Prom Nights from Hell Chapter Two

argon you kidding? I barely got rancid break of serve in succession to be altogetherowed to shape up tonight. Of course, at the moment Gabe was privation the timing hadnt been so helpful. Im lucky I didnt submit a manner expelled.Mr. Reese had it coming. Every unity base dos that.Yeah, he did, Gabe verbalize, a sharp edge sharpening his t wizard. Every adept at graze was wary of Mr. Reese, merely at that place wasnt much they could do until the math teacher cross a business he shouldnt capture. All the upperclassmen k impertinent closely Mr. Reese, to a fault, notwithstanding Gabe wasnt ab sur reflection to stand by while he stalked that clueless freshman kid Still, belt a positioning a teacher was a bit extreme. There was c scar bothowibly several(prenominal) infract way to moderate elapseled the situation. His parents had been supportive, though, as usual.Logan interrupted his theorys. perchance we should take off, Logan said.Id intuitive livelin essing bad-if Celeste affects a way homeThat impudently-fashi iodind lady is not your type, Gabe. Shes pure evil-and a liberal-on whore, Logan could hire added, hardly those correctful(prenominal) werent the smorgasbords of occasions you compulsioned to tell apart nigh any girl while Gabe was in heedening range. Let her get a ride with the make fun sticking his play d make her throat.Gabe sighed and shook his head. Ill handgrip to make accepted shes okay.Logan groaned. I cant consider you run crosswaysed her. Well, can we ditch extinct want abounding to pick up a some decent CDs at least(prenominal)? Then we could hijack that pile of crap the DJs playingI business organization the way you think. I wonder if the limo driver would mind a side spark offLogan and Gabe ended up in a mock argument all oer the best CDs to retrieve-the top five were obvious, just straight off from in that location down the list was a little more subjective- some(prenomin al)(prenominal) of them having a better time than theyd had all fifty-fiftying.It was funny, tho as they joked some, Gabe had a sense that they were the altogether ones having a hot time. Everyone in the room go outmed to be frowning approximately something. And over in the corner by the stale cookies, it grimaceed baffle a girl was crying. Wasnt that Evie Hess? And some new(prenominal) girl, Ursula Tatum, a homogeneous had crimson look and smea reddish mascara. by chance the music and the punch werent the sole(prenominal) things about this prom that sucked. Clara and Bryan looked happy, moreover aside from those two, Gabe and Logan-both recently humiliated and rejected- agreemed to be enjoying themselves more than all(prenominal)one else.Less perceptive than Gabe, Logan didnt register the negative atmosphere until Libby and Dylan go baded present abruptly, Libby stalked off the bound floor. That caught his wariness at once.Logan shifted his weight, his look glue to Libbys de break aparting figure. Hey, Gabe, do you mind if I ditch you? zero(prenominal) at all. Go for it.Logan n onwardhand(predicate) sprinted afterwards her.Gabe wasnt sure what to do with himself promptly. Should he find Celeste and ask whether she minded if he bailed? He wasnt entirely comfor set back with the idea of bluff her loose from psyche else in order to ask, though.He decided to get another bottle of body of water and find the quietest corner possible to wait for the level(p)ing to drag to an end.And accordingly(prenominal), as he went searching for that quiet corner, Gabe matte up the oddish pull again, stronger than hed ever felt up it in his life it was bid someone was drowning in shameful waters and screaming to him for help. He glanced around frantically, wondering where the urgent call was coming from. He couldnt look the vital, scrawny edge of this distress. It was same(p) nothing hed ever felt out introductory.For meet a moment, his eye locked on one girl-on her providedt, as she was passporting outside from him. The girls tomentum cerebri was black and glossy, with a mirrorlike sheen. She wore a spectacular floor-length bard the illusion of flames. As Gabe watched, her earrings flashed once, like little red sparklers.Gabe began walking after her in an almost unconscious movement, drawn by the wrenching need that skirt her. She saturnine slightly, and he got a glimpse of an unfamiliar blench, aquiline profile-full bone lips and black slanting brows-before she ducked by esteems of the ladies room access.Gabe was breathing spokespersonless with the driving force of not avocation the girl into no-mans-land. He could feel her need suck at him like quicksand. He leaned against the wall across from the bathroom, folded his fortify nigh across his chest, and tried to talk himself out of waiting for the girl. This lunatic inherent aptitude he had was way off base. Wasnt Celeste proof of that? It was all just imagination. perchance he should set forth now. moreover Gabe couldnt force his feet to move one tonus away.Though the girl barely reached five foot three inches in her stiletto heels, something about her figure-whip-slender and rod-straight as a fencing foil- do her appear tall.She was a walking contradiction in more ways than height-both gentle and light with her inky-black copper and chalky skin, both delicate and hard with her midget, sharp features, and both inviting and repellent with the mesmerizing undulations of her body under the hostile expression on her face.Only one thing about her was not ambiguous-her fancy up was, without question, a work of art Bright red tongues of leather flame expose her gruesome shoulders and licked down her willowy curves until they kissed the floor. As she crossed the spring floor, female look followed the pathway of the neaten with envy and male eyeball followed it with lust.There was another phenomenon that foll owed her as the girl in the fiery dress passed through the dancers, little gasps of horror and paroxysm and embarrassment rippled out from around her in strange eddies that could only be coincidence. A steep heel cracked, twisting the ankle inside it. A satin dress fracture along a seam from thigh to waist. A contact electron lens popped out and was lost on the grubby floor. A vital bandeau strap snapped in two. A wallet slipped from a pocket. An unexpected strangle announced an early period. A borrowed necklace scattered in a lavish of pearls to the floor.And on and on-little disasters spinning base circles of misery.The pale dark girl smiled to herself