Pure (Book 1, Pure Series) (16 page)

           
I hurried to get ready for school, and as I was leaving my room, I caught sight of the cross charm.

           
I slipped the charm on over my head and hid it under my sweater.
 
I had a feeling that GM might object to it.
 
I'd keep it hidden until I got to school.

           
I picked up my backpack and ran down the stairs.
 
As I walked down the hall toward the kitchen, I was surprised to hear GM talking to someone on the phone in hushed, tense tones.

           
"Yes, I agree wholeheartedly.
 
It is necessary to take precautions.
 
Thank you for letting me know.
 
My granddaughter will not leave my sight this morning."

           
I walked into the kitchen.
 
GM was standing with her back to me.

           
"Yes, thank you," GM said.
 
"Goodbye."
 
She clutched the phone to her heart.

           
I walked closer.
 
"GM?
 
What's wrong?"

           
GM whirled around.
 
Her face was pale, and she was still clutching the phone in one hand.
 
Her other hand was closed tightly over the silver cross she always wore.

           
"You are not walking to school today," GM said firmly.
 
"There will be no argument."

           
I was surprised by the fear on her face and in her voice.
 
"Sure, GM, if that's what you want.
 
Did something happen?
 
Who was on the phone?"

           
"Oh, Katie," GM said, "that was the secretary from your school.
 
She said two students and two teachers have gone missing.
 
She said they fear that the school's staff and student body are being targeted, so they are warning all parents and guardians not to let their children go anywhere alone.
 
Katie, I am going to drive you to school and everywhere else.
 
I could not bear it if something were to happen to you."

           
"Don't worry, GM," I said.
 
"Nothing will happen to me.
 
And I'll be happy to have you drive me anywhere."

           
GM threw her phone onto the table and dropped her cross.
 
Then she put her hands on either side of my face and kissed me on the forehead.
 
"You have always been a good girl.
 
I should have known not to worry about your making a fuss."

           
GM stepped back and held both of my hands.
 
"I shall make you breakfast.
 
What would you like?"

           
I smiled.
 
"Thanks, GM, but I don't want to risk being late.
 
A bowl of cereal and a glass of juice is really all I need."

           
"I will pour it out for you, then," GM said, shooing me toward the table.
 
"Sit!
 
Sit!"

           
I sat down.
 
I couldn't help but be amused.
 
"Thanks, GM.
 
You really don't have to."

           
"I want to!"
 
GM exclaimed.
 
She quickly furnished me with everything I needed for breakfast.

           
"Thanks, GM," I said again.

           
GM sat down across from me and watched me anxiously as I ate my cereal.

           
"I won't disappear right in front of you," I said.

           
GM waved a hand.
 
"I know."

           
She continued to watch me.

           
I finished my breakfast as quickly as I could and moved to clear the dishes away.

           
"Just leave everything where it is," GM said, rising. "I will take care of it later."

           
"But, GM, it'll just take a minute," I protested.

           
GM interrupted.
 
"No.
 
Leave it.
 
Now we go to school."

           
I picked up my backpack and followed GM out of the house.

           
As I settled myself into GM's red sports car, I couldn't help glancing into the side mirror, hoping to see William's face there.
 
I knew I wouldn't see him, since the visions in the mirror had stopped after he'd appeared in the flesh, but I wanted very badly to see him.
 
I had no idea when he might appear next.
 
But as I'd expected, William wasn't in the mirror, and I sat back, leaning my head against the headrest.

           
The driver's side door opened, and GM slid in behind the wheel, pulling the door closed with a solid smack.
 
She threw her purse into the back seat and pushed the key into the ignition.
 
The car purred to life.

           
GM pulled on her seatbelt, looked over at me, and smiled.
 
"Just for you, I will drive slowly."

           
I resisted the impulse to giggle.
 
GM never drove slowly – she had a drawer full of speeding tickets in her desk.
 
I doubted she could slow down, even on a day on which she was worried.
 
If anything, I figured the worry might make her go faster.

           
Her eyes flashed to the rearview mirror to make sure the way was clear, then she backed down the driveway swiftly and expertly.
 
She pulled out onto the road and then shot forward, the engine purring as GM shifted smoothly and pushed the accelerator to the floor.

           
I couldn't help but smile to myself.
 
I was right – GM was driving even faster than usual.

           
I rested comfortably in my seat, watching the neighborhood fly by, and thinking over what I would say to Simon.
 
I wasn't worried about the speed – GM was an expert driver and had unusually quick reflexes.
 
As we halted at a stop sign, I marveled as I always did at the way GM could bring the car down from its great speed and ease it into a stop so smooth that I could barely feel it.
 
I would be taking Driver's Ed. soon.
 
I hoped when I learned to drive that GM would teach me how to do that.

