The Hidden

“At school?”

“Yes.”

“You’re sure?”

“Cyn saw him too. He came up to us outside and sat beside me.”

“Did he hurt you?”

“Not exactly.”

“What did he do?”

“Held my hand and told Cyn that he was you.”

He was silent for a long time and then said, “Did you throw up before or after he was there?”

“Right after.”

He leaned back and looked away. Finally I couldn’t take it anymore, couldn’t stand not knowing what he was thinking, so I asked him, “Are you upset? At me? At him? Tell me.”

“I’m disappointed,” he said. “It kind of feels like you kept this from me.”

“But I didn’t!” I justified. “I’m telling you now.”

“Several hours after it happened.”

“I … I just didn’t know what to do.”

“You could have let me in. You could have told me right away.”

“But I’m telling you now. And you were asleep. And …”

“Well, I’m glad I know now,” he said.

But he didn’t sound glad. And I didn’t feel glad. Instead I just felt worse.

Chapter Ten. WOLF IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING

Just then the shadowy object of alarm put itself in motion, and with a scramble and a bound stood at once in the middle of the road.

– “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”

I knew right away that something was wrong when I woke up the next morning. Caspian was next to me, and he looked like he was taking a nap. But something was different. I could feel it.

“Caspian,” I said. “Are you sleeping again? I thought you didn’t need to sleep.” I got up and walked over to the side of the bed where he was lying, and stood directly over him. “Wake up.”

He didn’t move.

“Come on, Casper. Wake up!” I said again, louder. My instinct was to shake him, even thought I knew I couldn’t touch him. I called his name again and again, feeling a growing sense of unease. Why is this happening? What does it mean?

“Wake up. Why won’t you wake up?” I said.

Finally I gave in. I reached down to touch him, and my hand went through his. But I didn’t feel the buzz or tingle that should have been there.

I moved my arm back and forth-over his head, on his shoulder, up his arm. There was nothing. Not even a blip. It was like we were totally cut off.

I stumbled back, threw on a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt, and raced down to the kitchen. Sophie and Kame’s number was there, on a business card they’d given to Mom, and I needed to talk to them now. I needed to know what was going on.

The doorbell rang as I was frantically digging through the junk drawer looking for the card that I knew Mom had stashed in there somewhere, and a second later there were voices coming from the foyer.

“Won’t you come in?” I heard Mom say. “Let me go get Dennis, my husband. He’ll be so pleased to meet you. It’s wonderful of you to come introduce yourself to us.”

Mom stuck her head in as she passed the kitchen, and said, “Abbey, would you please come meet Deacon Dwayne from Saint Paul’s Pentecostal Church? He’s new in town.”

“Yeah, in a minute, Mom. I’m looking for something. Do you know where Sophie and Kame’s business card is? I thought it was in the junk drawer.”

She crossed over to the fridge. “I moved it up here. Let’s see …” She scanned rows of pizza coupons and Chinese take-out menus. “I don’t see it. Must have fallen. Or maybe I put it in my purse.”

Dad’s voice echoed out to us as he greeted the deacon, and Mom got distracted. “Oh, good. Your father’s in the living room. Come with me for just a minute, and then I’ll find your card.”

She grabbed my hand, and I reluctantly followed. I hoped that the deacon wasn’t expecting fancy church clothes or anything, because I wasn’t changing on his behalf. “Don’t forget. I need that card!” I whispered. She nodded absently and kept pulling me behind her.

Dad was sitting on one end of the couch, with the deacon on the other end, and Mom hurried forward to fill the space in between. I ground to a halt, and my feet froze to the floor when I came face to face with him.

“I’m sorry to have kept you waiting, Deacon Dwayne,” Mom gushed. “I’d like you to meet my daughter, Abbey.” The deacon nodded benignly at me, his stiff black and white outfit barely allowing his head to move.

But he was no man of God. He was a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

Deacon “Dwayne,” indeed. I see what you did there, Vincent Drake. I narrowed my eyes at him and refused to sit.

“Don’t be rude, Abbey,” Mom prodded. “Come say hello.”

“Do not be shy, my child,” Vincent intoned in a gentle voice. “Come and sit with us.”

A million thoughts ran through my head, but I couldn’t pin any of them down. Caspian was here, but he couldn’t help. I didn’t have Sophie and Kame’s card, and I didn’t even know how to get a hold of Uri or Cacey.

“Come and sit,” Vincent instructed again. “Fellowship with us.”

“No, thanks,” I said coolly. “I can fellowship from here.”

“Have you not heard of the great scripture that says thou shalt honor thy father and mother?” he replied.

Mom nodded her head vigorously.

“Honor. Them.” Vincent said, a hard edge in his voice. He moved one hand just a tad bit closer to Mom. Ever so slightly.

I don’t think Mom or Dad even noticed it, but I did. It was a menacing move. There was definitely a threat there.

I walked over to the easy chair opposite Vincent and sat down. The seat seemed to rush up to catch me, and it surprised me.

“Now we are all one happy family,” Vincent said, a pleasant smile on his face. “The Lord is pleased.”

How long was he going to keep up this act? And why was he even bothering to put on such a charade?

“So, are you enjoying Saint Paul’s?” Mom asked. “It’s such a beautiful church.”

“Oh, yes, it is. And they have wonderful youth services. I find myself very much drawn to ministries that help the children,” Vincent replied, with an evil smile at me. “Young, wayward innocents are pressed upon my heart.”

I gave him a dirty look.

“Yup, they have good kids’ programs there,” Dad offered. “Some of the best around.”

“But it’s not like they have them because they need them,” Mom interjected. “Our kids are very well behaved here in Sleepy Hollow.”

Vincent steepled his fingers and adopted a concerned expression. “Are they? I must say, I have heard … concerning things. About drug use, and teens becoming sexually active at such a young age.”

Evil. He is pure evil.

Mom looked shocked, and Dad wouldn’t meet my eyes. I guess the term “sexually active” was more than he