by Cody Wagner
“Oh please. You were plenty mad last year when someone in your dorm spied for us. Now it’s suddenly OK?”
Logically speaking, Tracey had me there. Coming from anyone else, I would have conceded the point. But Roze and Tracey were supposed to be friends. At the very least, Tracey could have confronted Roze before ratting her out. Instead, she made it public, throwing Roze under a double-decker bus.
That’s when it hit me. “You did it to take the focus off yourself.”
She shrugged, but didn’t deny the statement. She didn’t have to. Tracey was destroying Roze’s reputation to save her own. After we’d spent two excruciating months hanging out with her.
“Your life here would have been hell without Roze. And now you’re going to put that same hell back on her?”
Tracey shrugged again, and it was infuriatingly casual. “At least her hell is deserved.”
The words made me so mad, a blanket of red fell over my eyes. “Where is she?”
“Roze? Oh, she’s fine. She’s been instructed to stay in her room tonight.”
I had to get Tracey out of my face. Flipping her off, I ran to the other side of the pumpkin and plopped down behind it, thinking. I didn’t expect this. At all. It was beyond horrifying: I’d ruined Roze’s life at Sanctuary with my stupid plan.
“So you’re going to hide from me forever?”
I looked up to see Timothy staring down at me. Without thinking, I said, “I can’t deal with this right now.”
“Because you’re about to lose a game?”
“It’s bigger than that.”
“How?”
I looked at my feet and shrugged.
He shook his head. “Just tell me one thing.”
I shrugged again.
“Look at me,” he said. “Please.”
His voice was filled with hurt. My anger ebbed away as guilt found its way in. Sighing, I looked up at him.
“What is up with you?” Timothy said. “You come and go, come and go. Without any reason.” He sat down, but not next to me. He left a good five feet of space between us. “I wanted to spend more time with you. And I made that clear. That’s the important thing here: clear. Honesty is freaking important to me.”
“Me too,” I said.
Timothy raised an eyebrow. “Really? You just disappeared. Without a single word.” He held up a hand. “Don’t deny it. If you don’t want to see me, fine. Just tell me.” His voice lowered to a whisper. “It’s better than watching you hide in the bathroom every day.”
I looked at my feet, as embarrassed as I’d ever been. My defensive side wanted to get mad and tell him he was wrong. But he wasn’t. He was so right it was stupid. And I was upset and angry with myself.
Taking the honest approach, I looked at him and forced myself to say, “I can’t spend time with you.”
“Can’t? What does that mean? Do you want to?”
“It’s not about what I want. I can’t.”
“Why?”
The why was clear: the Siren. But I couldn’t tell him that.
I looked from Timothy to the pumpkin. Last year, Jimmy had helped me after The Pumpkin Bash. In fact, The Pumpkin Bash is what had brought us together. And I realized Jimmy deserved more than what I’d given him so far. He deserved my all. He and the other people whose lives had been ruined by the Siren. I’d been so into Timothy World, I’d completely ignored the Siren for weeks. I couldn’t do it again. Especially with Cassie risking her neck any second, and Roze going through god knows what up in her room.
I stood up. “I don’t want to spend time with you. There, I said it.”
Timothy stared at me for what felt like hours. I expected a blowup or some huge confrontation. But it never came. Instead, he simply nodded a few times, as if confirming something to himself, and walked away without saying a word.
I looked at the ground, my chest heaving. He was going to think of me as childish and immature. But that didn’t matter. It couldn’t matter right now. I balled my hands into fists and whispered, “This is bigger than Timothy.”
And that’s when all hell broke loose.
The entire older dorm—minus Roze—exploded onto the field. They came out from behind trees, the gymnasium, and everywhere else to surround me.
I peeked at our dorm. No one was on their way yet. We were going to lose.
But I found I didn’t care.
