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She continued talking, but I didn’t hear it because all I could think was, What’s wrong with her? If she was at Lyle House, there was so with her So hair was brushed into a glea ponytail She wore Guess jeans and a Gap T-​shirt If I didn’t know better, I’d think I’d woken up in a boarding school

She kept talking Maybe that was a sign

She seeh She’d have to be, wouldn’t she? They wouldn’t put anyone dangerous in here Or really crazy

Oh no, Chloe They don’t put any really crazy people in here Just the ones who hear voices and see burned-​up janitors and fight with teachers

My stomach started to ache

"Coet real snippy if you’re late" Liz put out a hand as I opened a dresser drawer "You can wear your pajauys eat lunch and dinner with us, but they have breakfast later, so we get some privacy"

"Guys?"

"Simon, Derek, and Peter"

"The house is coed?"

"Uh-​huh" She pursed her lips in the mirror and picked off a dry flake "We all share the bottom floor, but the top one is divided"

She leaned out the door and showed et the other side There’s not even a joining door Like we’d sneak over there at night if we could" She giggled "Well, Tori would And Iover for Tori has dibs on Siht like Peter He’s cute but way too young for me He’s thirteen Almost fourteen, I think"

"I’eez Uer I heard he’s going horade?"

"Ninth"

"Same as Tori I’m in tenth, like Simon, Derek, and Rae I think Sih And did I say I love your hair? I wanted to do that, with blue streaks, but my mom said…"

Liz kept up the co on to the whole cast of characters There was Dr Gill, the psychologist, but she only ca

I’d met two of the three nurses Mrs Talbot--the older woer Miss Van Dop, as, she whispered, "not so nice" The third nurse, Mrs Abdo, worked weekends, giving the others each a day off They lived in and looked after us They soundedschool kids talk about, but Liz called the stink of lemon cleaner hit me It smelled like Gran’s house Even Dad never seemed colare that said you’d better not expect any birthday money if you spilled your soda on the white leather sofa One look in this living rooh of relief It was as clean as Gran’s--the carpet spotless, the wood glea--but it had a worn, comfortable look that invited you to curl up on the sofa

It was also painted the favored color for Lyle House--a pale yellow this ti chairs An old grandfather clock ticked in the corner Every end table held a vase of daisies or daffodils Bright and cheerful Too bright and cheerful, really, like this bed-​and-​breakfast near Syracuse where Aunt Lauren and I stayed last fall--so desperate to be hoe set than souess--a business eager to convince you it wasn’t a business, to et you were in a place for crazy kids

Liz stoppedrooirl with short dark hair "That’s Tori Victoria, but she likes Tori With an i She’s ets moody, and I’ve heard that’s why she’s here, but I think she’s fine" She jerked her chin toward the other person at the table--a pretty, copper-​skinned girl with long dark curls "That’s Rachelle Rae She has this ’thing’ for fire"

I stared at the girl Thing for fire? Did that ht this place was supposed to be safe

What about the boys? Were any of thery, I see," chirped a voice

I glanced up to see Mrs Talbot couessed was the kitchen door, milk pitcher in hand She smiled at me

"Come in, Chloe Let ave us all pills, then watched as we took them It was creepy No one said a word, just held out their hands, gulped their pill doater, and returned to their conversations

When I stared atlater, but for now, I should just take it So I did

After we’d eaten, we trooped upstairs to dress Rae was in the lead, followed by Liz and Tori Then htened and she didn’t turn "Yes, Victoria?"

Tori cliet the laundry done, right? It’s your turn, and I want to wear that new shirt ht me"

Rae slowly turned "Mrs T said I could do laundry today, since we had to take off while--" her gaze lit on ot settled"

"So you didn’t do the laundry"

"That’s what I said"

"But I want--"

"Your shirt Got that part So wear it It’s brand-​new"

"Yeah, and other people probably tried it on That’s gross"

Rae threw up her hands and disappeared down the hall Tori shot a scowl over her shoulder, as if this wereflashed between us, and I stu

Her scoisted "Geez, I’ to hit you"

Over her shoulder, a hand appeared, pale fingers wriggling like woraze froirl--" A man’s voice whispered in my ear

Liz caers on my arht I h-​h-​heard so like that?" Tori asked Liz