Dark Days (The Childe Series, #2) (53 page)
Cat was relieved when the school day ended. Everyone was caught up in the Valentine’s frenzy and thankfully no one noticed how quiet she had been. Rounding the corner leading to the sophomore locker hallway, Cat spotted one of the janitors standing in front of a locker, appearing to be in a daze. Walking up to him, “Are you okay?” she asked.
“Huh?” he replied startled, breaking out of his trancelike state. “Oh, yeah…I’m fine, I think,” he mumbled out. Without another word, the janitor turned away from Cat and headed down the hall.
Why am I in the sophomore hall with the master key to all the lockers? I don’t remember how I got here. Now, what am I supposed to be doing?
The janitor thought.
“That was odd,” Cat stated, watching him walk aimlessly out of view.
“Hey, who’s the jokester that put this in my locker?” Matt asked loudly to the others standing beside him. He pulled out the paper heart, and began reading it aloud. Cat’s heart sped up as she approached him.
What Would You Do If I Cut Your Heart Out
Would You Scream, Would You Shout
Or Would You Enjoy The Pain
As I Watch Your Blood Drip Down Like Rain.
“Eww! That’s sick! Who’d you piss off?” Amanda grimaced, opening her locker. “What the hell? I have one too!”
You Think You Know It All
Yes You Do, This Much Is True
But Your Heart Will Stop Beating
Once I Get Through With You.
“Alright, who put this in my locker? I’m about to kick someone’s ass!” Amanda shouted into the crowded hallway while waving the valentine about.
“Wait…I have one,” Elle’s shaking voice made everyone turn toward her.
They Used To Call You Metal-Mouth
You Were Happy When They Came Out
And Now You’re Quite The Social Butterfly
I Should Pull Your Wings Off And Watch You Die
“This is too creepy! Who gave these to us? They even used my nickname,” Elle’s worried face met the others.
“I don’t know, but we need to show these to someone. I mean this is just messed up!” Matt’s voice was laced with anger.
“Shhh, Matt, give them to me. I’ll take them to Ms. Landers. Now guys, we don’t want to give whoever did this the satisfaction of seeing us upset.” Cat gave a sigh of relief as they all handed their valentines to her. Making their way down the hall, Amanda glared at everyone they passed, thinking the sender could be any one of them.
Later that evening, Cat phoned Julie to see how she was doing. “So how are you feeling? Missed you at school today.”
“I’ve been better. So anything interesting happen? What did I miss?”
“Oh you know, a quiz in English, terrible lunch, Amanda beating up on Matt, and sick valentines. Just your average day at Astoria High.”
“What do you mean sick valentines?”
“Sorry Julie, could you hold on a sec? Miss Amaya’s on the other line.”
“Miss Amaya? Why is she calling you?” Julie asked.
“Oh…uh…I was helping her research something for bio, and she’s just getting back to me,” Cat replied, hoping it sounded legit. “Just one sec, okay?” Cat switched calls, “Hi Miss Amaya.”
“Hello, Cat, I hope this isn’t too late for me to call.”
“No, it’s fine. I’ve been waiting to hear from you. And why weren’t you in biology today?”
“I left right after our conversation to speak with Gretchen.”
“Well, what did she say?” Cat asked with urgency in her voice.
“I’m afraid the three girls are the ones responsible for Melvin’s disappearance. Spirit couldn’t see if he was alive, though. But I feel in my gut that he’s still with us,” Miss Amaya choked out.
“We’ll find him, I’m sure of it,” Cat said, trying to console her.
“Cat, you must be careful. Spirit said that you are their main target. I know you don’t want to tell your parents, but I think it’s time to. You will need their aid, if what spirit fears does indeed come to fruition. We’ll talk more tomorrow. Goodnight, Cat, and please be safe.”
“I will, don’t worry,” Cat replied and took a deep breath before switching back over to Julie.
After talking with Cat for a few minutes, Julie hung up the phone and turned to her mother, Claire, who was standing by waiting to hear what had happened.
“Things are escalating,” Julie murmured.
“Are you going out again tonight?” Claire asked.
“Yes, I think I need to,” she replied, pulling on her boots.
“Did she believe you were sick?”
“Of course. I’ve had a lot of practice lying to her.”
“But it’s for her own good. It’s a part of your
focus
.”
“I know, but it doesn’t make lying feel any better,” Julie replied, exiting out the back door.
“So what did she say?” Matt asked Cat the next day at their lockers.
“What did who say?” Cat replied puzzled.
“Ms. Landers, when you gave her those creepy valentines,” Matt answered, getting testy as Cat obviously was not paying attention to him.
“Oh, that. She said she’d look into it.”
“Yeah, right!”
“What do you mean by that?” Cat asked defensively.
“She probably just thinks it’s a prank. But I know better. Something’s not right, and I’m going to find out what,” Matt said. He turned on his heel and stormed off.
“What’s with him?” Elle asked from behind Cat.
“I don’t know, I guess he’s off to fight windmills,” Cat quipped, remembering Don Quixote from summer reading last year.
Cat was worried. It had been a few weeks since Valentine’s Day and nothing had happened. She found herself jumpy and easily startled. Her days and nights were plagued with thoughts of what the three girls were planning. Cat knew the next attack was drawing near. This was far from over and she had to be ready, ready for anything. She felt guilty that she still hadn’t told her parents and ignored Miss Amaya’s advice. She didn’t want them to even think about sending her to be with Ròs and Trevor.
A scratching noise at the window pulled Cat away from her thoughts.
Jewels! Just what I need right now
, she thought with a smile.
Somehow talking to that cat always just makes me feel better
. Walking to the window she saw no sign of her, but could hear a faint meowing.
She must be on the roof waiting for me
, Cat thought, opening the window. She pulled her robe tighter as the biting wind hit her. Glancing up at the roof, Cat didn’t see the feline. “Jewels? Here kitty, kitty, kitty. Where is she?” Cat began to ascend the ladder up to the widow’s walk, but then stopped as she heard a clicking noise. Looking down at her window, she saw it had closed. After climbing down, she reached for the handle and was confused when it didn’t turn. It was locked.
“Here kitty, kitty, kitty,” a female voice sounded from down below. Cat looked over the balcony and there stood Amy with a toothy grin. “Can kitty Cat come out and play?” She asked, spreading her arms wide.
“What do you want?” Cat answered stiffly.
“We want to play, don’t we girls?” Cat saw two more figures emerge from behind the Sitka spruce tree.