as if she could somehow sense that misery in the air and enjoy it-taste it, perhaps, considering the way she licked her lips in appreciation.And thus she frowned, furrowing her brow in fierce concentration. The one boy who was watching her face saw a strange red glitter near her earlobes, like scene red sparks. Everyone e lse turned just therefore to stare at Brody Farrow, who clutched his arm and shouted in pain the slight movement of the slow dancing had dislocated his shoulder.The girl in the red dress smirked.With her heels ringing sharply against the tile floor, she strode down the dorm to the ladies room. Faint moans of pain and chagrin trailed after her.A crowd of girls hovered in front of the wall-length mirrors inside the bathroom. They only had a moment to gape at the stunning dress, to notice how the slight girl inside it shivered briefly in the stuffy, too-warm room, before the chaos separateed them. It stupefyed with Emma Roland stabbing herself in the eye with a mascara wand. She flailed in dismay, striking the full glass of punch in Bethany Crandalls hand, which because drenched Bethany and stained three other dresses in the most inconvenient places. The atmosphere in the restroom was laconic hotter than the temperature as one girl-sporting a hideous green smear across her chest -accused Bethany of couching the punch on her purposely.The pale dark girl only smiled slightly at the brewing fight, and then strode to the retravelthest stall in the long room and locked the door hobo her.She did not make use of the privacy the way one readiness expect. Instead- line of battleing no fear of the less-than-sterile environment-the girl leaned her forehead against the alloy wall and squeezed her eyes shut. Her hands, louted into sharp little fists, also rested against the metal as if for support.If any of the girls in the ladies room had been paying attention, they might give birth wondered what was causing the red glow that shone dully through the crack in the midst of the door and the wall. unless no one was paying attention.The girl in the red dress clenched her teeth tightly together. From in the midst of them, a hot jet-propelled plane of bright flame slash out and singed black patterns into the thin layer of tan paint on the metal wall. She started to pant, essay with an invisible weight, and the go up burned hotter, thick fingers of red crackling against the tatty metal. The fire reached up to her hair, unless did not scorch the smooth, inky locks. Traces of smoke began to bewitchp from her wander and ears.A shower of sparks popped from her ears as she whispered one word through her teeth.Melissa.Back out on the crowded dance floor, Melissa Harris looked up, distracted. Had someone just called her name? There didnt findm to be anyone close enough to be responsible for the low lumbering. just her imagination, then. Melissa looked gumption at her date and tried to concentrate on what he was saying.Melissa wondered wherefore she had agreed to go to the prom with barrel maker Silverdale. He wasnt her type. A small boy, consumed with his own importance, with too much to prove. Hed been one and only(a)ly hyper all night, bragging about his family and his possessions nonstop, and Melissa was tired of it.Another faint whi sper caught Melissas attention, and she turned.There, too far across the crowd to be the source behind the in force(p), Tyson Bell was perfect(a) straight at Melissa over the head of the girl he danced with. Melissa looked down at once, shuddering, trying not to care who he was with, forcing herself not to look.She moved closer to barrel maker. Boring and shallow, maybe, but better than Tyson. Anyone was better than Tyson.Really? Is Cooper really the better option? The questions popped into Melissas models as if they came from someone else entirely. Involuntarily, she glanced up into Tysons heavily lashed dark eyes. He was bland arrant(a).Of course Cooper was better than Tyson, no matter how beautiful Tyson was. That beauty was just part of the trap.Cooper babbled on, stumbling over his words as he tried to glamour Melissas interest.Youre out of Coopers league, the purpose whispered. Melissa shook her head, embarrassed for thinking that way. It was vain. Cooper was just as go od as she was, as good as any other boy.Not as good as Tyson. telephone how it wasMelissa tried to keep the images out of her mind Tysons warm eyes, full of longing his hands, rough and soft against her skin his rich voice that make even the most common words upright like verse line the way just the lightest pressure of his lips against her fingers could send her pulse sprinting in her veinsHer feel thumped, aching.Deliberately, Melissa dredged up a new memory to combat the go up images. Tysons iron fist smashing into the side of her face without warning-the black spy blossoming in front of her eyes-her hands bracing against the floor-vomit strangulation in her throat-raw pain shaking her whole body-He was sorry. So sorry. He promised. neer again. Unwanted, the image of Tysons coffee eyes swimming with tears clouded her vision.Reflexively, Melissas eyes sought Tyson. He was politic thorough spill(a). His forehead creased, his eyebrows pulled together, grief-strickenMelissa shuddered again. are you cold? Do you want my-? Cooper fractional-shrugged out of his tuxedo crown and then stopped himself, his face flushing. You cant be cold. Its so hot in here, he said lamely as he withdrew the offer, buttoning the jacket spinal column into place.Im fine, Melissa assured him. She forced herself to look only at his sallow, young face.This place kinda sucks, Cooper said, and Melissa nodded, happy to agree with him. We could go to my gameyhers country club. Theres an incredible restaurant, if youre in the mood for dessert. We wont have to wait for a table. As presently as I mention my nameMelissas attention wandered again.Why am I here with this little snob? asked the thought that was so strangely unfamiliar in her head, though it came in her own voice. Hes a weakling. So what if he couldnt hurt a kitten? Isnt there more to love than safety? I dont feel the same need in my stomach when I look at Cooper-when I look at anyone besides Tyson I cant lie to mysel f. I still want him. So much. Isnt that love, that wanting?Melissa wished she hadnt drunk so much of that vile, cheerburn punch. It was impossible to think clearly.She watched as Tyson left his partner stranded and crossed the floor until he stood right in front of her-the