Dead Girl in Love

“Not psychic about everything,” Dustin said quickly. “Only when it comes to energy being directed at him. Thoughts can produce energy, and that’s what alerts him. When he first found you at Alyce’s house, had you been thinking about him?”

I flashed back to that first strange night in Alyce’s body, when I’d seen a shadow out her window. Yes, I’d thought of Gabe. Was it cause and effect? Had I thought of him first, or had his being nearby made me think of him? Either way, Dustin’s theory made sense — and it scared me even worse. It wasn’t like I could just stop thinking about him. Was he aware of my thoughts now, listening?

“You’re not making me feel better,” I said, slowing down as the road dead-ended.

“There’s still two hours before sunset.”

“One hour and forty-seven minutes.” I groaned, then killed the car engine and opened the door.

Even though I was in Alyce’s body, not my own, I started itching when Dustin used his key to unlock the cemetery gate and I stepped on the hallowed ground. Large chunks of broken concrete from what was once a paved path poked up like sharp warnings not to enter. Wild bushes and dying trees blocked our way, too, so we had to climb over or around to proceed. When I saw familiar prickly weeds, I moved away, careful not to touch the nettles.

It didn’t take long to find the crumbled stone staircase and the angel. I didn’t see Angelica’s grave, though, and wondered if it had been moved to a newer cemetery. Still, the angel was a solid clue, and that’s where we started looking for Alyce’s missing sister. There were many uneven patches of ground where wild grass had grown over what was once someone’s resting place. We had to really look, but then Dustin called out, “Come here!” I ran over and saw a cross-shaped wooden marker with faded letters scratched in the wood: SAM.

And as I stared at the name, thinking about Alyce, I felt an odd sense of connection. I could see Alyce’s face in my mind — smiling as she gestured to me with a thumbs-up. There was an enormous relief, too, as if her worries were sailing away from her and she was lighter now. Ready to come back.

“Let’s go,” Dustin said, twirling a key ring around his hand.

My gaze swept around at the cemetery and I thought about Dark Lifers. Dustin had tried so hard to study their abilities, searching for a weakness in Gabe. But there was no weakness. He was stronger than anyone on the other side, in soul and psyche. And as long as he chose to live off humans, no one could stop him. His only limitations were the time restrictions on body switching.

As a Dark Lifer, I wouldn’t actually die … but living in a new body every month, stealing into strangers to survive, would be a nightmare. How could I invade innocent lives? I’d rather die — or turn myself in to the DD Team and leave Earth forever.

And I thought about time: how little I had left and how my future would consist of constantly changing into stolen bodies, staying in each one no longer than one month — a full moon cycle. A rhyme I’d learned to help remember the days in each month sing-songed in my head:

Thirty days hath September, April, June, and November; all the rest have thirty-one, except in leap year, coming once in four, which gives February one day more.

This now seemed like a life-in-death sentence.

But wait — there was one other time restraint on Dark Lifers, in addition to the restrictions of the moon cycle. If their temporary body got injured, they only had a short time to switch to a new body.

As I thought about this, an idea formed — too risky, dangerous, and horrible to consider. Still, I kept thinking about it, calculating that the odds of it succeeding were less than ten percent. Terrible odds … yet what did I have to lose?

“Come on, Amber,” Dustin tugged my hand. “We found the grave. We’re done here.”

“No,” I told him. “We’re not done yet.”

Then I told him my plan.

23

The sun was sinking fast — my fears were rising faster.

So many things had to work perfectly, and even then there were no guarantees.

We’d driven back to Dustin’s house and gathered some things for my plan. To the contents of Monkey Bag, I had added a flashlight, a first aid kit, a key, and a knife.

Not a large knife, no longer than six inches, but sharp enough to … well, I didn’t want to think about that part of my plan. I just hoped that when the time came, I’d find the courage.

My biggest obstacle turned out to be Dustin.

“You can’t come back with me,” I told him firmly.

“I’m not letting you wait in a cemetery without help,” he said stubbornly.

“If you’re there, Gabe can use you like he used Eli.” I put my hands gently on his arms and stared into his face, pleading. “It’s the only way this can possibly work.”

“But you’ll be alone without anyone to protect you.”

“I’ll protect me,” I said, much more bravely than I really felt.

Then I drove back to the cemetery, finding it again without making any wrong turns. I switched off Junkmobile’s engine and stepped out of the car.

Time ticked by like a heart counting down to its final beat. I had no doubt Gabe would come for me. As he’d boasted, he never broke his promises.

Carrying the flashlight in my hands, I slipped the knife in my skirt pocket and left the remaining items in Monkey Bag. Then I entered the cemetery, leaving the gate open for Gabe.

To ease the waiting stress, I pulled out Alyce’s purple notebook and a pen, flipping to a new page:

Alyce — I don’t know where or who I’ll be when you read this. I just want you to know, in case you don’t remember, that your lost grave is in the old Gossamer Cemetery. Also, I know that you’ve been hiding your mother’s problems, but hiding a problem won’t make it go away. You need to let other people know so she can get medical treatment. Maybe start with her coworker, Edna — she seems like a good friend to your mom. I’m sorry I wasn’t a good enough friend for you, and even sorrier that I won’t be around to make it up to you. Dustin will always be your friend but you should find other friends, too. Be happy, Alyce. I’ll miss you … your BFF, Amber.

“A good-bye letter. How touching.”

I slammed the notebook and jumped to my feet to face Gabe. His tone dripped with smugness; he had no doubts of his supremacy. But then why shouldn’t he feel victorious? Here I was, waiting for him, defeated.

It was still unnerving to look at Eli and see Gabe’s mannerisms and the glimmer of the sea in his eyes. He’d changed his clothes, too. No longer in Eli’s comfy jeans and T-shirt, he now wore flannel over a button-down navy blue shirt and snug black slacks. His cap with the anchor tilted to the side.

Dusk had fallen like a cool, dark blanket. I switched on my flashlight, shining the light on the ground in front of me. “So you’re here,” I said with no emotion.

“I told you I would be. I expected to find you with your family, not out in the middle of nowhere.”

“I didn’t want you near my family.”

“But a cemetery? Is there some black humor in your choice for our meeting?”

“Everything isn’t about you,” I said stiffly. “I was helping a friend find something lost a long time ago.”

“And you found it here?” he arched a brow. A faint gray glow shone from his palms, giving him a silvery glow.

“I found it. And I waited for you.”

“Thank you, my dear,” he spoke in a more formal tone that usual.

“I have come to you willingly.” I bowed my head, spreading out my arms in surrender. “I’ve fulfilled my promise.”

“I shall, too. I promise not to harm your precious Eli.”

“So what now?” I asked, noting the bag in his hand. “Will you light candles again?”