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Emily’s chest heaved in and out The scratches on her skin from the brambles burned every time she moved "Someonepushed me"

Kelsey’s eyes widened "One of those boys?"

E it hard to draw in a full breath The giggle echoed in her ears She could sense so On instinct, she reached for her phone in her pocket Sure enough, there was a new text ers, she pressed READ

Sometimes we all need a little push, Emily You and your friends know all about that, huh? --A

Chapter 24

LIFE IMITATES ART

On Thursday afternoon, Spencer was flipping through the newspaper when a splashy ad caught her eye TONIGHT AT 8 PM, A CNN SPECIAL: ARE YOUR CHILDREN SAFE ON SPRING BREAK? THREE CASES OF FUN SPRING HOLIDAYS GONE TERRIBLY WRONG

There was a picture of Tabitha in the corner Spencer immediately turned the paper over, and then, because that wasn’t quite good enough, she tore it into tiny pieces and threw it in the trash Even that didn’t see if she should burn the flickered out of the corner of her eye, and she shot up and glanced out theA shape moved behind the trees It looked like someone with blond hair

Murderer

Spencer spun around, clutching the sides of her head The kitchen was empty Beatrice and Rufus dozed on the floor, their paitching If soht? What the hell was happening to her?

Her cell phone let out a loud dog-barking sound, and Spencer jumped She picked it up from the side table and saw that Emily had sent a text I’m really freaked A just shoved lanced toward the den, thinking again of the flashes and voice she’d just heard Aht now, but they were scheduled to co Kelsey wasn’t there, was she? she wrote back

There was a long pause Finally, Emily’s reply popped up on the screen: No

And you’re not hanging out with her anyain with a one-word No

Good, Spencer responded

"So this here that Alison stuff went down, huh?"

It was fortyin the Hastingses’ backyard, preparing for another Macbeth coaching session Spencer was sure she’d be erapher to pay special attention to her in her scenes in the play perforht She’d even co about the play; all she needed noas to attach a movie file of her brilliantly executed scenes

Beau gazed around at the twisted, blackened, ruined tree branches froo To the left was the property’s original barn, which had once housed a lovingly restored guest suiteuntil Real Ali burned that down, too

"Yeah," Spencer said softly "I rarely come out here anymore It’s too creepy"

"I hear you This place feels haunted" Beau toed the dirty slate path that used to lead to the barn It was on this very path that she and Their Ali fought alrade The argument had been over Ian Thomas, whom they’d both had a crush on Spencer had shoved Ali, who’d fallen, then quickly leapt back up and run down the path For a long tione to meet Ian, her secret boyfriend, and Ian had killed her But it was her twin sister who had intercepted her and murdered her

"Anyway" Beau turned around and faced Spencer "Are you ready to get into character?"

Spencer shrugged "As ready as I’ll ever be"

Beau smiled "You did awesome yesterday, but there’s another exercise I think we should try You kno I said I connected being bullied to my role as Macbeth? It’s your turn to do that, too Try to really beco in the way of your success Maybe you didn’t mean to do it, but you carried it out anyway"

Spencer stared at him That sounded like what had happened with Tabithaand Kelsey, too "I guess I could try," she said quietly

"Go there," Beau instructed "Repeat the lines Lady Macbeth says when she’s overcouilt"

"Out, damned spot," Spencer chanted

"Good Now, close your eyes and say theain"