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After a harried nod, Victoria vanished

Mary Ann was silent as she tugged a sweater and jeans from her closet; she was silent as she dressed in the bathrooathered her books and backpack Still silent Riley had already removed his jeans--where had he stored theether, they raced down the stairs and into the kitchen The scent of eggs and bacon wafted through the air Her mouth didn’t water, but her stoain, either An i

He turned, spied Riley and froze, his expression both disgusted and terrified There were lines of tension around his eyes, as if he hadn’t slept after he’d left her roo really was"

"Sorry, Dad, but I don’t have tiet to school early and study for my Chem test"

He frowned "You’ve barely even picked at your food lately Don’t think I haven’t noticed At least take a piece of bacon with you It’s brain food"

She didn’t want to argue, so she claimed the piece he held out for her "Thanks"

"Want a ride?"

"Nah" Too casual? "Oxygen to the brain, and all that"

"Good luck, honey"

"Thanks Love you" With that, she was out the door and running for the gate, Riley keeping pace at her side

Funny thing On the way there, she could have sworn she spotted Tucker, running with them, but Riley didn’t see, so she convinced herself she was seeing things

Besides, even if Tucker was here, even if he was following her, she didn’t have time to stop and question him Aden needed her She just prayed she could help him--rather than hurt him further

SEVENTEEN

TWO VOICES CALLED TO ADEN Both fe else"

"Like what? I’ve tried everything! Screa him"

"He’s inside that body Get Him Out!"

"What do you want me to do? Reach inside his chest?"

"Yes!"

"You are such a pain! How does Aden stand you? But fine, I’ll do it I’ll try"

One second Aden was inside Shannon’s body, drifting through his friend’sa past as painful and lonely as his own, and the next he was standing beside Mary Ann, his hand resting in hers

She was panting, sheened with perspiration, gaze glazed with shock and fatigue "Did you see that?" she gasped out "Did you? I can’t believe I just did that Tell me you saw that!"

"What happened?" he croaked God, he ached Every inch of him ached as if he’d been in a hit-and-run--hit with a baseball bat and run over by a truck

Victoriaopen with an equalto be okay now"

Was she trying to convince hiain

"She--she reached inside Jerked you out You were like a ghost at first, not truly solid, then you were here I’ve--I’ve never seen anything like that"

Any collateral dae? Aden took stock His knee hurt theand wasn’t paralyzed The poison had passed through him Thank God He almost collapsed in relief

Elijah, Caleb and Julian were no longerand incoherent They were quiet There, Aden could tell, but quiet, as if they were exhausted from their ordeal and needed rest

Despite Mary Ann’s nearness, Mr Thomas was also present A mere outline of himself, but Aden could still see him He sat at the desk, arms folded over his middle, expression h He atching and cataloging every detail

Odd Riley wasn’t here Mary Ann should have muted all of Aden’s abilities completely Why hadn’t she?

"Uh, A-Aden" Shannon slowly sat up and looked around the bedrooers "W-what just happened? I was standing in f-front of you Wasn’t I? How’d I g-get on the bed?"

He didn’t know that Aden had been inside his mind, then Thank God for that, too "You passed out" It was the only thing his fogged brain could come up with so spur of the moment

"P-passed out? Why?" Shannon looked at the clock and shook his head, rubbed his eyes "It’s n-nine-fifteen How is it nine-fifteen? I tried to wake you up at six-thirty I should be at school C-crap! I’onna freak He--"