The Monster Within

CHAPTER NINETEEN

ON the drive back to the diner, I didn’t have time to think about Rebecca or how she’d begged for her life. I had to figure out what I was going to tell Ethan and Gloria. What reason could I possibly have for running out of the diner by myself, when Ethan knew Dylan had been following me, and everyone knew I’d fainted earlier in the day?

I was screwed.

Nora took her time, doing the speed limit, while we brainstormed ideas. “Tell them you heard a noise outside, like someone was in trouble. So, you went to see what it was. Say it turned out to be a little girl, and she was lost and crying.”

“Why would a little girl be at a diner by herself at nine-thirty at night?”

“I don’t know. I’m just throwing out ideas. What have you come up with?”

“Nothing. At least nothing believable. Hell, I could tell them the truth, and they wouldn’t believe it.”

“You can’t tell them the truth. And keep me out of it. I was never with you.”

“I know, and thanks for helping me. I don’t know what I would’ve done if you hadn’t come.” Actually I did know. I would’ve tried to get away from Ethan, Gloria, and Jackson. I would’ve collapsed in the parking lot. Then one of two things would’ve happened. All the life would’ve drained out of me, and I would’ve died for the second time at age seventeen. Or Ethan or one of the others would’ve found me, and they would’ve died trying to help me. As awful as I felt about killing Rebecca, I was glad it was her and not someone I cared about. God, I hated myself for thinking that.

Nora pulled over to the side of the road.

“What are you doing?”

“I can’t drop you off at the diner. Your friends would see me. You have to walk from here.”

She was right. She’d done enough to help me already. I couldn’t risk exposing her. Not everyone would be so open to the fact that she was a witch and she was helping me stay alive by finding me other witches to kill.

“Thanks again,” I said, getting out of the car.

“Hey.” She leaned over the middle console to see me better. “Go with the finding the little girl story. Say she was riding her bike and got a flat tire. She came to the diner looking for help.”

That wasn’t bad. I could make it work. “Okay, I will.” I shut the door, and before I could even wave goodbye, Nora pulled away.

I walked up to the diner and saw Ethan standing in the doorway on his cell. The outside lights illuminated the panic on his face. When he saw me, he lowered the phone and ran right at me.

“Sam!”

I swallowed hard and took a deep breath, getting ready to lie.

“What happened to you? Where were you?”

“Ethan, relax. I’m fine.”

“Where did you go? Gloria said she came out of her office and you were gone. Your book was on the table, and you were nowhere around. We searched everywhere.”

“Who were you on the phone with just now?” If he had called the police, we could get in a lot of trouble. If either of us was fingerprinted, they’d figure out we were using stolen identities.

“Jackson. He went driving around, looking for you.”

I breathed a sigh of relief. “Let’s go inside, and I’ll explain everything.”

He grabbed my hand and squeezed it tight. I could feel his worry in the strength of his grasp. When we walked inside, Gloria rushed over to me. She held my face in her hands and looked me over.

“Are you hurt?” she asked.

“No, no. I’m fine.”

Gloria brought me to the counter and motioned for me to sit down. “Tell us everything. What happened?”

I laced my fingers to keep from fidgeting. “I was reading my book, and I heard someone cry for help. I looked out the window and saw a little girl. She was only about eight. She was crying. I went outside to see what was wrong and why she was alone so late at night.”

Gloria poured me a glass of water, and I took a sip before continuing. “She said she was out riding her bike. She went out without asking because she was mad at her mom. They’d had a fight earlier. So, anyway, the girl got a flat tire, and she couldn’t get back home. She came to the diner looking for someone to help her.”

“So what, you walked her home?” Ethan said.

“Yeah.”

“Why didn’t you come get me? I would’ve taken her in my car or you could’ve driven her.”

“She was so freaked out, and I wasn’t sure if she’d get scared if I involved more people.”

Ethan shook his head, but Gloria put her hand to her chest and said, “Well, you nearly gave me a heart attack. Next time you tell someone before you go running off like that.”

I nodded. “I’m sorry I made you worry.”