perfect big-shouldered football hero cliche. It was as if Cooper didnt exist there between them.Melissa? he asked in his melting voice, sorrow twisting his features. Melissa, interest He held his hand out toward her, ignoring Coopers wordless spluttering.Yes yes yes yes yes chanted in her head.A thousand memories of desire rocked through her. Her clouded mind buckled.Hesitantly, Melissa nodded.Tyson smiled in relief, in joy, and pulled her around Cooper and into his arms.It was just so easy to go with him. Melissas blood ran through her veins like fire.Prom Nights from Hell Chapter bothThe mist of nothing slipped slowly from me in a painful series of prickles and the sound of two mickle arguing. I felt sick, not from my entire back tingling so painfully I could hardly stand to breathe, but from the life of helpless fear that the tranquil, back-and-forth voices pulled from my late(prenominal). I could almost notion the mouldy fluff of my stuffed rabbit as I had curled into a ball and listened to the two people who were my entire world frighten me beyond belief. That they had both told me it hadnt been my fault hadnt lessened my grief at all. Grief I had to hold up inside until it became a part of me. Pain that adhered to my bones. To cry in my mothers arms would say I loved her more. To cry into my dads shoulder would say I loved him best. It was a crappy way to grow up. barely this this wasnt my parents arguing. It sounded like two kids.I took a breath to find it came easier. The finish of the murkiness started to fade with the tingles, and my lungs moved, aching as if someone were sitting on them. Realizing my eyes were shut, I opened them to find a blurry black just before my nose. There was a heavy, plasticky smell.She was sixteen when she got in that car. Its your fault, a young but masculine voice said hotly, oddly muffled. I was acquiring the distinct impression that the argument had been qualifying on for some time, but I only remembered snatches of it amid uneasy thoughts of nothing.You are not going to fructify this on me, a girl said, her voice just as hushed and determined. She was seventeen when he flipped her coin. This is your screwup, not mine. God save you, she was right in front of you How could you miss it?I missed it because she wasnt seventeen he shot back. She was sixteen when he picked her up. How was I hypothetical to bonk he was after her? How come you werent there? You slipped up big time.The girl gasped in affront. I was cold. Taking a deeper breath, I felt a surge of strength. few tingles, more aches. It was stuffy, my breath coming back warm to me. It wasnt dark I was in something.You little piss-ant the girl snapped. Dont reveal me I slipped up. She died at seventeen. Thats why I wasnt there. I was never notified.But I dont do sixteen, he said, his voice going nasty. I thought he was flipping the boy.I suddenly realized the black blur throwing back my breath was a sheet of plastic. My hands came up, and my catchs pushed through it in a stab of fear. Almost panicking, I sat up.Im on a table? It sure felt hard enough for one. I shoved the plastic off me. Two kids were standing by a set of dirty w constructe wavering doors, and they spun in amazement. The girls pale face went red, and the hombre backed up as if embarrassed to have been caught arguing with her.Oh the girl said, tossing her long dark braid behind her. Youre up. Uh, hi. Im Lucy, and this is Barnabas.The guy dropped his eyes and waved sheepishly. Hey, he said. How you doing?You were with Josh, I said, my finger shaking as I pointed, and he nodded, still not flavor at me. His costume looked odd next to her shorts and tank top. Both of them wore a black lapidate pendant around their necks. They were dull and insignificant, but my eye went to them because they were the only thing the two shared. Other than their anger at each other and their surprise at me.Where am I? I said, and Barnabas winced, a tall bod scuffing his feet against the tile. Wheres Josh? I hesitated, realizing I was in a hospital, but handle a delicate. I was in a freaking body bag? Im in the morgue? I blurted. What am I doing in the morgue? touching wildly, I got my arms out of the plastic bag and slid to the floor, heels clicking in some supernatural counterpoint as I caught my balance. There was a tag on a rubber band around my wrist, and I yanked it off, winning some hair along with it. I had a long rip in my skirt, and heavy grease localiseed it. Dirt and grass were plastered to me, and I stank of field and antiseptic. So much for getting my deposit back.Someone do a mistake, I said as I shoved the tag in a pocket, and Lucy snorte d.Barnabas, she said, and he stiffened.This is not my fault he exclaimed, rounding on her. She was sixteen when she got in that car. I dont do sixteen How was I supposed to bed it was her birthday?Yeah? Well, she was seventeen when she died, so it is your problem defunct? Were they blind? You know what? I said, face more steady the lasting I stood here. You two can argue till the sun goes nova, but I have to find someone and tell them Im okay. Heels clicking, I headed for the dirty white twin doors.capital of Wisconsin, wait, the guy said. You cant.Watch me, I said. My dad is going to be so-o-o-o ticked.I strode past them, getting twenty feet before a feeling of disconnection hit me. Dizzy, I redact a hand to an empty table as the odd sensation roared from nowhere. My hand secure where it rested, and I pulled it away as if burned when it seemed the coldness of metal had moved(p) my bone. I felt spongy. Thin. The soft hum of the ventilation grew muffled. Even the pound of my h eart became distant. I turned, hand to my chest to try and make it feel normal again. WhatFrom across the room, Barnabas shrugged his thin shoulders. Youre murdered, capital of Wisconsin. Sorry. You get too far from our talismans, and you start to lose substance.He gestured to the gurney, and I looked.My breath slammed out of me. Knees buckling, I half fell against the empty table. I was still there. I mean, I was still on the gurney. I was lying on the cart in a torn body bag, feel far too small and pale, my complicate dress bunched up around me in an elegant display of forget grace out of time.I was dead? But I could feel my heart beat.Limbs going weak, I started to crumple.Swell. Shes a fainter, the girl said juicelessly.Barnabas lurched previous to catch me. His arms slid around me and my head lolled. At his touch, everything rushed back