The Hidden

all of us if you aren’t there with him. Why draw Vincent to us?”

“But … but …” I couldn’t think fast enough. Couldn’t put together my words. They couldn’t take Caspian away from me! “But what if Vincent finds you?”

“He won’t,” Uri said.

“What if Vincent finds me?”

“We’ve got that covered,” Uri replied. “How do you feel about a short road trip?”

“A trip? While Caspian stays here? No.”

Cacey moved closer and stuck her face right into mine. “Look, Uri is trying to say this a hell of a lot nicer than I am, but we’re taking Caspian whether you like it or not. The way I see it, you don’t have much of a choice.” She looked down at her fingernails and picked at one of them. “Besides, if you come with us, you might even find something out.”

She dangled that carrot of information in front of me on a well-practiced hook, and I couldn’t say no. The chance to finally get some answers? I couldn’t pass that up.

“Fine. I’ll go with you. Just tell me one thing, where are we going?”

“Gray’s Folly.” Cacey looked gleeful as she practically rubbed her hands together. “An insane asylum.”

Cacey told me that we’d only be staying overnight, so I packed a T-shirt, some jeans, and a couple of toiletry items in a small bag while she went downstairs with Uri. When she returned half an hour later, she said, “Okay. We’re all set. You’re officially spending the weekend at my house for a sleepover.”

I glanced over at Caspian worriedly. “Kame, Sophie, and Uri are going to take care of him while we’re gone?”

“Yup. Although it’s going to be just Kame and Sophie. Uri’s our driver.”

“And why are we going to an insane asylum?”

“Looking for someone.”

I didn’t know if that meant we were going to be looking for a patient or for someone who worked there, but I decided to let it go for now. Reluctantly I shouldered my bag. Bending down near Caspian’s ear, I whispered, “I love you. You’re in good hands. I’ll be back soon, and you’ll be awake then.” I hope.

I wasn’t really sure about that, but with Caspian in this vulnerable state, I’d much rather have him be with the Revs who could take care of Vincent, instead of just me. “So tell me again why we can’t stay here and just have you guys watch over us?” I asked.

“Too many questions.” Cacey shook her head. “Our mind mojo is good and all, but after a while there would be too much to explain to your parents. Plus, do you really want Vincent coming back here again?”

“Right. Okay. Good point.” I looked over my bedroom. “Then, I think I’m ready. Can you tell me where Kame and Sophie will be taking Caspian, at least?”

“Better if I don’t. Trust me.”

My face fell.

“Awwww, cheer up,” she said, steering me down the stairs. “You’ll forget all about it soon. I got us a road trip surprise. A twenty-four-pack of delicious Coke-a-Cola!”

Yay. That makes everything soooo much better … I smiled weakly at her and allowed myself to be directed downstairs.

I said a quick good-bye to Mom and Dad and then went outside to the Jetta. “How far away is it?” I asked, settling myself in and buckling my seat belt.

“About three hours. Upstate. Shouldn’t take long,” Uri replied.

Cacey was already opening a Coke and happily slurping away before we even pulled out of the driveway. She offered me one once we hit the highway, and I took it. I didn’t want it, but God forbid I tell her that.

Time slipped away along with the scenery, and eventually I saw a sign that read MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY 20 MILES AHEAD. Then another stating it was ten miles ahead, and another for five. At the one-mile mark I started to get a little bit nervous.

It was late afternoon when we arrived, and big rusted gates, one side emblazoned with an ornate G, the other with an F, blocked the way in front of us as the car came to a stop. Uri rolled down his window and said something to the guard that I couldn’t hear. The guard nodded and checked his clipboard to confirm whatever Uri had told him. Then he waved us in.

A series of gray buildings came into view, like oversize blocks. Two small ones on the left, two small ones on the right, and a giant one in the middle. Barbed wire covered sections of the high walls at the top, and spotlights were installed in every corner.

“Looks like a prison,” I muttered.

“It was,” Cacey said. “Once. In 1825 it was built to hold all the prisoners that were waiting on death row. Then in 1943 someone thought it would be a good idea to turn it into a mental health facility for the criminally insane. Over the past twenty years or so they’ve expanded into accepting all sorts of people with mental illnesses and diseases.”

“Lovely.” Exactly the type of place where I wanted to spend my weekend. “And we’re here to see someone?”

Uri pulled the car forward and found a parking spot. “Yup.”

“A patient, or a facility worker?” I asked.

“Not sure yet.”

Okay …

A nurse came to greet us as we got out of the car, and Uri went to speak to her. She shook her head, then ushered us into this weird little side building. It looked like a guesthouse or staff living quarters, because it was filled with half a dozen tidy little rooms.

“Looks like we’re going to have to meet him tomorrow,” Cacey leaned in to tell me as we walked down the hall. “Visiting hours are over.”

I was shown to one end of the building and given a small, colorless room filled with only a bed, a wash table, and a picture of the crucifixion. A frozen dinner was brought to me on a dingy silver tray fifteen minutes later.

Cacey came in when I was almost done eating (or rather, when I was almost done tentatively pushing my spoon through the gloppy mess) and told me that we were in for the night and she’d be back in the morning. Sternly, she warned me not to leave the house, that there were strict rules about who was allowed to wander the property and I didn’t want to be caught somewhere I shouldn’t be.

I just shrugged and quickly agreed. Like I wanted to go wander around an insane asylum at night? No, thanks.

* * *

The next morning, light filtered in through a small window cut high above my bed and woke me up. It was early, and I lay there for a while contemplating what it must have been like to live here all those years ago. When things like electroshock therapy and lobotomies were commonplace. Different rules, different medicines, different times.

What would they have done to someone like me? If someone had told them I thought I could see Caspian and Nikolas and Katy? Would I have been trapped here? Would I have ever gotten out?

The thought left me feeling grim, and my body was like lead as I got dressed. There was a small basin and a pitcher of water on a table nearby, and I washed my face and hands. A hot shower would have been nice, but all I really wanted was to just find whoever Cacey and Uri needed to see and get the hell out of there.

A knock came at my door, and I opened it to find Uri standing there. “Morning,” he said.

“Morning.”

“There’s breakfast in the dining room.”

“Okay.” I grabbed my bag. I didn’t want to come back here if I could help it. We walked silently down the hall, but I noticed that Cacey hadn’t joined us yet. “Where’s Cacey?”

“She snuck in the Coke cans last night and drank the rest of that twenty-four-pack. She’s not feeling too hot.”

I laughed. Then I felt bad. “I hope she’s okay.”

“She’ll be fine in a couple of hours. And then maybe she’ll listen to me next time.”