She started for her office. “I’m going to call Jackson and let him know you’re okay.”

Ethan waited for her to get to the office before he said anything else. “I don’t understand why you would do something like this when you’ve got that guy following you around.”

“I’m not afraid of Dylan.”

His eyes widened and he stepped back. “What, now you’re on a first-name basis with him?”

“No. He wrote his name on that note, remember?”

Ethan put his hands on his hips. “This isn’t like you, Sam.”

I stood and reached up on my toes, grazing his lips with mine.

“Don’t.” He stood rigid, not giving in to me. “You can’t make everything better by kissing me. I’m pissed at you right now.”

“Ethan, I’m sorry. I should’ve told you what I was doing before I left, but I didn’t think it was a big deal. She said she lived close by. She was just afraid to walk home alone in the dark.”

“What was her name?”

“What?” Was he quizzing me now?

“Her name. I’m guessing she told you.”

“Rebecca.” I blurted out the name on my mind. I knew it was stupid to even say her name right now, but I couldn’t help it. I wasn’t thinking clearly. I just wanted to get Ethan to stop being mad at me.

“Let’s go home. I’m finished in the kitchen.”

He didn’t say another word to me all night.

With Ethan not talking to me and staying on his side of the bed, I had no choice but to sleep. I felt really energized, and I had to wonder if draining a witch’s life also gave me her power. It certainly felt like her power had transferred to me. If I kept doing this, would I become a witch? Would I be able to do spells like Nora? The thought lingered in my head as I drifted off to sleep.

I woke up before my alarm, feeling better than I could ever remember feeling. Sure there were the lingering thoughts of what I’d done to feel this energized, but for the most part, I’d accepted what I had to do until Nora could make a new protective necklace for me.

I got ready for school and ate breakfast. Ethan headed to the bathroom without even mumbling a hello. I wasn’t sure how long this was going to last, and I hated that he was mad at me when I was feeling so great otherwise.

I finished my cereal and washed the bowl. Ethan was taking longer to get ready this morning, and I couldn’t help thinking it was intentional. He was trying to put off the ride to school, where he’d be forced to acknowledge me at least a little. He finally came out, and before I could say a word, he grabbed my face and kissed me.

I was more than surprised, but I kissed him back, happy he was letting this issue go. When he pulled away, he looked me in the eyes. “I know you didn’t mean to make me worry, and you were trying to help that little girl. And I know if you had a cell phone, you would’ve called me.”

Um, maybe not. I’d had the phone Nora gave me, and not once did I think to call Ethan last night.

“So on the way to school, we’re stopping at the store so I can get you one of those prepaid phones. I need to get one, too.”

“What happened to your phone?” He’d had it this entire time.

“I threw it against the bathroom wall last night.”

So that’s what those little bits of plastic on the floor had been. I’d stepped on one getting out of the shower.

“Oh.” I decided against mentioning the cut on my foot from the smashed phone.

“No big deal. I needed to stop using it anyway. I don’t want my parents to be able to trace it to me.”

“Right.”

He grabbed his backpack and keys.

“Hey,” I said, picking up my bag. “I really am sorry, and I think getting cell phones is a good idea. Not that we’re apart a lot, but I’d feel better if I could get in touch with you easily.”

He smiled and put his arm around me as we walked to the car. He opened my door for me, and my eyes fell on the yellow Post-it note on the floor of the car. I threw my bag down on it before Ethan could notice it. I was careful not to let my bag move as he drove us to Walmart.

“You want to come in or wait in the car?” Ethan asked.

“Um, I’ll stay if you don’t mind. I need to finish my reading for class.”

“Okay. Be right back.”

I watched him disappear inside the store before I picked up my bag and the note under it.

She’s lying.

Had Dylan left this for Ethan? Was he trying to tell Ethan my secret? I balled the note in my fist and stuffed it in my school bag. I’d had enough of this guy. He was one of them—the evil witches I was going to get rid of. He was trying to ruin my life, but I wouldn’t let him. My anger continued to build as I waited for Ethan. I came to the conclusion that I was okay with killing people like Dylan. If I had to kill, he’d be next.