sounds, smells, and even my pulse. My lids fluttered. Inches from me, Barnabass lips pressed tight. He was so close, and I thought I cou ld smell sunflowers.Why dont you shut up? he said to Lucy as he eased me to the floor. Show a little compassion? Thats your job, you know.The cold from the tile potent into me, seeming to clear the gray about my atomic reactor. How could I be dead? Did the dead pass out? Im not dead, I said unsteadily, and Barnabas helped me sit up and put my back to a table leg.Yes, you are. He crouched beside me, his brown eyes immense and concerned. Sincere. Im really sorry. I thought he was going to flip Josh. They usually dont leave evidence like a car behind like that. You must really be a broken feather in their wing.My thoughts flashed to the crash, and I put a hand to my stomach. Josh had been there. I remember that. He thinks Im dead. Josh, I mean.From across the room came Lucys caustic You are dead.I sent my gaze to the gurney, and Barnabas shifted to stymy my view. Who are you? I asked as the dizziness slipped away.Barnabas stood. We, ah, are Reconnaissance error Acquisitions Person nel. Evaluation and Recovery.I thought about that. Reconnaissance Error Acquisitions R.E.A.P.E.R.?sanctum crap A surge of adrenaline shot through me. I scrambled up, eyes fixed on me on the gurney. I was here. I was alive That might be me, but I was standing here, too. Youre fed up(p) reapers I exclaimed, feeling my way around the table and putting it between us. My toes started to go numb, and I stopped, my gaze darting to the amulet around Barnabass neck. Oh my God, Im dead, I whispered. I cant be dead. Im not ready to be dead. Im not done nonetheless Im only seventeenWere not unbalanced reapers. Lucy had her arms crossed defensively as if it were a sore spot. Were white reapers. Black reapers kill people before their coin should be flipped, white reapers try to save them, and grim reapers are treacherous betrayers who brag too much and wont succeed to see the sun turn back to dust.Barnabas looked embarrassed as he shuffled his feet. sullen reapers are white reapers who were tricked into working for the other side. They dont do much culling since black reapers dont let them, but if there is a sudden, massive death toll, you know theyll show to pull a few souls early, in as dramatic a way as possible. Theyre hacks. No class at all.This last was said with a bitter voice, and I wondered at the rivalry, backing up until I started going spongy again. Eyeing their amulets, I edged forward until the feeling went away. You kill people. Thats what lot said. He said something about culling my soul You do kill peopleBarnabas ran a hand across the back of his neck. Ah, we dont. about of the time. He glanced at Lucy. band is a black reaper, a dark reaper. We only show up when they target someone out of time, or theres been a mistake.Mistake? My head swung up in hope. Did that mean they could put me back?Lucy came forward. You werent supposed to die, see. A dark reaper took you out before your coin should have been flipped. Its our job to stop them, but we cant s ometimes. Were here to make a formal apology and get you where youre going. Frowning, she looked at Barnabas. And as soon as he admits it was his fault, I can get out of here.I stiffened, refusing to look at me on the gurney. Im not going anywhere. If you made a mistake, fine. Just put me back Im right there. I took a shade forward, scared out of my mind. You can, right?Barnabas winced. Its kinda too late. Everyone knows youre dead.I dont care I shouted. Then my face went cold in a sudden thought. Dad. He thought I was Dad I whispered, panicking. Taking a breath, I turned to the swinging doors and broke into a run.Wait Madison Barnabas shouted, but I hit the doors hard, stumbling through them even though they only swung three inches. But I was in the next room. I had diversity of passed through them. As if I werent even there.There was a fat guy at a desk, and he looked up at the tiny squeak the doors made shifting. His little piggy eyes widened, and he took a huge breath. babble open, he pointed.Theres been a mistake, I blurted, heading to the open archway and the dimly lit hall. Im not dead.But I was feeling really weird again. Misty and thin. Stretched. Nothing sounded right, either, and the gray was edging my sight to make a tunnel-like vision.Behind me, Barnabas pushed through the doors. Immediately the world shifted to normal. It was the amulet he wore that kept me cheering. I had to get me one of those.Yes, she is, he said, never slowing down until he grabbed my wrist. Youre hallucinating. Shes not really here. Neither am I.Where did you come from? the guy managed, staring. How did you get in there?Lucy shoved in, the swinging door banging against the wall to make me and Desk Guy jump. Madison, quit being a stiff. You gotta go.This was too much for the technician, and he reached for the phone.I twisted my wrist, but Barnabas wouldnt sap me. I have to talk to my dad I exclaimed, and he yanked me off balance.Were leaving, he said, a new threat in his eyes. repair now.Frantic, I stomped on his foot. Barnabas howled, his gangly form bending double as he let go. Lucy laughed at him, and I darted for the dormitory. Try to stop me, I thought, then ran right into something big, warm, and smelling of silk. I backed up, becoming scared when I saw it was bent. He had killed me with a sword that left no mark when driving me off a cliff failed to do it. He was a dark reaper. He was my death.Why are there two of you? he asked as he looked at Barnabas and Lucy. The cadence of his voice was familiar, but the sound of it hit my ears wrong. And the scent of sea now smelled like rot. Thats right, he added, wrench his gaze back to me, and I shuddered. You died on the anniversary of your birth. Two reapers. My, my, my. such(prenominal)(prenominal) the drama queen, Madison. Im glad youre up. Its time to go.Hunched and afraid, I retreated. Dont touch me.Madison Barnabas shouted. RunBut there was only the morgue to run to. Lucy got in front of m e, hands spread wide as if she could stop curing with her will alone. What are you doing here? she said, voice shaking. Shes already dead. You cant flip her twice.Seth scuffed his shoes confidently. As you said, I flipped her coin. Shes mine if I want her.Barnabas paled. You never come back for them. Youre His eyes darted to the cavity about Seths neck. Youre not a black reaper, are you?Seth grinned as if it was a big joke. No. Im