than any winter snow had ever done.
He glanced toward Kate at the rear of the van. "Your friend should've been wearing her seatbelt.”
“Please let me check on her,” she said, her lungs hurting when she filled them with air.
“Not until we’re done talking.”
“Then talk. You have my attention,” she said while adjusting the plastic dagger in her hand for a better grip. Kate still hadn't moved or said a word, and she was afraid if Kate didn't get medical attention soon, it would be too late.
“Not now. Not here. You might bleed to death.” He wiped at a stream of blood running down the side of her face with his thumb. Claire gripped the shard of plastic tighter, ignoring the pain as it cut into her hand.
"Then why? Why did you do this? Why can’t you just leave me alone?" she asked and then coughed, bringing the taste of blood to her mouth.
Gage glanced back at the chain now lying on the road in front of the car. "I needed to get your attention. So you know you can't mess with me. And I’m going to let you think about that until Sunday night when you are going to meet me.”
“Where?” She glanced back at Kate in time to catch the rise and fall of her friend’s chest. Kate was alive at least. For now.
“Where you first learned to ride a dirt bike. At midnight and come alone. And if I sense you're playing me, your little friend’s injuries," he motioned his head toward Kate, "will become permanent. Do you get what I'm saying?"
Claire nodded, then grimaced at the pain the motion caused in her neck.
"Sunday night. Midnight," he said again and touched her face. His hand slid down the side of her neck and to her shoulder. Claire’s hand holding the plastic began to shake. She wondered if she had enough strength to plunge it into his eye.
Before she could try, his han
d darted for hers. He gripped her wrist tightly and turned it over. Blood dripped freely from her clenched fingers.
"You shouldn't hurt yourself more than you already are," he said. While still holding her wrist, his free hand reached inside Claire's pant packet and removed her phone. "Time to call the police." He dropped the phone a few feet from her. "Remember, don't say a word. See you soon, Claire." He let go of her and straightened.
As soon as he did, the morning sun burned bright into Claire's eyes. She closed them and turned away. She waited a few seconds to see what he'd do next, but when nothing happened she opened her eyes and looked around.
Gage was gone.
She reached for her phone and dialed 911.
TWENTY-NINE
Thirty minutes later Claire was sitting in the back of an ambulance next to an unconscious Kate as it drove to the hospital. She held Kate's good hand tightly. The other one was clearly broken; bone had punctured through her skin. In addition to her broken arm, Kate's whole face was beginning to swell.
Claire was in a lot of pain, too, but refused to let the EMT's spend any time on her. She didn't deserve it. All the pain she felt was her punishment for putting Kate in danger. She should’ve listened to Smith.
"Can I at least bandage that cut on your head?" an older EMT with graying hair and crooked glasses asked. "We've taken care of your friend. There's nothing else that can be done until we get to the hospital."
Claire raised her head and looked at Kate. Despite the swelling, her expression looked peaceful. Claire nodded and turned to the EMT who began to wipe at her face with an alcohol wipe. "That's some cut on your head. Do you have a headache?"
She shrugged.
"You're pretty tough," the EMT said. "A lot of girls in your situation would probably be crying." He taped a bandage to her head. “That will work until you get stitches.”
"Thank you," she whispered.
The EMT leaned back. "I haven't seen you call anyone. Is there someone who can meet you at the hospital?"
Claire exhaled, thinking first of her mother. She probably should call her. And then Ethan of course. She'd have to call Stephanie, too, and tell her the news. This brought tears to her eyes. The band. They wouldn't be playing anywhere this weekend, and by the looks of Kate's arm, she wouldn't be playing a guitar for several weeks.
"Are you okay?" the EMT asked.
She tightened her hand, making the cut in her hand sting. The pain pushed the tears back into a deep reservoir. "I'm fine. I think I'll call my mom."
She turned on her phone and dialed home. Most likely her mom was still asleep, but she hoped she'd be awake. On the sixth ring the answering machine picked up. Claire decided not to leave a message. "No answer," she said. "I'll try again later."
Just then her phone vibrated. Claire looked at the caller ID hoping to see Ethan's number, but instead she saw that it was Smith's. Tears fought their way back to the surface. "Hello?" she said trying to keep her voice from cracking.
"I just heard what happened," he said. "Are you okay? I knew I should've followed you."
"It's not your fault. It's mine." Claire tightened her fist again. She almost told him right then and there that it was Gage who had caused the accident, but decided against it. At least until she had more time to think about what that could mean.
"I'd like to meet you at the hospital if that's okay. I want to see how you and Kate are doing."
"I'd like that."
"Do you think you'll be up to telling me exactly what happened? The officers told me this wasn’t an accident.”
Claire closed her eyes, trying to shut out Gage’s image. "Sure."
"Good. I'll see you soon." He hung up.
Claire stared at the phone in her hand, knowing she had to tell Steph now. Too afraid to call, she sent a text:
“Turn around and come back. We've been in an accident. Kate's hurt bad, but she'll be okay. They are taking us to the hospital." Claire paused before typing, "I'm sorry."
She sent the message and just as it went through, Ethan called.
“Hey,” she said.
“Hey to you, future music star. Sorry I missed your call.”