           
In the span of a few minutes, GM brought me to school, and I was just getting out when GM stopped me.

           
"Katie!"

           
I leaned back into the car.
 
"Yes, GM?"

           
"Go into the school.
 
Right now.
 
I will watch from here."

           
"But, GM, there are plenty of people out in the schoolyard," I protested.

           
"There are also plenty of people missing," GM replied.
 
"Two students and two teachers.
 
Go inside.
 
If you do not, I will escort you in myself.
 
And give me a call when you're ready to come home tonight."

           
I sighed. "Yes, GM."

           
I shut the car door and headed into the schoolyard.
 
I looked over toward the picnic table, and my heart sank as I saw that Charisse and Branden were absent once again.
 
Simon stood nearby, though, his shoulders hunched, his hands in the pockets of his jeans.
 
He looked tired, but he smiled when he caught sight of me.

           
As I walked toward him, GM's parting words suddenly came back to me.
 
Had GM said two students and two teachers were missing?
 
I was pretty certain that that was what I'd heard at the car and in the kitchen, but it hadn't really sunk in before.
 
The two students were James and Irina, and I knew one of the teachers was Mr. Del Gatto.
 
Who was the other one?

           
Simon hurried over to me.

           
"Hey, Simon."
 
I was glad to see that he was looking a bit better than he had yesterday.
 
He looked like he might be up to hearing about my plan.
 
"We'd better get inside."

           
Simon blinked in surprise.
 
"Okay.
 
Why?"

           
"GM is watching me from the car.
 
She received a call from the school this morning about all of the missing people.
 
Your parents probably got the same one.
 
She told me to go straight into the school or she'd walk me in herself."

           
Simon's eyebrows rose.
 
"Oh."
 
He turned and spotted GM's red sports car.
 
He knew it well and had admired it on many occasions.
 
He raised a hand in a wave.
 
"I guess we'd better get inside, then."

           
We both headed toward the school.

           
"How did you sleep last night?" I asked.

           
Simon gave me a wan smile.
 
"Not great.
 
You can probably guess that we've had no news about James."

           
"He's smart," I said.
 
"We've always known that about him, no matter what he got up to.
 
And he's tough, too."

           
"That's true enough," Simon said wryly.

           
"What I mean is, if anyone can find his way home again, it's James.
 
He won't give up."

           
Simon nodded.
 
"I hope that's enough."

           
We passed through the large double doors at the front of the school.

           
"Do you mind if we go to the cafeteria?" I asked.
 
I suddenly felt nervous.
 
I had no idea how Simon was going to take what I had to tell him.
 
I thought my plan was good.
 
But what would he think of it?
 
"I have to talk to you about something."

           
Simon shot me a worried look.
 
"What's this about?
 
Is it something about us?"

           
"No," I said, "it's not about us.
 
It's about James, Irina, Mr. Del Gatto, and me."

           
Simon frowned a little.
 
"Okay. I don't know where you could be going with that, but sure.
 
We'll talk."

           
"Oh!
 
And who's the fourth person?
 
Do you know?"

           
"What's that?" Simon asked.

           
"GM said the school secretary told her four people were missing – two students and two teachers.
 
I know Mr. Del Gatto is one of the teachers – but who's the other one?"

           
Simon's brow cleared.
 
"Oh yeah.
 
I heard about that before you got here.
 
It's a sub named Mr. Hightower."

           
I felt a ripple of shock run through me.
 
"Mr. Hightower?"

           
"Yeah, do you know him?"

           
"Yes," I said.
 
"He's been the sub for Mr. Del Gatto.
 
How did you find out?"

           
"I was talking to Travis Ballenski – I think you know his dad's a cop.
 
Apparently, it happened last night.
 
Hightower's house was pretty messed up."

           
I took a deep breath and fought the chill that stole over me.
 
Things were getting scarier.
 
Simon and I had to do something.

           
We reached the cafeteria, and I led the way to a table in an unoccupied corner of the room.
 
At tables closer to the kitchen, students sat eating breakfast and talking.
 
I could smell eggs and toast.

           
I shrugged off my backpack and sat down.
 
Simon did the same, seating himself next to me.

           
I looked around the cafeteria one last time, just to double-check that no one was nearby.
 
As I did so, I thought I saw a pair of eyes floating in the air.
 
I blinked, and they were gone.
 
It was just my imagination.
 
I shook my head and turned back to Simon.

           
As I looked at Simon, I felt my nervousness getting worse.
 
I knew that what I had to tell him was pretty strange.
 
I did care about him, and what he thought of me mattered.

           
I steeled myself and looked into Simon's eyes.
 
"Simon, I need your help."

           
Simon's brow creased with concern.
 
"Of course, Katie.
 
Anything you need.
 
You can depend on me.
 
Always."