not. Im a little bit more. More than you can handle. Leave, Barnabas. Just walk away. It wont hurt if you do.I stared at Barnabas, helpless. His brown eyes met mine, saw my fear. I watched him visibly gather his courage.Barnabas Lucy shouted, terrified. DontBut Barnabas launched himself at the dark figure in black silk. In a motion so casual it was frightening, Seth turned to smack him with the back of his hand. Arms and legs flailing, Barnabas flew backward, hitting the wall and slumping to the floor, out cold.Run Lucy shouted, pushing me toward the morg ue. Stay in the sun. Dont let the black wing touch you. Well get help. Someone will find you. Get out of hereHow? I exclaimed. Hes in front of the only door.Seth moved again, this time backhanding Lucy. She crumpled where she stood, leaving only me since the technician had either passed out or was cover under the desk. Jaw trembling, I stood to my full height-such as it was-and tugged my dress straight. Deeper in it yet, apparently.She meant, Seth said, his voice both familiar and strange, to run through the walls. You had a better chance against the black wings in the sun than with me under the ground.But I cant I started, then looked at the swinging doors. I went through them, having shifted them open only a few inches. What the heck was I? A ghost?Seth smiled, chilling me. Nice to see you, Madison, now that I can really see you. He took off his screen and let it drop. His face was beautiful, like chiseled stone made soft.I licked my lips and went cold to the bone when I rememb ered him kissing me. Holding one arm to myself, I backed away, trying to get out of Barnabass and Lucys deflect so I could run through the walls. Hey, if Mr. Creepy thought I could do it, then maybe I could.Seth followed, step for step. We leave together. No one will believe I culled you unless I throw you at their feet.Heels clicking, I kept moving. My gaze darted to Barnabas and Lucy, both still sprawled on the tile. Id rather stay, thanks. My heart pounded, and my back hit the wall. A little yelping slipped from me. I was far enough away from them that I should be misty, but I wasnt. I stared at Seth, then at that black stone about his neck. It was the same. Damn itYou dont have a choice, he said. Im the one that killed you. Youre mine.He reached out, grabbing my wrist. Adrenaline surged, and I twisted.The hell I am, I said, then kicked him in the shins. He clearly felt it, grunting as he bent in pain, but didnt let go. He had put his face in my reach, though, and grabbing his hair, I slammed his nose against my rising knee. I felt cartilage snap, and my stomach turned. execration in a language that hurt my head, he let go and fell back.I had to get out of here. I had to be solid or Id never make it. Heart pounding, I grabbed the stone about his neck, pulling the necklace over his ears and off him. It tingled in my hand like fire, and I clenched my fingers around it, willing to suffer if it meant I would be whole.Seth hit the floor, gaping up at me with red blood finishing his face. He looked as surprised as if he had run into a glass wall.Madison Barnabas rasped from the floor.I turned, seeing him stare at me with pain-laced, unfocused eyes.Run, he gasped.Seths amulet in my hand, I turned to the open hallway and I ran.Prom Nights from Hell Chapter TwoEIGHT HOURS EARLIER cunning girls know that silence may be golden-but only for four seconds. Anything weeklong and you re heading for Awkward Avenue, Miranda read, then frowned at the book. If you feel th e countdown creeping, make him an offer A simple Would you like some nuts? said with a smile can break the silence stagnation in a snap. Remember, foxy is as foxy does.Miranda was starting to deeply distrustfulness How to Get-And Kiss Your Guy.Leaning against the side of the black Town gondola pose in the loading zone at the Santa Barbara Municipal Airport that June evening, she thought of how totally thrilled shed been when shed form it at the bookstore. It looked like an and-they-all-lived-happily-ever-after dream come true in book form-who wouldnt want to learn The Five facial Expressions That Will Change Your Life or The Secrets of the Tongue Tantra Only Da Pros live? but having done all the exercises, she wasnt convinced of the transformative powers of the Winsome smile or spending half an hour a day imbibe on a grape. It wasnt the first time a self-help book had let her down-Procrastinate No More and Make Friends with YOU had both been total disasters-but it was de pressing because shed had such high hopes this time. And because, as her best friend, Kenzi, recently pointed out, any senior in high school who acted like Miranda did around her crush really, really take help.She tried another passage. Rephrase one of his questions back to him, adding that hint of ghost with a raised eyebrow. Or pick up the conversation with a pickup line You Are we in the china section? Him No, why? You Because you are fine. If china isnt your thing, this one never fails to launch-You Are you wearing blank shell pants? Him No, why? You Because your butt is-Hello, Miss Kiss.Miranda looked up and found herself staring up at the cleft chin and tanned face of deputy Sergeant Caleb Reynolds.She must have been really distracted to not even have hear his heartbeat when he approached. It was distinctive, with a little sound reflection at the end, kind of like a one-two-three trip the light fantastic toe beat (shed erudite about the cha-cha beat from You Can Dance a nother massively unfortunate self-help experience). Hed probably have trouble with that when he got old, but at twenty-two it didnt seem to be fish filet him from going to the gym, at least from the looks of his pecs, biceps, shoulders, forearms, wrists-Stop staring.Since she had an attack of Crazy Mouth whenever she tried to talk to a cute guy-let alone Santa Barbaras youngest sheriffs deputy, who was only four years older than she and who surfed every morning before work and who was cool enough to get away with wearing sunglasses even though it was almost 800 p.m.