The Hidden

not sure why.”

“Yes! Burning leaves? Or burned toast?” He nodded. “Around you and Cacey I could smell it, but around Kame and Sophie I could taste it.”

“I don’t know what it is precisely, but I think it has to do with neurons misfiring. Like a short fuse.”

“It doesn’t really happen anymore,” I mused. “Huh. I just realized that. And, you know, I don’t get that creepy feeling either.”

Uri looked away from me then, and stared at the window. He was probably getting tired of all my questions. But I needed a couple more answered. “Since I’m Caspian’s other half, I’m the only person who can see him, right? I mean, living person? I always thought that but wasn’t sure.”

“Yes. Since you’re the other half of him, there aren’t any other pieces left for other people to see. He’s the shadow that only you can see.”

“I never thought about it that way. That’s kind of weirdly lovely.”

“I think so too.”

“What about touch? Nikolas and Katy can touch Caspian, and so can you. How come I can’t touch him?”

“Because you are the only one who is alive.”

He said it kind of sadly.

“Oh.”

“I really can’t say any more, Abbey.” He stood up from the chair and walked over to the window. “Will you stay here for a minute while I go check in with the nurse again?”

I wanted to tell him no. That I couldn’t stay in this creepy place all alone, but I didn’t want him to think I was scared. It was just a room. I could totally sit here by myself in a room. “Yeah. Sure. Take your time. I’ll wait here.”

He moved to the door.

“Just don’t forget to come back and get me,” I called out.

“I couldn’t forget you,” he said with a cheeky grin. “Cacey would have my head.”

“That’s true. She would!”

But he was already gone. I had no idea if he’d heard me.

I sat there for a while, trying not to think about people creeping around out in the hallways and waiting to poke their heads in at any minute and yell “Boo!” I kept myself busy by reciting president names and then humming Christmas carols until finally I couldn’t take it any longer.

Hesitantly I got up from the chair and peeked outside the door.

No patients in sight. And no weird nurses, either. I walked quickly down the hall, trying to remember my way back to the front desk.

I rounded the corner and then passed the empty nurses’ station. That means closed rooms are next, and then open rooms before I hit the front desk.

Inhaling deeply, I tried to keep count of how many closed doors I passed. But the last door was open.

My feet automatically slowed, even though my brain was saying, Hurry, hurry!

I couldn’t help it.

I looked in.

A flat bed on wheels was sitting in the middle of the room, completely empty. Heavy-duty straps were hanging down on all four sides, clearly meant to be used as physical restraints. Words were stamped on the straps, and I moved closer to see what they said. Half-faded ink read MENTAL HEALTH INSTITUTE FOR THE CRIMINALLY INSANE.

I took a step back. I needed to get out of this room. The air didn’t feel right. It was stuffy. Where was the door? The walls were closing in. I couldn’t breathe, and-

“Hi.”

I spun around. The voice had come from behind me. It was high pitched and childish.

A girl was standing there, in a long nightgown that appeared to have once been frilly and white but was now stained and tattered. Shreds of lace wavered in little clumps around the edges of her wrists. A teddy bear with rubbed-away fur and only one eye hung from her hand.

I tried frantically to remember the “official warning,” but all that kept coming to mind was, Stick. Don’t poke. Be nice.

“Hi,” I said eventually, moving slowly so that I was closer to the door. “How are you?”

She looked like she was my age, yet her voice was definitely that of a little girl. She took a sudden step toward me, and my heart sped up. “I lost my friend,” she said sadly. “She died.”

Oh. Wow. That was unexpected. I could feel my face softening. “You did? I did too.”

She held up her teddy bear. “This is my friend now.”

“Good. That’s good.” I didn’t know if I should keep moving to the door or keep talking. Which one was the least likely to upset her?

“You’re special,” she said, moving toward me again and putting out one hand. “Pretty color.”

She could see my color? Was she like Caspian? Or like me?

Suddenly the most horrific thought crossed my mind. She’s dead. I’m seeing someone else who’s dead, and they’re going to lock me away in here. Or maybe I’m already in here. Strapped to a bed. How can I tell what’s real and what’s not real? How can I ever …

I could feel a little piece of my mind slowly start screaming, and I didn’t know. Couldn’t tell. Had no idea if this was an elaborate hoax set up by everyone just to get me here so that they’d never let me out, and how would I-

“There you are.”

Both of us looked up.

A different nurse from the one Uri and I had followed was in front of us, arms folded. “Child, I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

Me? Is it me?

The girl in the nightgown turned and walked toward the bed. With the teddy bear still in one hand, she climbed up and then sat down. She put the bear on her lap and reached over for a strap. “I lost my mom,” she said sadly. “She died.”

I watched in mute horror as she slowly started to strap one wrist in.

“I lost my dad,” she repeated. “He died.”

“Poor girl,” the nurse murmured, glancing back at me. “She had a mental breakdown. Has to be strapped in just to take her meds. Are you with the other visitor? The gentleman?”

All I could do was nod.

“Well, honey, let me go take you right to him. You must have gotten lost in this maze of a place. Just give me one second.”

She went over to the bed, putting a hand on the girl’s arm. “You don’t need to do that. It’s not time for your medication yet. Why don’t you come with me? I’ll take you to watch TV.”

“Pretty color,” the girl said, looking up at the nurse.

My heart whooshed with relief. It’s not me! I’m not crazy! She is.

Gently the nurse undid the strap and helped the girl down from the bed. Scooping up her teddy bear, the nurse handed it to the girl and then led her to the door.

“You can follow us,” the nurse said to me. “We’re all going to the same place.”

I wanted to laugh hysterically. I knew she meant that we were all going to the same front waiting area, but all I could think was, You’re right. Everyone goes to the same place. I looked back at the bed as I left the room. Some of us just get there faster than others.

We shuffled slowly down the hall but eventually made it to the front desk. The nurse gave me a kind smile and pointed over to a corner, where I saw Uri talking to an older man with white hair. The man was wearing an old-fashioned white suit, and he looked like a college professor. A sad college professor. As I got closer, I could hear what they were saying.

“Don’t you feel any sense of responsibility?” Uri asked.

“He’s made his choice,” the man replied. “It was not mine to make.”