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‘Come on,’ Hatten says ‘I’ve only had this class a few times; don’t think I know everyone’s na?’

Stay still Be quiet

‘Ben Ben Nix isn’t here,’ I say, the words bursting out ofme say his name out loud To make him real, not like someone who never even existed, who doesn’t matter

‘Where is he?’ he asks, his eyes onin the with a mouse trapped under one paw He knows

‘I have no idea,’ I answer, quite truthfully

‘Does anyone else know?’ he asks the rooeneral Silence ‘No? Perhaps he isn’t well’

Then he carries on with the lesson

‘Kyla? Wait I want a word, please’ Hatten sirls ere dragging their feet to leave his presence They flash me a look of pure dislike and flounce out of the room

He steps out, looks down the hall both ways, then co

He sht ‘It’s you,’ he says

‘What? What do you mean?’

‘You’re the one I was sure you’dabout’

He walks towardsdirection The corner of the roorins; I’m trapped He puts a hand on the wall over , but so close the heat of his body prickles my skin

He leans in ‘Do you hear the voices, Kyla, or whatever your name is? Voices in your head,’ he whispers

My heart pounds, th-thump, th-thump, loud inyou, now?’

Run!

I squirm away, bolt for the door

‘How does it feel?’ he asks

I turn back to look at hi that you killed Ben That he is dead, and it is all your fault’

‘I didn’t! I…’ What colour is left drains from my face ‘Is he really dead?’ I whisper

He sh the door and down the hall, then race across the school Go to the track

My feet pound twenty times around before I remember: Mrs Ali banned me froht She bannedwith Ben at lunch, and Ben isn’t here, is he? But I leave enough tio after school

CHAPTER FORTY NINE

I’ by Jazz’s car end of day

‘Hi,’ he says ‘I didn’t think you’d still want to go’

I force a soing to Mac’s as planned isn’t a big deal But it is the biggest deal Holding on to confronting Aiden – focusing the anger – is the only thing that has keptin a puddle He is dead, and it is all your fault No! If he is, it is Aiden’s fault: Aiden and Mac

‘Of course,’ Jazz says ‘I was hoping you’d coo’

We’re well away from the school before I dare ask

‘Jazz, did Ian find out anything about what happened to Ben?’

He tilts his head side to side He looks like he doesn’t want to answer

‘Tell me! Whatever you know Please, I need to know’

‘There isn’t uess’

‘Tell me anyhow’

‘Ian’s mum is a friend of Ben’s ot there, they see on his own Maybe he wasn’t breathing for too long before they got there But she doesn’t know, because once the Lorders arrived, they kicked her out When the ambulances left the Lorder van followed, and they weren’t in a hurry to get to hospital – no lights or siren – so she was afraid of the worst But they won’t tell her where they took hi Blink hard and stare out theDead or alive, the Lorders took him away What is there to say?

Jazz takes the last turn and soon we’re pulling up to Mac’s He parks the car out front

‘Kyla, there is soive to you’