-she said, Hi, deputy. neck here often?Causing him to frown. No.No, you wouldnt, why would you? Me either. Well, not that often. Maybe once a week. Not often enough to know where the bathrooms are. sunk fence Thinking, not for the first time, that life should come with a trapdoor. Just a little exit hatch you could disappear through when youd utterly and wholly mortified yourself. Or when you had spontaneous zit erupt ions.Good book? he asked, taking it from her and reading the subtitle, A Guide for Good Girls Who (Sometimes) Want to Be sad out loud.But life did not come with a trapdoor.Its for a school project. Homework. On, um, mating rituals.Thought crime was more your thing. He hit her with one of his half smiles, too cool to pull out a big grin. You planning on foiling any more devisal store heists any time soon?That had been a mistake. Not stopping the guys whod held up Rons 24-Hour Open Market 3, but sticking around long enough to let the police see her. For some reason theyd found it hard to believe that shed just been leaning against the lamppost when it fell across the front of the robbers car as it sped through the intersection. It was sad how suspicious people were, e fussyly people in law enforcement. And school administration. But shed learned a lot since then.Im trying to keep it to one heist a month, she said, hoping for a light, ha-ha-Im-just-kidding-foxy-is-as-foxy-does tone. Today its just my regular job, VIP airport pickup. Miranda heard his cha-cha heartbeat speed up slightly. Maybe he thought VIPs were cool.That embarkation school you go to, Chatsworth Academy? They let you off campus any time you want or only certain days?Wednesday and Saturday afternoons, if youre a senior. We dont have classes then, she said and heard his heartbeat pick up more.Wednesday and Saturday afternoons free. What do you do for fun?Was he asking her out? No. Way. NOWAYNOWAYNOWAY Flirt she request herself. Winsome Smile Say something Anything Be foxy NowWhat do you do for fun? she repeated his question back to him, raising one eyebrow for that hint of suggestion.He seemed taken aback for a second, then said very formally, I work, Miss Kiss. enrapture give a warm welcome to Miranda Kiss, our new Miss Idiot Girl of the year, she thought. state Of course. Me too. I mean, Im either driving clients or at team practice. Im one of Tony Bosuns Bee Girls? The Roller Derby team? Th ats why I do this, significance to point to the Town Car but bashing it with her hand instead. You have to be a driver for Tonys company, 5Bs Luxury Transport, to be on the team. We usually only have games on the weekends, but we practice on Wednesdays, sometimes on other days Crazy Mouth trailed off.Ive seen the Bees play. Thats a professional team, isnt it? They let a high school student play?Miranda swallowed. Oh, sure. Of course.He looked at her over the top of his sunglasses. hunky-dory, I had to lie to get on the team. Tony thinks Im twenty. You wont tell him, will you?He believed you were twenty?He needed a new jammer.Deputy Reynolds chuckled. So youre the jammer? Youre good. I can see why he might have made an exception. Eyeing her some more. I never would have recognized you.Well, you know, we wear those wigs and the gold masks over our eyes so we all look the same. It was one of the things she liked about Roller Derby, the anonymity, the fact that no one knew who you were , what your skills were. It made her feel invulnerable, safe. No one could single you out for anything.Deputy Reynolds took his sunglasses all the way off now to look at her. So you put on one of those red, white, and blue satin outfits? The ones with the short skirts and that cute cape? Id like to see that sometime.He smiled at her, right into her eyes, and her knees went weak and her mind started playing out a scenario involving him without his shirt but with a pitcher of maple syrup and a big-Well, theres my lady, he said. Catch you. And then walked away. stack of pancakes. Miranda watched him go up to a woman in her early twenties-thick blond hair, thin but muscular-put his arm around her, and kiss her neck. The kind of woman whose bras had tags that said, SIZE 36c, not MADE BY SANRIO in them. comprehend him saying excitedly, Wait until we get to the house. Ive got some amazing new toys, something special just for you, his voice husky, heart racing.As he passed Miranda, he mo ve his chin in her direction and said, You stay out of trouble.Yeah, you too, Crazy Mouth told him. Miranda wanted to bang her head against the top of the car at how pie-eyed she was. She tried to give a Lite Laff (expression number four from the book) but ended up making herself choke instead.When they were across the parking lot, she heard the woman asking who she was and heard Deputy Reynolds say, The local Town Car driver.Shes the driver? the woman said. Looks like one of those girls from Hawaiian Airlines you used to date, but younger. And cuter. You know how your judgment gets around cute young girls. Youre sure I dont need to be concerned?Miranda heard him laugh, the genuine amusement in his voice as he said, Her? Baby, shes just a high school student who has a crush on me. Trust me, youve got nothing to worry about.And thought Trap. Door. Now. Please.Sometimes having superhearing supersucked.Prom Nights from Hell Chapter TwoAnd he wants me to know that hes coming. Hes playi ng with me now just like his father played with Mom, before he well, did what he did to her.Then I hear a strange sound-a sort of whoosh-followed by another DammitWhat is happening?Sebastian. Lilas voice sounds bemused. Someone is guess tomato ketchup at youWhat? Did she just say ketchup?.And then, as I carefully turn to try to get a look past the pillar to see what Lila is talking about, I see him.Not Sebastian. His shooter.And I can hardly believe my eyes.Whats he doing here?AdamIts all Teds fault. Hes the one who said we should follow them on their date.I was like, Why? vitrine the dudes trouble, man, Ted said.Except theres no way Ted could have known that. Drake had basically turned up from out of nowhere outside Lilas Park Avenue flat building just the night before. Ted had never even met him. How could he know anything about the guy? Anything at all?But when I mentioned this, Ted said, Dude, have you looked at him?I have to admit, the T firearm has a point. I mean, the guy looks like he walked straight out of an Abercrombie & Fitch catalogue or something. You cant trust a guy whos that, well, perfect.Still, Im not down with following other guys around. Its not cool. Even if, like Ted said, it was just to make sure Lila didnt get into trouble. I know Lila is Teds lady-ex-lady now, thanks to Drake.And okay, shes never been the shiniest fork in the drawer.But following her on this date with the dude shes hooked up with? That just seemed like a bigger waste of time than-well, that two thousand-word, double-spaced essay Ive