But the Alyce writing here was more concerned for her mother than any dreams of a career.
On the next page her letters were calmer, looping with elegant swirls as she listed the same cemeteries I’d found on the list in her backpack. Next to the one that said Green Briar, she’d written, “
That was on the last page … and I knew what had happened next. Alyce had stolen the Green Briar file, but I’d jumped into her body with no clue how to use it. Now I did.
Digging into Monkey Bag, I pulled out the Green Briar file and searched for the name “Angelica.” And there is was, near the bottom of the page. Angelica Hightower, who died in the 1960s at the age of ninety-eight. A woman named Jane Hightower had purchased the headstone for the grand sum of $325 (which was a lot back then from what Grammy used to tell me). But there was no mention of where Angelica had been buried.
I regretted sending Dustin away, now that I could really use his online link via Headquarters.02. I’d try to catch him between classes.
Then I hurried off to my class, thinking how ironic it was that on what could be my last day of school ever, I was in Alyce’s body. When I walked down the halls, I had to remind myself to keep my head low and not act too friendly. Alyce ignored people while I enjoyed smiling and waving, even to kids who couldn’t remember my name.
So I was startled when I heard someone shout out, “Alyce!”
Turning, I saw a vision of silky black hair, cinnamon skin, and a beautiful smile. “Jessica Bradley?” I murmured, shaking my head.
“Hey, Alyce.” She sounded rushed. “Could you give Amber a message?”
“Oh … sure.”
“Great!” Jessica always sounded like a cheerleader even though she was more involved in student government and community service. “Tell her that there’s a meeting of the Basket Club at lunch today.”
“Don’t you mean the Halsey Hospitality Club?” I said sarcastically.
“Oh, sure. Whatever.”
“And Amber’s the president, so shouldn’t she be the one arranging meetings?”
“She’s been through so much lately, I’m happy to help her out.” Jessica beamed her beauteous smile. “We have so many new members since her accident, and I have this wonderful idea to announce. I know Amber will love it! So FYI her about the meeting, and you should come, too.”
Before I could say something sarcastic about Alyce being Vice President of HHC and the one who made all the gift baskets, the final bell rang and Jessica dashed off. I was running late, too, and I hated to be tardy. It was kind of funny, really, how although my life might soon be over, I was afraid of being late to class.
I turned a corner and spotted Alyce’s homeroom up ahead. Breaking into a run, I arrived at the door and bent over to catch my breath. But when I straightened and reached for the knob, someone else grabbed it first.
“Allow me to open your door,” said a familiar voice, with eloquent politeness.
And I turned to face Eli.
21
Of course he wasn’t Eli — which broke my heart all over again. Despite wanting to break down and beg for my boyfriend back, I knew that wouldn’t work on Gabe. So I channeled my grief into rage.
“What are you doing here?” I demanded.
“Same as you. Going to school.”
“You don’t belong here.”
“I have my class schedule.” He pointed to a zippered pouch in the blue backpack I recognized as Eli’s. “But I’m not sure where my first class is — can you help me find it?”
He was playing with me, like a spider spinning a sticky web around a trapped fly. And I hated him more than ever.
“Can’t you let me enjoy this one last day before destroying my life?”
He only smiled. “Don’t forget — we have a meeting later.”
“I haven’t forgotten anything.”
“Good. Although I regret upsetting you, I have survived this long by following strict rules. Promises are binding — those I make and those that are made to me. Despite what you may think of me, I have never killed anyone and would sincerely regret having to do so. Enjoy your day at school and say your good-byes. Afterwards, you’re mine.”
Hearing those words from Eli’s lips was torture. I coped by imagining the DD Team lassoing their silver ropes around Gabe and hauling him away so he’d never steal another body — especially someone who meant so much to me.
“When will it happen?” I asked numbly.
“At sunset. We’ll finish what we started last time. Change shouldn’t be feared but embraced.”
His poetic talk, which had once impressed me, now made me want to throw up in my mouth. “I hate change,” I argued.
“You’ll feel differently when you experience the unlimited power I can show you. I’m doing this for you.” He reached for my hand but I drew back. “On the boat, when you saw through my disguise, I knew we were meant to be together. For the first time in over a century, I felt honest feelings.”
“Honest?” I scoffed. “You survive by lying and stealing.”
“But I follow a code of ethics. I never steal money or possessions from my Host Souls. I never borrow the same body twice. And if a body I’m about to borrow successfully resists me, I respect that and go on to someone new. When I give my word to someone, I never break it. You have my word that I will make you happy.”
“Happy? Not when I have to leave everyone I love.”
“I’ll be your friend, family, and lover,” he said seductively.
But I was in no mood to be seduced. I’d rather kick him where it hurt and watch him double over in agony. I hated him! I hated his twisted “ethics.” Yet anger wouldn’t solve anything, so I tried to reason with him.
“I’m sorry you’re lonely,” I said softly. “But you don’t have to live like a fugitive anymore. Grammy can help you find a place to belong.”
“I don’t belong anywhere — except with you.”
“Please … don’t make me go.”
“I’m not forcing you to do anything.”
“But if I don’t come to you, you’ll kill my boyfriend.”
“Tragedies happen.” As he spread his arms in a shrugging gesture, his hands glimmered gray underneath his sprayed-on tan. “Now I need to find Room 46. And tonight, I’ll find you.”
Not a promise — a threat. Shaking all over, I fled into the classroom, stumbling over a backpack left in an aisle and landing in the lap of a skinny kid with a bad case of pimples. The class roared with laughter, but I hardly noticed … I was dying inside.
All my emotions numbed after that, and I only went through the motions. To anyone watching, I was typical, antisocial Alyce, keeping to myself and not saying much. I’d always admired her independence and thought she was smart for doing her own thing. But mostly she was just alone — except for our friendship.
Alyce did surprisingly well in math today, but disappointed her biology teacher. I asked myself over and over why I was bothering being at school when I could enjoy my last hours of freedom with my parents and little sisters. Not that I was giving up. No way! I would meet with Gabe, but I wouldn’t leave my life willingly. I had several hours