Timothy and Cassie were both right: it was a stupid game. My heart ached at the expression Timothy had given me. And it ached for Roze, who was probably devastated in her room. And it longed for Jimmy, who couldn’t be here with me. That last thought strengthened my resolve. The Pumpkin Bash didn’t matter, but Jimmy did. And I could still try and help.
I balled my hands into fists and looked around as Tracey approached.
“There’s no out this time,” she said, catching the look on my face.
“Screw you.” Before she could stop me, I dove for the wooden post, grabbed the handle, and rang the bell like crazy.
Tracey laughed. “What was that? Your dorm can’t get here in time.” She shrugged. “Well, I guess they’ll be able to watch you lose.”
She turned and looked at the younger dorm.
I stared at the Admissions Building, desperately hoping for movement. My heart raced so hard, it felt like my body was pulsating.
Lights went on upstairs, where the staff lived.
“Please, please, please,” I said to myself.
Suddenly, the Admissions Building doors burst open. What had to be the entire staff flew out and jogged toward the field, smiles plastered across their faces. As they got closer, I even saw some high fives. They must have had bets placed on the older dorm.
And then I saw Cassie inching around the building.
In the commotion, the teachers didn’t see her tiptoeing across the law. I helped by running up to them and accusing the older dorm of cheating. I didn’t hear their responses, though. Instead, I peeked at the Admissions Building and saw Cassie approach the doors. I crossed my fingers as she pulled the handles. Unlocked. Cassie slipped in, unnoticed, and I almost fell to my knees in relief.
That was the crux of the plan. If there was ever a time the Admissions Building would be left unlocked and unattended, it was after The Pumpkin Bash. In their excitement, the teachers wouldn’t think about such a tiny time window. And I’m sure no one had ever tried to break in during a Pumpkin Bash. Who would want to snoop around when a pumpkin, oozing rotten poop, provided such an entertaining show? I smiled to myself; at least I’d bought Cassie a few extra minutes. I even felt OK when the younger dorm arrived and started asking me what the hell had happened.
Fifteen minutes later, though, when the staff began walking back to the Admission Building, and I saw no sign of Cassie, my relief turned into panic.
Thirteen
Robert Blackwood
I stared at the Admissions Building and pressed my temples, willing Cassie to emerge. I actually whispered, “The teachers are almost back,” and mentally tried to send it through the walls. I debated throwing some rocks to create a diversion.
But that wouldn’t work, so without thinking, I took off running. Leaving the carnage behind, I approached the Admissions Building and sprinted around the side. I didn’t stop running until I’d reached the Records Room window. I skidded to a halt underneath and closed my eyes for a second, preparing myself for whatever I’d find. Images of Cassie being led away in handcuffs flooded my head. I even pictured her in the electric chair, eyes blaming me as Wolcott threw the switch.
Taking a deep breath, I grabbed the sill and pulled myself up.
The door to the Records Room was closing.
Terrified, I looked around but didn’t see anyone. Had someone already entered and left? Did they have Cassie?
I thought, Dammit, dammit, dammit.
That’s when I caught movement out of the corner of my eye. The room was so dark, that even with a bright moon behind me, I had trouble seeing anything.
I moved around, glancing in at different angles until I caught something.
It was Cassie.
She huddled under the table, frantically watching the door.
I knocked on the window. She jumped, slamming her head on the table.
“Sorry!” I said, not loud enough for her to hear.
She rubbed her head then turned slowly, as if expecting to see Freddy Krueger staring at her. It was one of those horror movie moments where the character delays his inevitable death by moving in slow motion.
Finally, Cassie saw me and registered my face. I expected to see relief, but she flew to the window in a rage. “You scared me half to death!” she hissed.
“What else was I supposed to do?”
“I don’t know. Knock quieter?”
“I’m here, aren’t I?”
“How long have you been here?”
I shrugged. “Does it matter?”
She studied me for a second. “I guess not, but what am I supposed to do? People are out there!”
“I know!” I glanced down at the sill. “You’re going to have to climb out the window.”
