I called Eli’s cell and waited, listening to ring after ring after ring and then finally reaching voicemail.
My anxiety mounting, I hung up and called someone who might have answers.
Dustin picked up before it rang twice.
“Amber?” he asked at the sound of my voice.
“Yes — I’m home. But I don’t know what happened after I left last night.”
“I do,” he said a little too smugly.
“Have you heard from Eli?” I asked. “He was bleeding and then my switch happened and I couldn’t help him.”
“Relax,” Dustin said. “He’s fine.”
“Are you sure?” My knees went all rubbery and I collapsed on my bed.
“Positive. Did you really think I’d stay completely away last night? I was outside the fence ready to jump in if your plan failed. Wow! I couldn’t believe it when you actually sliced Eli … I mean, Gabe. Way to go, Amber.”
“I’m not proud of what I did.”
“Well, I am. You’re my new hero.”
“I don’t feel heroic — mostly sad. Gabe wasn’t all that bad. In his own egotistical way, he thought he was helping me.”
“He tried to kill you!”
“I don’t think he would have hurt me, not as badly as I hurt him. It was so hard to do what I did … then watch him bleed.”
“I nearly rushed in to make sure he didn’t attack you,” Dustin added.
“Thank God you didn’t! Gabe would have jumped into you body and things would have even been worse.”
“Which is why I stayed hidden. I’m not stupid,” he added dryly. “Those people in suits with the whips — wow! I’ve never seen anything like that. And the way Gabe just floated out of Eli’s body was freaking weird! Those silver whips spun around him and then everyone was gone.”
“What about Eli?”
“Oh, he was there and so were you. But you were both just lying there, not moving. So I used a spare key — you didn’t think I gave you the only copy, did you? — and went to help him. I found the first-aid kit you’d left and bandaged his hands. The bleeding stopped — the cuts weren’t deep. But he didn’t wake up.”
“What about Alyce?”
“She woke up and seemed confused at first, but then she said she had to go home to her mother. She had her own car, of course, so she didn’t need a ride. I couldn’t stay around to explain things but I showed her the grave. You know the one I mean.”
“Yes, I do,” I said solemnly. “But what about Eli?”
“Since he wouldn’t wake up, I took him to his house and gave his family a story about his being mugged. His parents, brother, and sister were really upset.”
“His sister?” I asked. “Sharayah was there, too?”
“Yeah. It was weird seeing her, considering you were wearing her body just a week ago.”
“I’m glad she’s back with her family, but how is Eli doing?”
“Last I heard, he was still sleeping.”
“I tried his phone and he didn’t answer.”
“Give him time.”
“I will. Suddenly I have a whole future ahead with lots of time.” I was overwhelmed with conflicting emotions.
“Not that much time — I have to get to school. And you should, too.”
School? The word startled me, but in a nice “life must go on” kind of way. And well, why not? My family had no idea what I’d been through. They’d expect me to follow my usual routine. So I told Dustin I’d see him at school, then hung up.
My stomach growled — a familiar sound that reminded me again of how good it felt to be me. I got dressed quickly, then hurried to the kitchen where I saw a picture-perfect family: mine.
My little sisters complained when I squeezed them too tightly.
“Hurting me!” Cherry whined.
Olive squirmed away and ran to Mom, who was pouring cereal into bowls.
Only Melonee didn’t complain, and hugged me back with gusto. “Sissy home,” she said, then offered me half of a buttered slice of toast.
Dad was in the living room, sipping coffee while he watched the news. When I went in to give him a hug, he looked up at me curiously.
“I just heard on the news about a boy from your school,” he said, clicking the remote to a different channel. “He was mugged last night. Eli Rockham—”
“Rockingham,” I corrected, a chill shivering up my skin.
“Yeah.” Dad nodded. “I thought the name sounded familiar.”
“It’s on the news?”
“It’s a big story, I guess, because he was in some contest. Is he a friend of yours?”
“Something like that.” Much more than a friend, I thought, blushing. “What exactly did you hear?”
“They think he was attacked by an obsessed fan.”
“But is he okay?” I held my breath.
“Yeah. They said he was resting at home — no mention of a hospital.”
I breathed out in relief.
Still, I wished he’d call so I’d know how he was doing.
Would he be awake by now? I wondered.
Looking down at my wrist, I saw my own watch, not the digital one I’d borrowed from Dustin. My lucky bracelet was gone, too — but I knew exactly where to find it.
Alyce … how was
Would she remember anything from the last few days? Did she know what happened last night and that I’d been the one to find her sister’s grave?
As if just thinking of her held magic, I heard a honk outside. Rushing to the window, I saw Junkmobile pulling up in front of my house.
Without bothering to find a jacket, I raced out of my room.
To see my best friend.
25
I climbed into the passenger’s seat, shutting the door behind me before slowly turning toward Alyce.
We didn’t say anything, both studying each other like strangers meeting for the first time. And it was strange for me — seeing the body I’d recently inhabited from the outside. She had her hair pulled back into one long black braid, wisps of curls escaping around her forehead. Purple-black gloss simmered on her lips and kohl shadowed her dark eyes. She wore black leather and black suede in a Native-American-meets-vampire style. Totally original Alyce, and I smiled.
“I wasn’t sure I’d find you here,” she said, with obvious relief.
“Why not? This is where I live.”
“But you had me really worried,” she added.
“I did?” I asked, surprised.
“What did you expect after leaving that letter in my purple notebook? I didn’t find it until this morning, and I drove over here right away — I was so relieved when you walked out front door.” She shifted in the seat, her knee jingling the keys in the ignition. “My memory is fuzzy, but I know enough to say thanks.”
“Well … you’re welcome. After everything … I just hope you’re okay.”