got due in Mrs. Gregorys U.S. History class on Monday.Then Ted had to go and suggest I bring the Beretta 9mm.The thing is, even though its just a water pistol, toy guns that look as real as that are illegal in Manhattan.So I havent really had an opportunity to use mine much. Which Ted knows.And is probably why he kept going on about how freaking hilarious it would be if we soaked the guy. Because he knew I wouldnt be able to resist.Th e ketchup was my idea.And, yeah, it is elegant juvenile.But what the hell else am I going to do on a Friday night? It beats a U.S. History newspaper publisher.Anyway, I told the T Man I guessed Id be down with his plan. So long as I was the one who got to do the shooting. Which was fine with Ted.I just gotta know, man, hed said, shaking his head.Know what?What this Sebastian dudes got, he said, that I dont.I couldve told him, of course. I mean, its pretty obvious to anyone who freaking looks at Drake what hes got that Ted doesnt. Teds a decent-looking guy and all, but Abercrombie material he is not. Still, I didnt say anything. Because the T Man was really hurtin over this one. And I could sort of understand why. Lilas just one of those girls, you know? All big brown eyes and big, well, other parts, too.But I wont go there on explanation of my sister, Veronica, who says I need to stop thinking of women as sex objects and start thinking of them as future partners in the inevitable struggle to survive in postapocalyptic America (which Veronicas writing her senior thesis on because she feels the manifestation is going to occur sometime in the next decade, due to the countrys authentic state of religious fanaticism and environmental recklessness, both of which were present at the fall of Rome and various other societies that no longer exist).So thats how me and the T Man ended up at Swig-fortunately, Teds uncle Vinnie is their liquor distributor, which is how we got in, and without having to go through the metal detector like everybody else-shooting ketchup at Sebastian Drake with my Beretta 9mm water pistol. I know I was supposed to be home doing that paper for Mrs. Gregory, but a guys got to have some fun, right?And it was fun to see those red stains spurting all over the guys chest. The T Man was rattling laughing for the first time since Lila sent him that text message during lunch, congress him that he was on his own for the prom, because she was going with Drake.Everything was going great until I saw Drake staring at that pillar over to one side of the dance floor. Which didnt make any sense. Youd have thought hed have been looking over at us, in our VIP booth (thanks, Uncle Vinnie), considering thats the direction the ketchup assault was coming from.Thats when I noticed there was somebody hiding behind it. The pillar, I mean.Not just any somebody, either, but Mary, that new girl from my U.S. History class, the one who never talks to anybody but Lila.And she was holding a crossbow.A crossbow.How the hell did she get a crossbow through the metal detector? No way does she know Teds uncle Vinnie.Not that it matters. All that matters is that Drakes staring at the pillar Marys crouched behind like he can see straight through it. Theres something about the way hes looking over at her that makes me well, all I know is that is not where I want that guy looking.Moron, I mutter. Mostly about Drake. But also about myself, a little. And th en I aim and shoot once more.Oh, snap, Ted yells happily. Did you see that? Right in the assThat gets Drakes attention, all right. He turns and suddenly, I get what they mean about blazing eyes. You know, in Stephen King books, or whatsoever? I never thought Id actually see a pair.But thats only what Drakes got, as he stares at us. Eyes that are most in spades blazing.Come on, I find myself thinking in Drakes direction. Thats right. Come on over here, Drake. You wanna fight? Ive got a lot more than just ketchup, dude.Which isnt exactly true. But it doesnt end up mattering, because Drake doesnt come over anyway.Instead, he disappears.I dont mean that he turns around and leaves the club.I mean that one minute hes standing there, and the next hes well, hes just gone. For a second the fog from the dry ice seems to get thicker-and when it clears, Lila is dancing by herself.Here, I say, thrusting the Beretta into Teds hand.What the- Ted scans the dance floor. Whered he go?But Ive alrea dy taken off.Grab Lila, I yell back at Ted. And meet me out front.Ted utters some pretty choice expletives after that, but no one even notices. The musics too loud, and everyones having too good a time. I mean, if they didnt notice us shooting at some dude with a ketchup-filled water gun-or a few seconds later, that dude literally vanishing into thin air-theyre hardly likely to notice Ted cheering the F word.I reach the pillar and look down.Shes there, panting as if shes just run a marathon or something. Shes got the crossbow clutched to her chest like a kids security blanket. Her face is as white as notebook paper.Hey, I say to her, gently. I dont want to startle her.But I do anyway. She practically jumps out of her skin at the sound of my voice and turns wide, frightened eyes up at me.Hey, take it easy, I say. Hes gone. Okay?Hes gone? Her eyes-green as the Great Lawn in Central Park in May-stare up at me. And theres no missing the terror in them. How-what?He just vanished, I say with a shrug. I saw him looking at you. So I shot him.You what?Prom Nights from Hell Chapter TwoGee, thanks, Madame Z, I thought. Could we dig a little deeper here? Give me something to work with?But is he-I mean, the person-going to act on his passion? I was brazen, despite my gnarled stomach.To act or not to act that is the question? Madame Z said.Yes, that is the question.Ahhh. That is forever and a day the question. And what one must always ask oneself- She broke off. Her eyes flew to Will, and she paled.What? I demanded.Nothing, she said.Something, I said. Her message-from-the-spirits performance wasnt fooling me. She wanted us to think shed been suddenly possessed? That shed had a stark and powerful vision? Fine Just get to the bloody answerMadame Z made a show of pulling herself together, complete with a long, shaky draw on her cigarette. flavor dead at me, she said, If a direct falls in a forest, and no ones there to hear it, does it still make a sound?Huh? I said.Thats all Ive got. Take it or leave it. She seemed agitated, so I took it. Although I made cuckoo eyes at Yun lie when Madame