“What? What if an alarm goes off? I’m sure they set one at night.”
“They just got inside. It may not be set yet.”
Debate Cassie started to come out, so I added, “This isn’t the time to argue!”
She stared at me for a second then nodded.
I pointed at the sill, and she began feeling around the window for a latch. As she did, I scanned the file cabinet marked Bk - Cr. I couldn’t help myself: that cabinet contained Jimmy’s files. What I saw sent waves of disappointment through me: no sign of tampering.
I couldn’t show defeat, though. Smiling, I said, “Almost there?”
She didn’t respond. Her hands continued moving around the window. Finally, she stopped. “Got it!”
I heard a click as Cassie unlocked the window. Then she grabbed the bottom and paused.
“What do we do if it goes off?” she asked.
“We run!”
She stared at me for a second. I’m sure doubt was visible in my eyes: Cassie probably wasn’t fast enough to escape.
Oh well. There was no other choice, and I said, “It’s now or never.”
Cassie nodded. I saw her tense her arms. Then she lifted.
No alarm sounded.
I wanted to do a spastic dance, but there wasn’t time. Cassie struggled with the window, and I helped her push it up. Then, I grabbed her and pulled her outside. Together, we shut the window and took off into the night. We didn’t stop until we were in front of the Classroom Center.
By that point, I was sorta winded. Cassie, on the other hand, almost fell to her knees from exhaustion.
“You should take gym more seriously,” I said.
She glared at me, and I couldn’t help but smile. Then, I changed my tone from joking to supportive. “Don’t worry about the files. I’m just glad you’re OK.”
“What do you mean?” she said, giving me a Debate Cassie glare. “You said that like I failed.”
I froze. “Wait. You got the file?”
A tiny smirk appeared, and she nodded.
I grabbed Cassie and pulled her into a giant hug. She froze in my arms like she’d been put into a cryogenic chamber. I didn’t care. The night had totally turned around. Cassie was safe, and the plan had worked.
“You can let go now,” Cassie said.
“Sorry.” I released Cassie. She looked uncomfortable but was smiling up at me. I gave her two seconds to study me before grabbing her arm. “I can’t stand it! Let’s look at the pics! We might finally have something.”
Cassie crossed her arms. “Not without Roze.”
“Huh?”
“She sacrificed herself for this. The least we can do is wait.”
I looked at the ground. “So you heard?”
Cassie nodded. “Poor thing.”
I shoved my hands into my pockets. “You’re right. We should wait. It will cheer her up.”
We started walking back to our room, and I was about to talk about Roze when something hit me. “Oh! Who was in the room with you?”
Cassie looked at me. “What?”
“Someone was in the Records Room with you. It about gave me a heart attack.”
She shuddered. “Me too. It was so dark after I turned off my phone light, I couldn’t make anything out. Did you see who it was?”
I walked up the steps to our dorm. “Nope. I was too late and just saw the door shut.”
She nodded and held her key card to the lock. “It doesn’t matter. They didn’t see me.”
I grinned. “Good.” Then, I added, “You did awesome.”
She smiled as we approached our room. “It was a good plan.”
“Are you kidding me? It sucked. It was a miracle it worked.”
* * * * *
The next morning on the exercise field, I barely felt any disappointment over losing the Pumpkin Bash, and I thought maybe it meant I’d grown up a bit. Still, it didn’t feel amazing when all the younger students glared at me after studying the mess littering the field.
Cassie took a couple steps toward them. “If it weren’t for Blaize, you would have lost for sure.”
A bunch of guys rolled their eyes, but a few grudgingly nodded.
I wanted to hug Cassie, but settled for giving her a thumbs-up before saying, “Any word from Roze?”
Cassie bit her lip. “No.”
“Damn.”
While Roze’s life wasn’t in danger or anything, I hated that we still hadn’t seen her.
Cassie touched my elbow. “We’ll find her right after we finish cleaning.”