Ethan ran back to the car with a bag in his hands. He tore open the packages and held both phones out to me. “Pick one.” One was black, and the other was silver.

I’d always had a thing for silver. “This one.” I took the silver phone.

“How did I know?” He smiled and reached for my phone.

“Hey, what are you doing?” I protested.

“Programming my number into your phone and your number into mine. What, did you think I was stealing your silver phone and sticking you with the boring black one?”

“Maybe.” I shrugged, feeling silly for even thinking such a thing. Ethan was too thoughtful to do something like that.

“There you go. I’m the first—and only—number in your speed dial.”

“Am I in your speed dial?”

“Yup, and that leaves me with nine more spots for the girls of my choosing.” He wagged his eyebrows at me.

I laughed. “I wonder who the lucky ladies will be.”

He leaned over and kissed me. My head spun, but not from a vision or an attack. From Ethan.

“What was that for?” I asked, breathless.

“For being first on my speed dial.”

“Oh, of course. But I think technically voice mail is set to the first speed dial spot. I can’t wait to see what you do to that automated voice. If I got a kiss like that—”

“Okay, okay. Very funny.”

We drove to school, and things between Ethan and me seemed back to normal. He kissed me goodbye before our first class, and I slipped into Mr. Ryan’s room without being noticed by Shannon or the other future stalkers. I took a seat in the back row and texted Ethan.

In lit class. Last row. Just keeping you updated.

Having a cell phone in school might actually keep this place interesting. I could bust on Ethan all I wanted, and it would be almost like having him in class with me.

The phone vibrated in my hand. Good thing it was already set on silent or I’d be having it confiscated the first day I had it.

Very funny. Love you.

I started texting him back when Shannon blurted out, “Mr. Ryan, Samantha is texting in class.”

Technically class hadn’t started yet, but I glared at her instead of pointing that out.

Mr. Ryan stopped writing on the board and looked at me. “Ms. Smith, is that true?”

“Sorry. It was my mom. I told her class was starting, and I had to put my phone away.”

“Thank you,” Mr. Ryan said. He turned around and finished writing on the board.

I stuck my tongue out at Shannon. It was stupid and completely immature, but I didn’t care. Let her tattle on me for that, too.

Mr. Ryan clapped his hands together. “All right, so The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde—your thoughts from the weekend’s reading.”

All the girls in the front row shot their hands in the air so quickly I felt a breeze in the back of the room. Suck-ups. I’d never finished the reading, but since I was practically living the story, I figured I could bluff my way through any questions if Mr. Ryan called on me. Luckily, he didn’t. He had his hands full with all the questions the annoying slutty girls had prepared.

One of the guys sitting by me pretended to gag. “My sister actually spends time coming up with questions to get Mr. Ryan to say words like ‘love’ and ‘beautiful.’”

“Really? Why?” I asked, finding it a little strange that he’d even tell me this.

“She wrote in her diary that she pretends he’s saying those words to her. Ridiculous, right?”

“Totally.” I nodded and realized he was talking about one of the girls in this class. He was a twin. “Which one’s your sister?”

“Shannon, but don’t let that get around. She pretends to be an only child. She tells everyone we have the same last name because we’re cousins.”

“Wow, she’s a bigger bitch than I thought she was.” I blurted it out before I realized I was talking to her brother. “Sorry, I mean—”

“No, you got it right. My sister’s a bitch.”

“What’s your name?”

“Tristan. That’s another reason why she tells people I’m her cousin. She hates my name.”

“I like it. It’s different.”

Shannon turned around and glared at me. She’d caught us talking, and even if she didn’t admit to being Tristan’s sister, she definitely didn’t want me talking to her brother.

I was considering what nasty gesture I wanted to give her in return for the glare when my cell phone vibrated in my bag. It was louder than I thought it would be. I discreetly reached for it, pretending to look for a pen. A new text was on the screen.

Attack another witch and you’ll wind up back in your grave.