“It’s fine.”
“So are you guys halfway there yet? “
Claire smoothed back Kate's hair, her finger caught in dried blood. "Um, not really. We're sort of coming back."
"What? Why?"
She took a deep breath. "We were in an accident."
"Like a car accident?"
"Uh-huh."
It took a moment before he said, "Are you alright?"
"Good enough, but Kate's hurt bad. They're taking us to the hospital." There was silence on the other end. "Ethan?"
"When will you get there?"
Claire winced when she tried to turn her neck to look out the window. "Soon, I think. Ten minutes."
"I'll be there."
"Thank you."
"Hang in there."
Claire closed her eyes.
"I'll see you in a few, okay?" he said.
"Okay."
"Hey Claire?"
"Yes?"
"I love you. Do you know that?"
His words made her feel uncomfortable.
"Claire?" he said.
"I have to go," she said, "but I'll see you soon. Bye." She hung up before he could say anything else.
Right before the EMT pulled into the hospital she decided to text Logan and let him know what was going on, too. He'd be mad if she didn’t. The doors on the back of the ambulance opened. Two men slid out the stretcher Kate was lying on and rushed her away. The older EMT offered his hand to her. “Careful getting out,” he said.
Because Claire's vision was still swimming, she took his hand and stepped down from the ambulance. But the moment both feet were on the ground, her brain decided to check out. "I'm going to faint," she said and hoped it was loud enough for him to hear. That was when the world turned black.
THIRTY
Claire heard voices. Gentle whisperings fluttering all around her, teasing her skin, urging her to wake up. Occasionally, she heard a familiar voice. She tried to open her eyes. Something bad had happened. What day was it? She went through the events of the last week: A biology test; she wondered if she passed. Corey, his fist against her head. Her eyelids fluttered.
The days continued on. They stopped when she remembered Anne. A cold chill woke her senses and shocked her nerve endings. The bed beneath her was hard and a light blanket covered her body, but it provided no warmth. She closed her eyes tight, ignoring the growing lump in her throat.
"I think she's waking," a voice said. The tone helped her relax.
"Claire?" Ethan asked.
She opened her eyes or tried to anyway. One parted open; the other was swollen shut. Ethan was watching her intently, eyes concerned. But as for the rest of him, he looked as rigid as a crowbar, down to the tiniest muscle in his face.
"What's wrong?" she asked, and winced when a cut on her lip cracked open.
"How can you ask that?"
"You look tense.” This time she didn’t flinch. She wouldn’t.
Ethan relaxed a little, but she noticed it took him great effort.
"How are you feeling?" Logan asked. He moved out from behind Ethan. Claire sucked in air when she saw him. It was the saddest he’d ever looked. Usually he was very good at hiding his emotions, but right now he looked like he was doing all he could just to keep from falling apart. His eyes were red, and deep lines she never knew existed creased his forehead.
"You guys need to chill out," she said. "You're visiting me in the hospital, not attending my funeral."
Logan tried to smile. "You'd probably look better dead."
"Do I look that bad?"
Ethan's rigid expression returned. "You look like you hurt."
She raised her arm to dismiss the idea, but instead grimaced and lowered it back down. "I'm fine," she said. "How's Kate?"
The boys looked at each other. "She'll be okay,
" Logan said. "Smashed her arm pretty good. They're taking her into surgery in just a little bit."
Claire turned toward the window. The sky was gray. And dark. The sun had disappeared. "It's that bad, huh?"
Ethan touched her elbow. An odd place to be touched. She must be worse off than she thought. She looked at Logan. "Did you talk to Steph?"
He nodded. "They should be here in another hour."
"Were they pretty mad?"
"More like worried. We all are." Logan inched closer to the foot of her bed. "The doctor said you cut your head pretty good."
She remembered the glass window shattering. And then she remembered more. Gage! She moved to sit up, but a searing pain in her sternum stopped her. Gage was coming. She had to leave. Had to get away before Sunday night.
"What's wrong?" Ethan asked.
"I—” she looked at him. How much should she say? Would Gage hurt him, too?
"Claire?" Logan asked, looking just as concerned as Ethan.
She forced herself to calm down. "It's nothing. I just remembered the accident. Would you mind putting some pillows behind me?” she asked Ethan.
Ethan grabbed some nearby pillows off a chair and tucked them carefully behind her.
“About that,” Logan said, “how did your car flip over? I asked one of the cops and he said a chain was in the road, but I still don’t get it.”
“It had been strung across the road,” she said, still not ready to tell them the truth. “It was pulled so tight that when we hit it, the car flipped.”
"But who would do that to you?” His tone was accusing.
Ethan turned to him. "You think this was a deliberate act toward Claire?"
She waited for Logan to reason through it. He always was good with puzzles. She noticed his hands tighten around the bottom of the bedrail. His knuckles looked like they were going to pop from their skin. "Come on, guys. You know who did this," he said.
The air was heavy, and she took a deep and painful breath.
"Don’t scare her, Logan,” Ethan warned through his teeth. “You don't know it was him."
“But it was,” Claire said, her voice quiet. The eyes of both boys met hers. Before either one could say another word, she asked, “How could Gage have known what road I was traveling on?"
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