Leave it to practical Cassie to make me feel better. Cleaning the pumpkin was required by the school, so we were stuck here. I nodded back at her, and we both looked around, taking in the carnage.
And let me just say, it was carnage galore.
The older dorm not only shattered the pumpkin, they’d mashed the remains all over the field. It was like someone had taken a giant knife and treated the field like a cracker, spreading ooze everywhere. I covered my mouth as I looked around. Right in the middle of the mess sat a pile of dirty diapers. I didn’t want to think how they’d gotten here.
Just then, Coach Adkins appeared, carrying garbage bags and latex gloves. We weren’t allowed to use shovels or anything; the mess had to be cleaned by hand. It was the grossest punishment ever. The ordeal became even grosser when I realized I could feel everything through the gloves. Let me just say the sensation of curdled milk and smashed bugs through latex isn’t pleasant.
“I’ll give you five bucks to taste it.”
I looked up to see Roze standing there, wearing gloves.
A grin spread across my face. She was alive and well. And the fact she’d made a joke lifted some of the boulders in my stomach. Cassie went and hugged her, and it wasn’t awkward.
“What are you doing here?” I said.
“What does it look like?”
“But you’re in the older dorm.”
Roze shrugged. “I probably shouldn’t be left alone with any of them right now.”
My smile vanished. “I’m so sorry.”
Roze’s expression softened. I must have looked like a guilty mess. She punched my arm. “It is what it is. And Cassie got the files, so that’s what matters.”
I smiled. Roze was way stronger than me. She’d handle whatever the older dorm threw at her better than I ever could.
As if on cue, I heard, “Well, there’s the traitor.”
I turned to see Tracey with freaking Darrin and the popular group. They were all strolling together, smiling and laughing. Tracey beamed brighter than anyone. I shook my head. So she’d done it. She’d sacrificed Roze for herself and come out on top. I was disgusted.
“At least we don’t have to hang out with her anymore.”
It was Cassie. I went to laugh but then saw her face. She was seething.
“Looks l
ike the traitor’s getting her just desserts,” Darrin said.
“Speaking of desserts,” Tracey said to Roze. “Did you find the cheesecake yet? I put a rat in it just for you.”
“You didn’t?” Darrin said.
Tracey smiled. “Guilty!”
“I love this girl!”
Together, the group of jocks marched on.
Roze ignored them and kept working. Cassie stared after them, furious. I’m not sure I’d ever seen her that angry.
“Calm down, you two,” Roze said.
I flinched and looked at the grass. I guess I was every bit as mad as Cassie. Sure, the Siren was our number one enemy, but Tracey was right here in the flesh. In the moment, it was hard to hate anyone more than her.
“Let’s just finish this and get to the files,” Roze said.
I nodded, and ignoring taunts from other older students, forced myself to focus on cleaning.
* * * * *
After taking the longest shower of my life (actually, make that three showers), Roze, Cassie, and I gathered in our room. Cassie and Roze sat on Cassie’s bed, with a pillow between them. I flopped down in a chair turned backwards.
“You look like a giraffe,” Roze said.
“I’m so glad we waited for you,” I said.
Roze laughed. “I’m kidding. Thanks for waiting. Really.”
I smiled. “Actually, Cassie made me, so you can thank her.”
“Figures,” Roze said.
Cassie blushed, and they shared another look before Cassie grabbed her phone. I let out a tiny squeal. It was the moment of truth. I think even my chair held its breath. Roze started biting a fingernail, which I’d almost never seen her do.
I leapt off my chair and hopped onto the bed next to them. Together we made a tiny circle.
Cassie opened her pictures.
“Whoa,” I said. I hadn’t even seen anything yet, but the situation gave me goosebumps.
Cassie zoomed in on the first picture. It showed a standard registration form with basic information. Looking at Jimmy’s name, social security number, and other data, I shivered. It’s like he was here with us.