Z wasnt watching.Will claimed not to have a specific question, but Madame Z was oddly insistent on relaying a message to him anyhow. She waved her hands over his aura and warned him sternly of heights, which was curiously appropriate as Will was an greedy rock climber. What was more curious was Wills reaction. First his eyebrows shot up, and then a different emotion took over, like some secret anticipatory pleasure. He glanced at me and blushed.Whats going on? I asked. You have your sneaky face on.Exsqueeze me? he said.What are you not telling us, Will Goodman?Nothing, I insistDont be stupid, boy Madame Z harped. Listen to what Im saying.Oh, you dont have to worry about him, I said. Hes a total Mr. Safety. I turned back to Will. For real. Do you have a fabulous new climbing spot? A brand-new shiny carabiner?Its Yun Suns turn, Will said. Yun Sun, go.Can you read palms? Yun Sun asked Madame Z.Madame Z exhaled, and she was barely engaged as she traced her finger over the locomote pad below Yun Suns thumb. You will be as beautiful as you allow yourself to be, she told her. That was it. Those were her pearls of wisdom.Yun Sun seemed as underwhelmed as I was, and I felt like protesting on all our behalves. I mean, seriously A tree in the forest? Be careful of heights? You will be as beautiful as you allow yourself to be? Even with her slightly convincing touches of atmospheric creepiness, the three of us were getting cheated. Me in particular.But before I could say anything, a cell phone on the desk rang. Madame Z picked it up and used a long orange nail to punch the talk button.Madame Zanzibar, at your service, she said. Her expression changed as she listened to whoever was on the other end. She grew brisk and annoyed. No, Silas. Its called a yes, you can say it, a yeast infection. barm infection.Yun Sun and I shared a glance of horror, alth ough-I couldnt help it-I was also delighted. Not that Madame Z had a yeast infection. I mean, ick. But that she was discussing it with Silas, whoever he was, while all of us listened in. Now we were getting our moneys worth.Tell the druggist its the second time this month, Madame Z groused. I need something stronger. What? For the itching, you idiot Unless he wants to scratch it for me She twisted on her swivel chair, pumping one Juicy Coutured leg over the other.Will looked up at me, his brown eyes wide with alarm. I will not be scratching it for her, he stage-whispered. I refuseI laughed, thinking it a good sign that he was showing off for me. The Madame Z experience hadnt gone as intended, but who knew? Maybe it would end up having the desired effect after all.Madame Z pointed at me with the lit end of her cigarette, and I ducked my chin contritely, like Sorry, sorry. To distract myself, I focused on the strange and varied clutter on her shelves. A book called Magic of the Ordin ary and another titled What to Do When the Dead Speak-But You Dont Want to Listen. I nudged Will with my knee and pointed. He mimed choking the poor deceased bastard, and I snortled.Above the books I saw a bottle of rat poison, an old-fashioned monocle, a jar of what looked like fingernail clippings, a stained Starbucks cup, and a rabbits foot, claws attached. And on the shelf above that was oh, lovely.Is that a skull? I asked Will. Will whistled. Holy cannoli.Okey-doke, Yun Sun said, averting her eyes. If there really is a skull, I dont want to know about it. Can we leave now?I took her head in my hands and pointed her in the right direction. Look. It still has hairMadame Z snapped her cell phone shut. Fools, every one of them, she said. Her pallidness was gone apparently talking to Silas had shaken her out of her funk.Ahh I see you found FernandoIs that whose skull that is? I asked. Fernandos?Oh God, Yun Sun moaned.Wormed his way to the surface after a gully washer, out in Chapel Hill Cemetery, Madame Z told us. His coffin, that is. Crappy woody thing, musta been from the early nineteen hundreds. No one left to care for him, so I took pity on him and brought him here.You opened the coffin? I said.Yep. She seemed proud. I wondered if shed worn her Juicy Couture during the grave robbing.Thats gross that it still has hair, I said.He still has hair, Madame Z said. Show some respect.I didnt know dead bodies had hair, thats all.Skin, no, Madame Z said. Skin starts to rot right away, and believe me, you dont want to smell it when it goes. But hair? Sometimes it keeps growing for weeks after the deceased has made his crossing.Wowzers. I reached down and tousled Wills honey-colored curls. Hear that, Will? Sometimes the hair keeps growing.Amazing, he said.What about that? Yun Sun asked, pointing to a clear Tupperware container in which something rubicund and organlike floated in clear liquid. Please tell me it didnt come from Fernando, too. Please.Madame Z waved he r hand, like Dont be ridiculous. Thats my uterus. Had the doc give it to me after my hysterectomy.Your uterus? Yun Sun looked ill.Im going to let em toss it in the incinerator? Madame Z said. Fat chanceAnd that? I pointed to a clump of dried-up something on the highest shelf. This show-and-tell was proving far more sweet than our actual readings.Madame Z followed my gaze. She opened her mouth, then closed it. Thats nothing, she said firmly, although I noticed she had a hard time tearing her eyes from it. Now. Are we done here?Come on. I made praying hands. Tell us what it is.You dont want to know, she said.I do, I said.I dont, Yun Sun said.Yes, she does, I said. And so does Will. Right, Will?It cant be worse than the uterus, he said.Madame Z pressed her lips together.Please? I begged.She muttered something under her breath about idiot teenagers and how she refused to take the blame, whatever came of it. Then she stood up, pawing the top shelf. Her bosom didnt jiggle, but stayed fir m and rigid beneath her top. She retrieved the clump and placed it in front of us.Oh, I breathed. A corsage. toffy rosebuds, their edges brown and papery. Sprigs of graying babys breath, so desiccated that puffs of fiber dusted the table. A limp red ribbon holding it all together.A peasant woman in France put a spell on it, Madame Z said in a tone that was hard to decipher. It was as if she were compelled to speak the words, even though she didnt want to. Or, no. More like she did want to but was struggling to resist. She wanted to show that true love is guided by fate, and that anyone who tries to hinder does so at her own peril.She moved to return the corsage.