“Someone’s coming,” he hissed across the room. “Let’s get out of here.”
Voices floated down the hall. They sounded far away. Far enough away to give me time to do what I knew I had to do.
Sticking the flashlight in my mouth I scanned all the titles on the table until I found the book I needed. Adrenaline pumped through my body as I sliced through the pages at lightning speed, looking for the right one.
The voices were louder now. Closer. My heartbeat skyrocketed, fingers flying in overdrive.
“Hurry up,” Will said, hands flailing like a madman. “C’mon already.”
Eureka! I found it. Something about St. Lucia and the stones. This better be it.
“Just take the book and let’s go,” Will hissed, grabbing my collar.
“And have them find a sacred book missing? Not a chance,” I hissed back, my heart pounding. No time to read. I grabbed a few pages…and ripped. I ran toward the door, stuffing the pages in my hoodie.
“What did you do that for?” Will held the door open, staring at me.
I ran past him. “No time. Let’s go.” I took off running up the hall. Churned my legs as fast as they would go.
Will was right behind me. But he wasn’t the only one. Someone chased us in the dark.
My brain kicked into panic mode as my legs found a new gear. I rounded the corner and sprinted for the front door.
Then Will yelped. “Hey, get off me.”
An old priest had one gnarled grip on the hem of his jacket.
“Keep going.” I yanked on Will’s arm so hard the priest dropped it.
In a flash, we took off down the steps and raced up the street.
Footsteps echoed behind us. Slowed, then stopped.
Two seconds later we rounded the block. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of the priest in his black garb, keeled over, hands on his slacks. Wheezing like crazy as he pulled his phone out of his pocket.
“That was close, man,” Will gasped between breaths.
“Too close. But It’s not over yet,” I breathed as we jogged up the sidewalk to the nearest subway station. Tumbling down the stairs, we hopped on the next train.
“I can’t believe we didn’t get caught,” he slumped lower on the bench across from me, “and you ripped the pages out of a hundred-year-old book. Must be something good, right?”
“I hope so,” I said, stuffing the crumpled pages deeper into my hoodie.
When I saw Lucy tomorrow, I’d warn her. Tell her everything. Until then, I had twelve hours to come up with a plan. Before I turned eighteen and her cover was officially blown.
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Book 2 Sample Chapter
Enjoy a FREE Sample from:
MONTROSE PARANORMAL ACADEMY
Book 2: Crossing Nexis
By Barbara Hartzler
Chapter 1
Snowflakes splatted on the windshield as my new boyfriend’s car charged uphill through the slush. A shiver slithered down my spine as I grinned at Bryan’s profile. Fits of sleet and snow assaulted us on the three-hour drive from New York to Pennsylvania, but my heart felt lighter with every mile between me and Montrose Paranormal Academy. My junior year had started with the hope of a new beginning, only to end with my crazy ex stalking me a thousand miles to try to kidnap me. Not your average semester.
But then again, I found out I wasn’t your average girl. In just a few short months, I’d discovered I had the power to see the unseen world of angels and demons. And become an angel conduit. Yeah, still trying to figure that part out. Not exactly a gift I’d asked for, by the way. Nope. Apparently my family came from a centuries-old firstborn bloodline dating all the way back to Noah the Bible guy. I just lucked out it was my turn to carry the mantel of the Seer. At least now I had a new boyfriend to help train me.
“Here we are, good old Harrisburg PA. At last.” Bryan squeezed my hand with his rough fingers, bringing me back to reality. We coasted into his hometown—more like a snow-encrusted Thomas Kinkade village.
The car shuddered to a stop at the red light.
“It’s beautiful, all wrapped up in snow.” I couldn’t help but smile at the welcome distraction.
Quaint little shops lined the streets, their roofs capped in snow. White Christmas lights twinkled in the eaves. Street lamps with red bows flickered on as dusk gathered around Main Street.
“It’s the envy of all other towns.” Bryan’s blue eyes sparkled as the light turned green.
“It’s okay, you can admit it. You live in one of those towns. The kind with festivals to commemorate the first snow.” I blinked at him, just staring at his profile. I still couldn’t believe this guy was my boyfriend. Earlier today he’d told me he loved me and somehow convinced my dad to let me go to Pennsylvania to meet his family. What a guy, right?
His brow bunched up as he stared at the road. “Uh oh. I forgot about this crazy festival. Looks like we’ll have to go around.”
“What festival?” I turned to look out the windshield. A barricade I hadn’t noticed blocked the street in front of us, frosted enough to blend into the snowy backdrop. Bundled-up people lined the sidewalks, waiting around for something.
Those blue eyes snapped toward me, suddenly haunted. “Lucy, I’m sorry. I’m such an idiot.” His jaw twitched as he flicked on his blinker and turned left past a stone chapel, blanketed by ice.
Glancing at his stone profile, I spotted two rows of elementary schoolers lined up on the sidewalk. “What are those little girls doing? It’s too cold for them to be out.” I
